Tech shows signs of breakthrough on opening day of OVC Weekend #2
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Noted improvement wasn't enough for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team to muscle out a win on the first day of the Ohio Valley Conference's second weekend of competition, as the Golden Eagles fell in a pair of duels at Breadstick Beach in Morehead, Ky., on Friday morning.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Noted improvement wasn't enough for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team to muscle out a win on the first day of the Ohio Valley Conference's second weekend of competition, as the Golden Eagles fell in a pair of duels at Breadstick Beach in Morehead, Ky., on Friday morning.
Squaring off with in-state rival Chattanooga (20-5, 7-0) for the second time in as many matches (the two clashed at the Blazer Beach Bash in non-conference action last weekend), the Golden Eagles (3-16, 1-7) picked up a point in an eventual 4-1 loss, improving from a pair of 5-0 defeats in the previous two match-ups. Lindenwood (12-9, 4-3) then edged the purple and gold 3-2 in a see-saw affair.
Picking up the point for the Cookeville crew in the team's loss to Chattanooga was the No. 3 tandem of senior Aleeya Jones and sophomore MK Roberts. The Tech duo topped the Mocs' Paige Gallentine and Kaye Gresham in straight sets, eking out a 22-20 win in the first. Jones and Roberts finished things off in set two, prevailing 21-17 for some big momentum.
Tech's battle with Lindenwood was an instant classic, as the Lions opened the affair with a straight-sets win in the No. 4 slot for an early 1-0 lead. The Golden Eagles bounced back with an impressive comeback by the No. 5 combo of seniors Jazmine Yamilkoski and McKenna Young.
The veterans rallied after falling in the first set by a 21-18 score against Lindenwood's Rebecca Janke and Lexi Menne. Yamilkoski and Young responded with a 21-19 triumph to square the affair before delivering a clutch, 15-11 win in set three to even the match at 1-1.
Building off their victory against Chattanooga, the No. 3 pairing of Jones and Roberts went back to work for the purple and gold and tamed their Lions counterpart in straight sets. Moving out to a quick 1-0 lead with a 21-17 win in set one, the Tech combo gave their team the lead with a 21-19 victory in set two.
Lindenwood fought back, evening the match at 2-2 behind an impressive, three-set win at the No. 1 slot. Tech's duo of redshirt sophomore Jordan Karlen and senior Bella Powell fought back from a 22-20 loss in the opening game to force a third set with a 21-16 win. The Lions' Abby Jacobs and Annalie McWhorter earned the set-three victory with a 15-6 run.
It was a straight-sets win for Lindenwood at the No. 2 slot, albeit a close one that saw narrow margins fo 21-17 and 21-19.
Tech will conclude the regular season tomorrow with two final duels at Breadstick Beach, matching up with Eastern Illinois in a 9:00 a.m. CT bout to open the day. Play will wrap up for the purple and gold at 3:00 p.m. with an in-state fight against UT Martin.
File photo by Thomas Corhern
