Golden Eagles open OVC play at TSU Friday, host Morehead State Saturday
September 26, 2024

Golden Eagles open OVC play at TSU Friday, host Morehead State Saturday

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball team officially opens Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend, kicking things off with a 6:00 p.m. CT affair at in-state rival Tennessee State Friday evening.

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By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball team officially opens Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend, kicking things off with a 6:00 p.m. CT affair at in-state rival Tennessee State Friday evening.

Following Friday's road affair, the Golden Eagles will return to Cookeville to host Morehead State on Saturday in the Hooper Eblen Center at 4:00 p.m. Both matches are scheduled to be steamed on ESPN+, with Mandy Thatcher providing the coverage during Saturday's tilt with the Eagles.

THE MATCHUPS
Friday, September 27 – at Tennessee State, 6:00 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video 
Saturday, September 28 – vs. Morehead State, 4:00 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video

Out of the Gates
 Tech's 11-1 start to the year represents the best in program history. The Golden Eagles have slung together an eye-popping eight sweeps during the span while capturing three tournament titles during non-conference play. 

National Level
The purple and gold rank eighth in kills per set (14.23), ninth in the country in aces per set (2.10), 18th in assists per set (13.10), and 26th in opponent hitting percentage (.155). Senior outside hitter Madolyn Isringhausen ranks ninth with 5.41 points per set, 10th in the country with 0.65 aces per set, and 10th with 4.63 kills per set while junior setter Jordan Karlen ranks sixth nationally in assists per set with a mark of 11.15.

Playing Outside
 Senior outside hitter Madolyn Isringhausen produced at an elite level yet again over the weekend, closing out the non-conference season with her fourth All-Tournament honor of the year at the Greensboro Invitational. She averaged 4.36 kills, 0.36 service aces, and 4.91 points per set while hitting .236 in the team's 11 sets of action.

Isringhausen pushed past Katrina Hendrix (1982-85) and tied Bilyana Triko (1986-89) in program history with 136 career service aces. She also cracked the top-10 in career points, skipping up to eighth past Cody Dodd (2012-15), Taylor Dorsey (2018-22), and Anne Morrow (2002-05).

Setting Things Up
 Junior setter Jordan Karlen put together yet another stellar weekend directing Tech's potent offense, averaging 11.45 assists and 2.45 digs per set while helping the purple and gold to a pair of wins at the Greensboro Invitational. In the opening win over UNCG, the junior doled out 48 helpers while registering an impressive seven kills on a .545 attack. She chipped in 12 digs for her fifth double-double of the year. After posting 25 helpers against Marshall, she racked up a whopping 53 assists with nine digs in the team's four-set triumph past Georgetown. Karlen currently sits eighth on the Tech career list for assists, with 2,503 so far.

Floor General
 Senior libero McKenna Young was again the Golden Eagles' defensive leader over the weekend, helping Tech to a pair of wins at the Greensboro Invitational while averaging 4.82 digs per set. The senior opened the tournament with 17 digs and five assists at UNCG and followed it up with seven more scoops against Marshall. She exploded for 29 digs in the four-set win over Georgetown, the highest four-set total of her career.

Freshman Focus
 Rookie outside Alayna Pierce Pierce was a critical component in Tech's two wins over the weekend at the Greensboro Invitational, averaging 3.67 kills and 2.22 digs per set across the entire tournament. In the team's 3-1 win over host UNCG, the rookie chalked up 13 terminations and 13 digs for her first career double-double, adding two service aces to the mix. In the team's finale, a 3-1 victory over Georgetown, the freshman exploded for a season-high 20 kills while smashing .310 from the outside. She added an ace and a block as well, totaling 21.5 points to pair with seven digs.

Current OVC Rankings
 A quick glance at where the Golden Eagles rank among the OVC statistical leaders:

  • Hitting Percentage – Jenkins (6th - .298); Isringhausen (7th - .296)
  • Assists – Karlen (1st - 11.15/set)
  • Kills – Isringhausen (2nd - 4.63/set); Pierce (4th - 3.35/set); Powell (9th - 2.80/set)
  • Service Aces – Isringhausen (1st - 0.65/set); Brooke Amann (2nd - 0.45/set); Aleeya Jones (8th - 0.38/set) 
  • Digs – Young (5th - 4.63/set)
  • Points – Isringhausen (2nd - 5.41/set)

An Honored Group
 A quick look at the honors picked up by the Golden Eagles in 2024:

  • Madolyn Isringhausen
    • Preseason All-OVC Team
    • Carrie Yerty Classic All-Tournament Team
    • Carrie Yerty Classic MVP
    • Charlotte Invitational All-Tournament Team
    • Charlotte Invitational MVP
    • Golden Eagle Invitational All-Tournament Team
    • Golden Eagle Invitational MVP
    • Greensboro Invitational All-Tournament Team
    • 2x OVC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2, Sept. 16)
    • TSWA Volleyball Player of the Week (Sept. 3)
  • Mallory Jenkins
    • Preseason OVC Player to Watch
    • Carrie Yerty Classic All-Tournament Team
  • Jordan Karlen
    • Preseason All-OVC Team
    • Carrie Yerty Classic All-Tournament Team
    • Golden Eagle Invitational All-Tournament Team
    • 2x OVC Setter of the Week (Sept. 2, Sept. 16)
  • Bella Powell
    • Charlotte Invitational All-Tournament Team
  • McKenna Young
    • Charlotte Invitational All-Tournament Team
    • Golden Eagle Invitational All-Tournament Team

Up Next
 The Golden Eagles continue their homestand with a pair of 2:00 p.m. CT tilts against Western Illinois next Thursday and Friday in the Hooper Eblen Center.

Photo by Jim Dillon