Tech Volleyball projected third in OVC preseason poll
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – If the Ohio Valley Conference’s projected order of finish in volleyball is any indication, the 2025-26 campaign promises to be an exciting one. As the league announced the poll, as well as its returning All-OVC team and Players to Watch, Tennessee Tech took the third spot of the 11 teams, garnering six first-place votes to take 160 overall points.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – If the Ohio Valley Conference's projected order of finish in volleyball is any indication, the 2025-26 campaign promises to be an exciting one.
As the league announced the poll, as well as its returning All-OVC team and Players to Watch, Tennessee Tech took the third spot of the 11 teams, garnering six first-place votes to take 160 overall points.
Southeast Missouri, who won the regular-season crown last year, was tabbed as the overall favorite in '25-'26 with 15 of the 22 first-place votes between the conference's head coaches and athletics communications contacts. The Redhawks had 194 points overall. Lindenwood, who took home the conference tournament title after edging the Golden Eagles 3-2 in the semifinals, then sweeping Morehead State 3-0 in the finale, was picked second with one first-place vote and 161 overall.
Tech returned two All-OVC standouts with setter Jordan Karlen and outside hitter Alayna Pierce taking spots on the 10-player squad.
Karlen, a senior from Janesville, Wis., ranked sixth nationally with 11.29 assists per set, while ranking second in the OVC and 11th in the nation in total assists with 1,287. She was named the OVC Setter of the Week a program-record seven times last season with 17 double-doubles during the campaign.
Pierce, a sophomore from Genoa, Ill., had an impressive freshman year and was just the third Golden Eagle rookie to earn either a first- or second-team All-OVC spot. She finished second on the team and sixth in the OVC with 308 kills, while also racking up 26 service aces, 261 digs, 23 blocks – nine of those solo. Pierce recorded eight double-doubles overall as she earned three OVC Freshman of the Week nods last season.
Freshman middle blocker Jordyn Milhouse was selected as the Golden Eagles' Player to Watch and the Mobile, Ala., product is there for good reason. In her final season at Baker High School, Milhouse compiled 115 kills, 33 blocks, 34 digs and 10 service aces. She's expected to make an immediate impact for the Golden Eagles this season.
Tech opens up the 2025-26 season next week as it travels to Clarksville to compete in the Stacheville Challenge. The Golden Eagles will take on Xavier and Murray State next Friday, then host Austin Peay on Aug. 30.
Tech will then open up home play in the Hooper Eblen Center on September 11 with the Golden Eagle Invitational presented by Holiday Inn of Cookeville.
Fans can follow Tennessee Tech Volleyball on social media – Tennessee Tech Volleyball on Facebook, @TNTechVball on X (formerly Twitter) and tntechvball on Instagram. For more information on the program and all of Golden Eagle Athletics, visit www.TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
