NASHVILLE — The Tennessee State University volleyball team visits OVC rival Tennessee Tech this weekend for a pair of matches in Cookeville. The opening contest is set for Friday evening at 6 p.m. CT, followed by a 7 p.m. CT first serve on Saturday. Both games can be seen live on ESPN+. 

The Tigers enter the weekend looking for their second OVC win of the year after picking up a split with Southeast Missouri at home last Saturday.

Senior Gina Rivera-Ortiz secured her second-straight Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week after she recorded 76 digs over the three matches. The libero had 29 digs in the OVC opener against Belmont and finished the week with 26 digs in the win over Southeast Missouri. Rivera-Ortiz is first on the team and second in the OVC with 252 digs and leads the league with 5.73 digs per set. 

Senior Aniya Williams is off to a great start leading the team in kills with 144 and is hitting a team-best 0.278. The transfer from SEMO is fourth in the OVC in hitting percentage, sixth in kills per set (3.27), third in total blocks (50) and fourth in points per set (4.23). 

TSU is second in the OVC in digs per set (17.61), tied for second in opponent hitting percentage (.149) and third assists per set (12.07).

Tennessee Tech is off to its best OVC start since 2014 after sweeping SIUE last week. Taylor Dorsey shared the OVC Defensive Player of the Week award with Rivera-Ortiz after 11 blocks against the Cougars. Ashley Hand took home the OVC Setter of the Week averaging 11.14 assists per set with 78 helpers, 17 digs and seven kills.

TSU returns to Kean Hall to host defending OVC champion Morehead State October 8-9.