NASHVILLE — In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy coined the phrase, 'There's No Place Like Home... This Thursday and Friday, the Tennessee State Tiger volleyball team looks to click their heels and get their first OVC victory as they come home to take on in-state rival Tennessee Tech on Thursday and Friday with first serve set for 6 pm on both nights. 

The Matchup:  Tennessee Tech (5-9, 2-0 OVC) at Tennessee State Tigers (6-10, 0-3 OVC)
Date/Time: Thursday, September 29 || 6:00 p.m.
Date/Time: Friday, September 30 || 6:00 p.m.
Location: Kean Hal|
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The Tigers dropped their first three OVC matches last week falling to UT-Martin in four sets, then dropped two matches over the weekend at SEMO. Saturday's match was an instant classic. The Tigers went up two sets to one before losing the last two sets. TSU is glad to be back home where they have won four in a row.
 
"Winning on the road is tough, especially in conference play," said TSU head coach Donika Sutton. "We had our chances Saturday but beat ourselves. You have to give them credit, they took advantage of us being out of sync. I liked the way we practiced this week so we will see. I hope that we can take advantage of being at home."
 
It won't be an easy task as Tech comes in on a high note after sweeping Southern Indiana in two matches this past weekend. The Eagles prepared for conference play by playing a tough schedule and three Power 5 schools. This weekend's games will be the first of a four-game road trip for Tech.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Libero Gina Rivera-Ortiz claimed the OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second straight week. Rivera-Ortiz recorded her first double-double of the year scooping up 25 digs and 10 assists against UT-Martin. In the five-set loss to SEMO on Saturday, she had 33 assists and three aces. For the season she is second in the OVC in total digs (300) and digs per set (5.45). She also goes into the week leading in OVC matches in digs with 79 and digs per set at 6.58.
• Kennedy Davis is leading the OVC in hitting percentage for the year swinging at a .347 clip for the season. She was nominated for Newcomer of the Week this past week.
• Gabrielle Johnson is leading in OVC play in blocks with 20 and blocks per set with a 1.67 average per set.

 
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH

• Jordan Karlen comes into this weekend as the Setter and Newcomer of the Week. This is the second time this season that she was voted for both honors. On Friday, Karlen set a new Tech freshman record for a three-set match with 45 assists. She chipped eight digs and three blocks to the mix on the defensive end. On Saturday she registered 38 more assists with a pair of service aces, and eight more digs in another 3-0 sweep of USI. Karlen ranks second in the OVC this season in assists per set with a mark of 9.42. She also ranks second in total assists, compiling 424 in 45 sets so far this season.
• Taylor Dorsey leads all OVC hitters in conference play with a .383 hitting percentage. She ranks second in the OVC for the season with a .344 percentage.
• Brooke Amann and Aleeya Jones combined for nine aces against Southern Indiana.

 
 UP NEXT:

• The Tigers go back on the road as they take on Morehead State on October 6 and 7.