RED-HOT SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL SQUAD LOOKS TO CARRY MOMENTUM INTO BUSY WEEK

Wednesday, October 24

Martin, Tenn.

6 P.M.

UT Martin

Middle Tennessee

Photo by: UT Martin Sports Information

RED-HOT SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL SQUAD LOOKS TO CARRY MOMENTUM INTO BUSY WEEK

10/22/2018 2:39:00 PM | Volleyball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Owning a season-long three-match winning streak, the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad plays three matches in the span of four days this week. The Skyhawks host Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24 before resuming Ohio Valley Conference play on the road at Austin Peay at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26 and at Murray State at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27.

UT Martin comes into the week with an 11-12 overall record and an even 5-5 mark in league play. The Skyhawks have played some of their best volleyball of the season over the last 11 days, taking nine of 12 sets in a trio of matches against OVC opposition. During the three-match winning streak, UT Martin has outhit its opponents by a .232 to .168 margin while maintaining a 19-5 edge in service aces.

Megan Fair has stood out for the Skyhawks recently, as she has slammed down 41 kills (3.42 per set) on a .326 attack percentage during the winning streak. Hannah Phillips (3.00 kills per set, .337 hitting percentage), Brooke Gyori (4.58 digs per set) and Gintare Mackeviciute (0.92 blocks per set) also have mightily factored in to UT Martin's recent ascension.

On the season, the Skyhawks lead the OVC with 1.42 service aces per set – dialing up 132 total aces. Gyori's 4.97 digs per set rank second in the conference while Kenzie Hinshaw (sixth with 0.32 service aces per set, eighth with 7.94 assists per set) and Mackeviciute (seventh with a .267 hitting percentage) also appear in the league's top-10 in numerous statistical rankings.

Wednesday's match against Middle Tennessee will be the first time the two in-state rivals meet on the volleyball court since 2005. The Blue Raiders have posted a 7-15 overall record so far this fall and are coming off back-to-back Conference-USA sweeps over UAB and UTEP over the weekend. Bailey Mason paces Middle Tennessee in kills (3.12 per set) and service aces (0.33 per set) while Brienna Tankesley's 3.89 digs per set shore up the Blue Raider defense.

Austin Peay (20-3, 9-1 OVC) has a two-match lead for first place in the league standings as it has won 10 of its last 11 decisions. The Governors went undefeated in three home matches last week, defeating 2017 NCAA Tournament participant (3-2), Jacksonville State (3-1) and Tennessee Tech (3-2). Cecily Gable (18 kills), Kristen Stucker (46 assists, 12 digs) and Ginny Gerig (20 digs) led Austin Peay to a 3-1 win in its first meeting against UT Martin on Sept. 22.

The Skyhawks will go for a season sweep of Murray State, as UT Martin dispatched the Racers in five sets on Sept. 21. Soon thereafter, the Racers (13-9, 7-3 OVC) have morphed into the league's hottest teams – reeling off seven consecutive victories to sit in a tie for second-place in the conference standings. Rachel Giustino (17 kills, 13 digs), Ashley McBee (30 assists, 12 digs) and Becca Fernandez (24 digs) were Murray State's top performers in the aforementioned match against the Skyhawks last month.

The matches against Middle Tennessee and Austin Peay will be streamed live, free of charge, on the OVC Digital Network. Those links - as well as live stats links for all three matches - can be found at the top of the webpage.