UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL PUSHES WINNING STREAK TO FOUR MATCHES WITH 3-2 WIN OVER MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Wednesday, October 24

Martin, Tenn.

6 P.M.

UT Martin

12-12

Middle Tennessee

7-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Middle Tennessee	25	18	18	25	13	2
UT Martin	20	25	25	22	15	3

UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL PUSHES WINNING STREAK TO FOUR MATCHES WITH 3-2 WIN OVER MIDDLE TENNESSEE

10/24/2018 10:15:00 PM | Volleyball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – It was another five-set home victory for the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team this evening, as the Skyhawks extended their winning streak to four matches with an impressive 3-2 triumph over Middle Tennessee (20-25, 25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 15-13).

Tonight's result was the sixth time in 10 UT Martin home matches to go the full distance in 2018. In fact, since a 3-2 loss to Southern Illinois at the Cardinal Classic in Louisville, Ky. on Aug. 25, UT Martin has gone 6-0 in five-set decisions – all coming in front of the home crowd at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

With the win, the Skyhawks (12-12) notched their most single-season victories in the Jaclynn Wilson Era and the most wins since the 2011 campaign. The four-match winning streak is the longest for the program since UT Martin began the season 4-0 in 2014.

Jamie Rys led the way for the Skyhawk offense tonight, posting 14 kills on a .267 attack percentage to go along with nine digs. Gintare Mackeviciute added 10 kills, a .444 hitting percentage and five blocks for UT Martin, who also received a big lift off the bench by freshman Addison Conley (eight kills, .294 attack percentage, seven digs in four sets). Kenzie Hinshaw added 26 assists with three of the team's 10 service aces while Maddi Noble divvied out 16 assists for the Skyhawks.

Defensively, Brooke Gyori piled up a match-high 22 digs while Justine Walker tied Mackeviciute for a match-high five blocks – three of which were of the solo variety.

Middle Tennessee gained the upper hand early, using an 8-0 run midway through the first set to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Five kills by Megan Fair and a pair of service aces by Hinshaw helped UT Martin jump out to a 14-9 lead but the Blue Raiders followed with a 13-3 run. Back-to-back kills by Karen Scanlon and Rys pulled the Skyhawks within three at 23-20 but the deficit was too large to overcome. Gyori was responsible for five digs in the opening stanza.

A majority of the second set was a back-and-forth affair before UT Martin made a late push to even the match. Mackeviciute kills both began and ended a 4-0 Skyhawk run that helped build an 11-8 UT Martin advantage before Middle Tennessee came back to go ahead by a 13-12 margin. Rys came right back with back-to-back kills and the Skyhawks didn't trail for the remainder of the set, as Walker had a hand in three blocks out of UT Martin's final four points. The Skyhawks hit .269 as a team while Gyori scooped up eight digs in the second set.

UT Martin never trailed in the third set, opening on a 10-1 run which featured kills from four different Skyhawks. UT Martin stretched its lead out to a dozen points (15-3) but the Blue Raiders gradually crept back and got within six points late. However, Rys helped shut the door with three kills over the final nine points of the set on her way to a match-best five rally killers in the set.

The fourth set included 12 tie scores and four lead changes. Middle Tennessee took an early 5-2 advantage before the Skyhawks battled back to take a 9-8 lead. Moments later, the Blue Raiders broke a 15-15 tie with four unanswered points but UT Martin answered right back with a 6-1 run to claim a 21-20 lead in the process. However, Middle Tennessee scored five of the final six points of the set to stay alive. Rys and Mackeviciute each led the Skyhawks with three kills apiece.

The Skyhawks earned the win in the fifth set, securing six of the final seven points. Middle Tennessee scored the first three points of the set and kept a three-point advantage at 12-9 before UT Martin made all the winning plays down the stretch. Hannah Phillips ignited the comeback with a kill before a Gyori service ace wrapped up a 5-0 run. The Blue Raiders got back within one before Walker found the back right corner for a kill to complete the rally. UT Martin hit .294 and sided out at 69 percent (9-of-13) in the final stanza.

The Skyhawks return to Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend, going back on the road for matchups against two of the league's top teams. UT Martin plays at 6 p.m. at Austin Peay on Friday, Oct. 26 before visiting Murray State for an 11 a.m. matchup on Saturday, Oct. 27.