SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL BATTLES EARLY BUT FALLS 3-0 AT LEAGUE-LEADING AUSTIN PEAY

Friday, October 26

Clarksville, Tenn.

6 P.M.

UT Martin

12-13, 5-6OVC

Austin Peay

21-3, 10-1OVC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
UT Martin	24	20	20	0
Austin Peay	26	25	25	3

SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL BATTLES EARLY BUT FALLS 3-0 AT LEAGUE-LEADING AUSTIN PEAY

10/26/2018 9:08:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad traded blows with Ohio Valley Conference leader Austin Peay this evening before ultimately falling in three sets (24-26, 20-25, 20-25) at the Winfield Dunn Center.

The Skyhawks (12-13, 5-6 OVC) received a match-high 15 digs out of Brooke Gyori while Gintare Mackeviciute provided a match-best six blocks (three solo) tonight. Offensively, UT Martin was led by Jamie Rys' eight kills and Kenzie Hinshaw's 22 assists. Justine Walker also hit a team-high .333 with no errors in 15 swings to go along with four blocks for the Skyhawks, who saw their four-match winning streak come to a close.

UT Martin nearly took the first stanza, as it was in position for set point before Austin Peay (21-3, 10-1 OVC) staged a comeback. Mackeviciute was active early, compiling three kills and a block during the Skyhawks' first 10 points of the match. After the host Governors took a 19-14 advantage, Hinshaw's two service aces and two assists helped UT Martin go on a 6-0 run and take a 20-19 advantage. Moments later, a kill by Walker made the score 24-22 in favor of the Skyhawks but Austin Peay wrapped up the set with four unanswered points. UT Martin hit .222 and sided out at 61 percent while Gyori generated seven digs in the first set.

The Skyhawks took their first lead of the second set behind a 4-0 run that featured a dominant stretch by Mackeviciute. The junior middle blocker had a hand in three consecutive swats while adding a separate solo block moments later to make the score 14-12. The Governors immediately responded with five consecutive points to reclaim the lead but UT Martin continued to battle, as back-to-back Megan Fair kills pulled the Skyhawks within a single point at 21-20. However, Austin Peay tallied the last four points of the set once again to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Mackeviciute had four of UT Martin's seven blocks in the set while Walker added a pair of solo swats.

The Skyhawks got off to a bumpy start in the third set but once again did not go down without swinging. Austin Peay reeled off an early 5-0 run and eventually led by as many as eight points (17-9) but UT Martin used an 8-1 surge to get back within striking distance. Rys and Addison Conley each came away with a pair of kills during the Skyhawk run but the Governors accounted for seven of the final 10 points to complete the victory. Rys and Conley both had four kills in the third set.

UT Martin has a quick turnaround before its next match as it travels to Murray State for an 11 a.m. match tomorrow. The Skyhawks will go for the season sweep of the Racers after a 3-2 home victory on Sept. 21.