UT MARTIN SEALS OVC TOURNAMENT SPOT WITH FOUR-SET VICTORY AT TENNESSEE TECH

Saturday, November 10

Cookeville, Tenn.

2 P.M.

UT Martin

14-16 (7-9)

Tennessee Tech

11-19 (5-11)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UT Martin	25	25	14	25	3
Tennessee Tech	15	21	25	15	1

UT MARTIN SEALS OVC TOURNAMENT SPOT WITH FOUR-SET VICTORY AT TENNESSEE TECH

11/10/2018 7:51:00 PM | Volleyball

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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team got off to a hot start and rode that momentum into a 3-1 triumph at Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee Tech (25-15, 25-21, 14-25, 25-15) today.

With the win, the Skyhawks (14-16, 7-9 OVC) clinched the No. 7 seed in the upcoming OVC Championship tournament, which will be held in Clarksville, Tenn. UT Martin will be making its first appearance in the conference tournament since 2012.

The Skyhawks were led today by senior Megan Fair, who posted a match-high 14 kills and 12 digs. Kenzie Hinshaw also recorded a double-double (match-best 34 assists, 13 digs) while Brooke Gyori's 22 digs paced five UT Martin players with double-digit digs. Hannah Phillips (13 digs), Jamie Rys (12 digs) and Justine Walker (match-high six blocks) each contributed to a potent Skyhawk defense.

UT Martin rolled out to an 11-2 lead in the first set, as Gyori (two) and Hinshaw combined for three service aces. The Golden Eagles closed to within five points at 13-8 but an 8-2 Skyhawk run resulted in a double-digit lead (21-10) for UT Martin. Tennessee Tech came back for the next four points but the Skyhawks ended the set on a 4-1 run, bookended by back-to-back kills by Fair. UT Martin was paced by Fair's team-highs of six kills and five digs in the opening set.

Once again, the Skyhawks breezed out to an early advantage in the second set – scoring five of the first seven points as Rys compiled two kills and a service ace in that span. After UT Martin took an 11-5 edge, the Golden Eagles scored the next seven points as part of a 10-1 run. The Skyhawks quickly answered with five consecutive points, which included back-to-back aces by Walker. UT Martin was able to claim a 2-0 lead in the match after four of the Skyhawks' final six points came off Golden Eagle attack errors. Rys (four kills, six digs) guided UT Martin in the second stanza.

Phillips had a pair of kills early in the third set to help the Skyhawks take a lead but Tennessee Tech soon nabbed a 12-6 advantage. UT Martin would get back within striking distance after a Gyori service ace made the score 16-12 but the Golden Eagles stayed alive by ending the third set on an 8-1 surge. Phillips and Gyori led the Skyhawks with four kills and six digs, respectively.

Another quick start led to a favorable result for UT Martin in the fourth set as the Skyhawks never trailed throughout the set. UT Martin accumulated the first five points of the stanza, led by a pair of kills and an assisted block by Gintare Mackeviciute. The Skyhawks received three straight points via Fair kills before a 5-0 run doubled up the score (16-8) on the Golden Eagles. Moments later, UT Martin used a 6-0 surge on its way to the victory. The senior duo of Gyori (12 digs) and Fair (five kills) helped will the Skyhawks to the win.

UT Martin will take on No. 2 seed Murray State in the opening round of the 2018 OVC Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m. The Skyhawks and Racers split the season series, each winning on their own home floors (UT Martin won 3-2 on Sept. 21, Murray State won 3-0 on Oct. 27).