MACKEVICIUTE GOES OFF BUT UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FIVE SETS TO EASTERN ILLINOIS

Friday, November 2

Martin, Tenn.

5:30 P.M.

UT Martin

12-15 (5-8OVC)

Eastern Illinois

10-18 (5-8OVC)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Eastern Illinois	25	23	25	17	15	3
UT Martin	19	25	19	25	11	2

MACKEVICIUTE GOES OFF BUT UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FIVE SETS TO EASTERN ILLINOIS

11/2/2018 11:39:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Junior middle blocker Gintare Mackeviciute put together one of the best matches of her University of Tennessee at Martin career but the Skyhawk volleyball team could not complete a rally against Eastern Illinois, dropping a 3-2 decision (19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-17, 11-15).

Tonight's result was UT Martin's first five-set loss since Aug. 25, as the Skyhawks had previously won six straight 3-2 decisions. The match featured a total of 33 tie scores and 13 lead changes.

Mackeviciute compiled a match-high 17 kills on a .500 attack percentage in 30 swings. The Jonava, Lithania native did not commit her first error until the fifth set and also added four blocks for UT Martin (12-15, 5-8 Ohio Valley Conference).

Jamie Rys tallied her third double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs while Justine Walker chipped in 13 kills and a team-best five blocks. Kenzie Hinshaw distributed 45 assists for a Skyhawk offense that hit .220 while Brooke Gyori was responsible for a match-high 27 digs.

Eastern Illinois scored four of the first five points but back-to-back kills by Mackeviciute and Hannah Phillips gave UT Martin its first lead of the night at 12-11. Walker and Mackeviciute would each contribute two more kills apiece but the Panthers closed out the set on a 14-7 run, including five of the final six points. The Skyhawks slammed down 15 kills while siding out at 62 percent (15-of-24) in the opening stanza.

The second set included 14 tie scores and seven lead changes before UT Martin evened the match at 1-all. Mackeviciute had a hand in four consecutive Skyhawk points (three kills, one assisted block) at one point, helping UT Martin to a two-point lead midway through the set. After the Panthers took a 17-16 lead, the duo of Rys (two kills) and Walker (two service aces) helped the Skyhawks score four unanswered points and UT Martin did not trail from that point forward. The Skyhawks hit .359 as Hinshaw assisted on 16 of UT Martin's 17 kills.

Walker and Rys combined for six of the Skyhawks' first eight kills in the third set. The score was knotted at 8-all but Eastern Illinois used a 7-2 run to create some separation. Phillips soon had a kill and a service ace in the span of three point to help UT Martin pull within three points at 18-15 but that was ultimately as close as the Skyhawks would get for the duration of the set. Walker (five kills on nine attempts) and Gyori (five digs) paced UT Martin in the third set.

The Skyhawks led wire-to-wire in the fourth set, posting six of the first seven points in the stanza. Rys dialed up three kills in a row for UT Martin during that initial run while Karen Scanlon contributed three consecutive kills to help the Skyhawks claim a 14-9 advantage. UT Martin's lead was narrowed down to four points at 21-17 but the Skyhawks answered right back with a 4-0 run, capped off by a Hinshaw service ace. UT Martin's offense once again excelled in the fourth set, as the Skyhawks hit .300 with 15 kills.

A Rys kill, followed by an assisted block by Mackeviciute and Addison Conley helped UT Martin take a 2-1 lead in the final set. However, that would be the only lead of the fifth set for the Skyhawks, who eventually found themselves down by a 10-6 margin. A Mackeviciute kill and Gyori service ace drew UT Martin back within striking distance at 13-11 but Eastern Illinois closed out the match with back-to-back points. Gyori had four of the seven Skyhawk digs in the last set.

The Skyhawks return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 3 when they clash against OVC rival SIUE at 2 p.m. The match will serve as Senior Day for UT Martin, as Gyori and Megan Fair will be recognized for their career contributions in a pregame ceremony.