UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL TO HOLD FOUR-DAY, FIVE-TEAM SKYHAWK INVITATIONAL THIS FALL
6/20/2018 2:11:00 PM | Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time since 2014, the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball program will play host to its own fall tournament as the Skyhawk Invitational is set for Aug. 30 through Sept. 2.
In addition to UT Martin, the 2018 tournament field includes Central Arkansas, Florida A&M, Memphis and UAB. A total of 10 matches will be played over the course of four days as Skyhawk Fieldhouse plays host to an in-season tournament for just the fourth time in the school's Division-I Era (2011, 2012, 2014, 2018).
"It was important for us to schedule a home tournament for the fall," UT Martin head coach Jaclynn Yocum-Wilson said. "The planning for this event has been in the works for several months and we are so glad it all came together with such a strong list of teams participating."
The Skyhawk Invitational begins on Thursday, Aug. 30 as UT Martin and Central Arkansas square off at 7 p.m.
Four matches are on tap for Friday, Aug. 31 as Florida A&M and Memphis will clash at 10 a.m. Central Arkansas and UAB follow at noon before the Skyhawks take the floor against Memphis at 5 p.m. The final match of the day features UAB against Florida A&M at 7:30 p.m.
Memphis and Central Arkansas kick off the Saturday, Sept. 1 slate with first serve scheduled for 11 a.m. UT Martin takes on UAB at 1 p.m. before a Central Arkansas/Florida A&M matchup at 3 p.m. Day 3 of the tournament concludes with UAB taking on Memphis at 5 p.m.
The four-day, five-team event wraps up on Sunday, Sept. 2 as the host Skyhawks battle Florida A&M at 11 a.m.
"There are several benefits to hosting our own tournament," Yocum-Wilson said. "Last season, we spent almost an entire month playing our first 13 matches on the road. This tournament allows us our great supporters a chance to watch our team before Ohio Valley Conference play starts. We know our community will enjoy the rare opportunity to watch high-level collegiate volleyball right in our own backyard."
The Skyhawk Invitational is the second of four nonconference tournaments on UT Martin's schedule for next fall. The 2018 Skyhawk volleyball schedule will be released in its entirety on Monday, June 25.
