FAIR’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE POWERS SKYHAWKS TO 3-2 TRIUMPH IN OVC OPENER AGAINST MURRAY STATE

Friday, September 21

Martin, Tenn.

6 P.M.

UT Martin

7-7 (1-0OVC)

Murray State

6-7 (0-1OVC)

Murray State

UT Martin

FAIR’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE POWERS SKYHAWKS TO 3-2 TRIUMPH IN OVC OPENER AGAINST MURRAY STATE

9/21/2018 9:34:00 PM | Volleyball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Senior outside hitter Megan Fair accumulated her fourth double-double of the season as the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad held off Murray State in a five-set Ohio Valley Conference victory (25-18, 20-25, 25-14, 24-26, 15-11) at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

Fresh off an all-tournament selection at the Wildcat Classic, Fair continued her top-notch play this evening as UT Martin improved to 1-0 in OVC play and 7-7 overall. The Conover, NC native slammed down 15 kills, scooped up a season-high 15 digs, tallied three service aces and added three blocks for the Skyhawks.

Freshman Jessica Reynolds broke out for a career-best 12 kills off the bench for UT Martin, who also received 11 kills (against just two errors) out of Hannah Phillips. Karen Scanlon and Justine Walker each piled up nine kills while Kenzie Hinshaw recorded 49 assists while directing a Skyhawk offense that hit .210 for the match.

Brooke Gyori's 17 digs led the way while Jamie Rys equaled a season-high with 14 digs for UT Martin. Walker was a force at the net all evening, swatting away 10 blocks – matching her previous career-high which she also set in the home matchup against Murray State last season.

An early 8-0 run in the opening stanza set the tone for the Skyhawks, who led by a 10-3 margin after the surge. The Racers (6-7, 0-1 OVC) would not get any closer than four points for the remainder of the set as Scanlon dialed up each of UT Martin's final two kills to give the Skyhawks a 1-0 advantage. Walker (four kills, three blocks) paved the way for UT Martin in the opening set.

Four different Skyhawks had a kill as the second set began with an 8-8 tie. After Murray State used a 10-2 run to go on top by nine points, UT Martin reeled off a 5-0 run of its own to pull within 22-18 after back-to-back Racer attack errors. However, Murray State recovered to even the match at 1-all. Fair's four kills ranked as a team-best for the Skyhawks in the second set.

Another lengthy run and a perfect offensive performance propelled UT Martin to the victory in the third set. The Skyhawks turned a slim 8-7 advantage into a double-digit lead thanks to a 15-4 run, as Reynolds came away with three kills in that span before Fair ended it with a thunderous kill. Reynolds dialed up five kills while Hinshaw assisted on 15 of UT Martin's 16 kills in the third set, as the Skyhawks hit a blazing .571 with zero errors.

The theme of runs continued on both sides in the fourth set, as the Racers unreeled an 8-1 surge in the early stages of the stanza to claim a 12-7 lead. UT Martin bounced back with an 8-1 run of its own – courtesy of three consecutive blocks by Walker – to go back on top at 15-13. Three ties followed – the latest coming at 24-all – but Murray State pieced together back-to-back points to stave off elimination. Gyori posted a remarkable nine digs in the fourth stanza for the Skyhawks.

UT Martin broke free at the end of the fifth set to earn the victory. The Skyhawks jumped out to a 5-2 but the advantage was flipped after a 5-1 Racer run gave Murray State a one-point lead. The score was eventually knotted at 10-10 before UT Martin ended the match with five of the last six points, as Walker rose high for the final kill. Rys provided six kills in the shortened fifth set.

The Skyhawks will look to keep its unblemished OVC record intact tomorrow when they host defending champion Austin Peay. First serve from Skyhawk Fieldhouse is scheduled for 11 a.m.