SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL FINISHES STRONG ON BOTH ENDS IN FOUR-SET OVC TRIUMPH OVER TENNESSEE TECH

Saturday, November 2

Martin, Tenn.

11 a.m.

UT Martin

10-17,6-6OVC

Tennessee Tech

10-15,6-6OVC

Tennessee Tech

UT Martin

SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL FINISHES STRONG ON BOTH ENDS IN FOUR-SET OVC TRIUMPH OVER TENNESSEE TECH

11/2/2019 7:28:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score PDF

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team sided out at a 75 percent clip over the final three sets today, soaring to a 3-1 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Tennessee Tech (20-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-16) at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

UT Martin hit .283 for the match but improved that number to .330 in the last three stanzas. On the flipside, the Skyhawks allowed a paltry .085 attack percentage over the final three sets to improve their record to 6-6 in OVC play (10-17 overall).

Gintare Mackeviciute was nearly unstoppable this afternoon, putting away 15 kills against just one error in 24 swings for a .583 hitting percentage. Logan Wallick pitched in 14 kills while Kenzie Hinshaw's 43 assists also helped carry the UT Martin offense.

Defensively, the Skyhawks received a match-best 13 digs out of Lucy Kaufman. Addison Conley (12 digs) and Hannah Phillips (11) followed closely behind while five of Justine Walker's match-high six blocks came in the third set.

Tennessee Tech (10-15, 6-6 OVC) accounted for the first five points of the match but UT Martin quickly got back in it courtesy of a 7-1 run that gave the Skyhawks their first lead at 9-8. The Golden Eagles answered right back with a 7-1 spurt of their own but Conley later managed three straight kills for UT Martin to keep the score close. Tennessee Tech later scored four unanswered points and the Skyhawks would not get any closer than five points for the duration of the set.

UT Martin evened the match after siding out at 81 percent in the second stanza. The Skyhawks gained the upper hand with three of the first four points and eventually used a 5-0 run to create some separation. Haeleigh Paulino was responsible for a pair of service aces during that span, helping UT Martin eventually double up the Golden Eagles at 22-11. Mackeviciute delivered three kills in the span of five points while a Wallick kill clinched the set for the Skyhawks.

Following a Tennessee Tech kill that started the third set, UT Martin dialed up nine of the next 10 points to seize control. After the Golden Eagles pulled within two points at 9-7, the Skyhawks responded with four of the next five points behind kills from Conley, Mackeviciute and Hinshaw. UT Martin's lead was trimmed to 13-10 but the Skyhawks concluded the set on a 12-5 run which included three consecutive points recorded via blocks.

The fourth set included 10 tie scores before UT Martin emerged victorious. Neither side could manage more than a two-point lead until a pair of Mackeviciute kills bookended a 4-0 Skyhawk run that nudged UT Martin ahead by a 17-13 margin. In addition to Mackeviciute's dominant stretch, the Skyhawks also received a pair of Wallick rally killers down the stretch as UT Martin turned a 13-13 tie into a 25-16 victory.

The Skyhawks are back at home next weekend for the final time this season. UT Martin hosts Austin Peay at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 as part of Senior Night festivities. The Skyhawks then host Murray State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 in the 2019 home finale.