UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL PULLS THROUGH FOR BIG FIVE-SET OVC VICTORY OVER MURRAY STATE

Saturday, November 9

Martin, Tenn.

2 p.m.

UT Martin

11-18,7-7OVC

Murray State

16-10,10-4OVC

Murray State

UT Martin

UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL PULLS THROUGH FOR BIG FIVE-SET OVC VICTORY OVER MURRAY STATE

11/9/2019 10:26:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score PDF

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin flipped the script from last night's setback with a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Murray State in Ohio Valley Conference volleyball action this afternoon at Skyhawk Fieldhouse (19-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 15-13).

UT Martin improved to 7-7 in OVC play (11-18 overall) behind a balanced attack that included double-doubles out of Hannah Phillips (11 kills, career-best 21 digs), Kenzie Hinshaw (48 assists, 17 digs) and Justine Walker (11 kills, match-high 11 blocks).

The Skyhawks also received a significant boost out of Logan Wallick (team-best 19 kills) and Lucy Kaufman (career-high-tying 20 digs) today. After UT Martin hit -.032 with just seven kills in the first set, the Skyhawks soared for a .232 attack percentage on 57 kills over the final four stanzas.

Kills from Hinshaw, Walker and Phillips helped UT Martin to a 4-2 advantage in the opening set. The Racers (16-10, 10-4 OVC) used an 8-1 run to go ahead 11-6 but a Walker kill spurned a 4-0 Skyhawk run that pulled UT Martin within two points at 15-13. Murray State stretched its lead out to seven points before an Addison Conley kill ignited a spurt that trimmed the Skyhawk deficit to 23-19. However, the Racers responded with back-to-back kills to take the opening set.

UT Martin posted kills by five different players on its way to an 8-5 advantage in the second set. The set tightened up considerably as neither side would lead by more than two points until the Skyhawks took a 20-17 lead. After Murray State closed to within a single point, Wallick and Walker were each responsible for a pair of kills as UT Martin led by as many as five points on its way to tying the match at 1-1.

The Skyhawks took an early lead in the third set but the Racers scored 11 of 13 points during one stretch to claim a 13-5 advantage. UT Martin continued to fight, as Phillips had a pair of kills and a service ace in the span of four Skyhawk points. After back-to-back Wallick kills and yet another Phillips kill, UT Martin battled all the way to within one point (23-22) – forcing Murray State to burn a timeout. However, the Racers scored two of the next three points.

Walker (solo block) and Wallick (kill) aided the Skyhawks in taking a 4-0 lead to begin the fourth stanza. UT Martin did not trail at any point in the fourth set while the only tie occurred at 5-5. At one point, six different Skyhawks (Jessica Reynolds, Gintare Mackeviciute, Hinshaw, Walker, Wallick, Phillips) accounted for six straight kills. Kayla Carrell provided a service ace as part of a late 3-0 run before Phillips provided an emphatic kill on set point to extend the match.

The fifth set featured many momentum swings, as UT Martin emerged victorious after wrapping up the stanza on a 7-1 surge. The Skyhawks led 4-2 behind a pair of Wallick kills and kept a 7-5 advantage after Phillips came through with two kills in the span of three points. The Racers responded with a 6-0 run to go on top 11-7 before the aforementioned UT Martin run. It was Walker who came up big down the stretch as the junior middle blocker from Gilbert, Ariz. tallied three kills and two block assists during the final 7-1 run.

The Skyhawks go on the road for the final two matches of the regular season, heading to the Land of Lincoln next weekend. UT Martin travels to Eastern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 15 before bouncing back to take on SIUE on Saturday, Nov. 16.