Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
SKYHAWK BEACH VOLLEYBALL SEASON GETS UNDERWAY THIS WEEK WITH ACTION-PACKED TOUR THROUGH FLORIDA
2/25/2019 3:23:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
Florida Southern College Live Stats
MARTIN, Tenn. – The 2019 University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball season starts up this week with 12 matches over a span of nine days throughout the Sunshine State.
The Skyhawks start the 2019 campaign at a tournament hosted by the University of Tampa, taking on host Tampa, Eckerd College, Coastal Carolina and Jacksonville on March 1-2. UT Martin then takes on Florida Southern College in a double dual on March 5 in Lakeland before facing Saint Leo in a double dual on Wednesday, March 6. The Skyhawks complete their season-opening trip in St. Petersburg against Tampa, Eckerd College, Arizona State and Florida Gulf Coast in the "Battle on the Bay" tournament on March 8-9.
The busy trip is part of a 20-match schedule for UT Martin in 2019, as head coach Jaclynn Wilson is excited to get the season underway.
"The program is still in the very early stages and our schedule is full of experienced teams and several who have beach-only programs," Wilson said. "We have not had the opportunity to play in the sand until this month and have been very limited at that – so we are focused on learning and improving our skills and knowledge of the sport. Our indoor practices have been spent on communication, partnership responsibilities, shots, ball control and general skills."
The Skyhawks completed their beach volleyball facility – three state-of-the-art sand courts located near the Skyhawk Tennis Complex – on Feb. 5. Because of the dreary weather that has scattered across the area over the last two months, UT Martin has had limited access to the facility but has valued every moment of practice on the sand.
"Our sand courts being built were something that we looked forward to for quite some time," Wilson said. "Even when it has been wet and cold we have tried to get out in the sand every opportunity we have. Practicing in the sand makes a big difference and although we haven't been able to much, it has given our girls an opportunity to get a feel for the change of terrain. We're still working on our facility as a whole but we're very excited and proud of our sand courts and the potential of our facility."
UT Martin is a youth-filled squad with eight underclassmen as only junior Hannah Phillips has NCAA beach volleyball experience. However, the team's chemistry has been perfected since August as the same 12 Skyhawks who suited up for the indoor volleyball season will also take part in beach volleyball.
"The indoor and beach games have a lot in common but are also very different," Wilson said. "The same general skills are needed to play both – however, playing in the sand makes it more difficult to execute some of those general skills as movement is slower and it's tougher to elevate. With only two players on the court, I would say the beach game requires slightly more ball control, communication and mental toughness."
All in all, the Skyhawks are eager to establish a firm foundation for beach volleyball going forward.
"As a coaching staff, we feel strongly our program is headed in a positive direction," Wilson said. "We're excited about the opportunity that the addition of our beach program provides our girls."
Live stats for the double dual against Florida Southern College are available at the top of the website.
MARTIN, Tenn. – The 2019 University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball season starts up this week with 12 matches over a span of nine days throughout the Sunshine State.
The Skyhawks start the 2019 campaign at a tournament hosted by the University of Tampa, taking on host Tampa, Eckerd College, Coastal Carolina and Jacksonville on March 1-2. UT Martin then takes on Florida Southern College in a double dual on March 5 in Lakeland before facing Saint Leo in a double dual on Wednesday, March 6. The Skyhawks complete their season-opening trip in St. Petersburg against Tampa, Eckerd College, Arizona State and Florida Gulf Coast in the "Battle on the Bay" tournament on March 8-9.
The busy trip is part of a 20-match schedule for UT Martin in 2019, as head coach Jaclynn Wilson is excited to get the season underway.
"The program is still in the very early stages and our schedule is full of experienced teams and several who have beach-only programs," Wilson said. "We have not had the opportunity to play in the sand until this month and have been very limited at that – so we are focused on learning and improving our skills and knowledge of the sport. Our indoor practices have been spent on communication, partnership responsibilities, shots, ball control and general skills."
The Skyhawks completed their beach volleyball facility – three state-of-the-art sand courts located near the Skyhawk Tennis Complex – on Feb. 5. Because of the dreary weather that has scattered across the area over the last two months, UT Martin has had limited access to the facility but has valued every moment of practice on the sand.
"Our sand courts being built were something that we looked forward to for quite some time," Wilson said. "Even when it has been wet and cold we have tried to get out in the sand every opportunity we have. Practicing in the sand makes a big difference and although we haven't been able to much, it has given our girls an opportunity to get a feel for the change of terrain. We're still working on our facility as a whole but we're very excited and proud of our sand courts and the potential of our facility."
UT Martin is a youth-filled squad with eight underclassmen as only junior Hannah Phillips has NCAA beach volleyball experience. However, the team's chemistry has been perfected since August as the same 12 Skyhawks who suited up for the indoor volleyball season will also take part in beach volleyball.
"The indoor and beach games have a lot in common but are also very different," Wilson said. "The same general skills are needed to play both – however, playing in the sand makes it more difficult to execute some of those general skills as movement is slower and it's tougher to elevate. With only two players on the court, I would say the beach game requires slightly more ball control, communication and mental toughness."
All in all, the Skyhawks are eager to establish a firm foundation for beach volleyball going forward.
"As a coaching staff, we feel strongly our program is headed in a positive direction," Wilson said. "We're excited about the opportunity that the addition of our beach program provides our girls."
Live stats for the double dual against Florida Southern College are available at the top of the website.
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
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