Friday, August 30
Bloomington, Ind.
9 a.m.
UT Martin
vs
Marshall
Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
UT MARTIN SET TO OPEN 2019 VOLLEYBALL CAMPAIGN AT THE INDIANA INVITATIONAL THIS WEEKEND
8/28/2019 9:29:00 AM | Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The 2019 University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball season begins this weekend as the Skyhawks are one of five teams to take part in the Indiana Invitational on Friday, Aug. 30 through Saturday, Aug. 31.
UT Martin, FIU, host Indiana, Marshall and Santa Clara are all making the trek to Bloomington, Ind., as the tournament will be the first official event held in the newly-built Wilkinson Hall. The Skyhawks will match up against Marshall (9 a.m. CST) and Santa Clara (4:30 p.m. CST) on Friday before concluding the tournament against Indiana (9 a.m. CST) and FIU (11:30 a.m. CST) on Saturday.
This marks the second time that UT Martin has traveled to Bloomington, Ind. for a tournament hosted by Indiana. In 2009, the Skyhawks won two of three matches at the Indiana Adidas Classic, topping Indiana (3-2) and Illinois-Chicago (3-1) before falling to Kentucky (3-0).
Fifth-year head coach Jaclynn Wilson oversees a UT Martin squad that returns a wealth of experience, as five of the nine returners were full-time starters in 2018. Senior outside hitter Hannah Phillips was named to the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference squad after averaging a team-high 2.70 kills per set in league play last season.
Gintare Mackeviciute (fifth in the OVC with a .291 attack percentage in 2018) and Justine Walker (OVC-best 122 blocks last season) return as starting middle blockers for the Skyhawks. They join setter Kenzie Hinshaw (first in the OVC with 43 service aces last fall) and defensive specialist/outside hitter Jamie Rys (190 kills, 269 digs in 2018) as returning starters for UT Martin.
Marshall is coming off a 10-19 record last fall and is entering the first year under head coach Ari Aganus. The Thundering Herd are led by redshirt junior outside hitter Ciara Debell, who earned a spot on the Conference USA Preseason team after tallying 437 kills (4.24 per set) in 2018.
Santa Clara was 6-24 last season and is also led by a first-year head coach in Erin Lindsey. Opposite hitter Michelle Shaffer paced the Broncos last season with 297 kills (2.75 per set), which led to a West Coast Conference All-Freshman nod.
Indiana head coach Steve Aird is entering his second season, as his Hoosiers posted a 16-15 mark in 2018. Middle blocker Deyshia Lofton claimed All-Big Ten Conference second team accolades last season after collecting a team-highs of 130 blocks to go along with a .336 attack percentage for the Hoosiers.
FIU finished last season with a 19-12 overall record, advancing to the Conference USA tournament finals for the first time in school history. Eighth-year head coach Rita Buck-Crockett returns Abbie Hughes, who divvied out 1,019 assists (8.17 per set) on her way to C-USA All-Freshman accolades a season ago.
Saturday's match against Indiana will be live streamed while live stats will be available for all four matches this weekend. Those links can be found at the top of the webpage.
UT Martin, FIU, host Indiana, Marshall and Santa Clara are all making the trek to Bloomington, Ind., as the tournament will be the first official event held in the newly-built Wilkinson Hall. The Skyhawks will match up against Marshall (9 a.m. CST) and Santa Clara (4:30 p.m. CST) on Friday before concluding the tournament against Indiana (9 a.m. CST) and FIU (11:30 a.m. CST) on Saturday.
This marks the second time that UT Martin has traveled to Bloomington, Ind. for a tournament hosted by Indiana. In 2009, the Skyhawks won two of three matches at the Indiana Adidas Classic, topping Indiana (3-2) and Illinois-Chicago (3-1) before falling to Kentucky (3-0).
Fifth-year head coach Jaclynn Wilson oversees a UT Martin squad that returns a wealth of experience, as five of the nine returners were full-time starters in 2018. Senior outside hitter Hannah Phillips was named to the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference squad after averaging a team-high 2.70 kills per set in league play last season.
Gintare Mackeviciute (fifth in the OVC with a .291 attack percentage in 2018) and Justine Walker (OVC-best 122 blocks last season) return as starting middle blockers for the Skyhawks. They join setter Kenzie Hinshaw (first in the OVC with 43 service aces last fall) and defensive specialist/outside hitter Jamie Rys (190 kills, 269 digs in 2018) as returning starters for UT Martin.
Marshall is coming off a 10-19 record last fall and is entering the first year under head coach Ari Aganus. The Thundering Herd are led by redshirt junior outside hitter Ciara Debell, who earned a spot on the Conference USA Preseason team after tallying 437 kills (4.24 per set) in 2018.
Santa Clara was 6-24 last season and is also led by a first-year head coach in Erin Lindsey. Opposite hitter Michelle Shaffer paced the Broncos last season with 297 kills (2.75 per set), which led to a West Coast Conference All-Freshman nod.
Indiana head coach Steve Aird is entering his second season, as his Hoosiers posted a 16-15 mark in 2018. Middle blocker Deyshia Lofton claimed All-Big Ten Conference second team accolades last season after collecting a team-highs of 130 blocks to go along with a .336 attack percentage for the Hoosiers.
FIU finished last season with a 19-12 overall record, advancing to the Conference USA tournament finals for the first time in school history. Eighth-year head coach Rita Buck-Crockett returns Abbie Hughes, who divvied out 1,019 assists (8.17 per set) on her way to C-USA All-Freshman accolades a season ago.
Saturday's match against Indiana will be live streamed while live stats will be available for all four matches this weekend. Those links can be found at the top of the webpage.
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