UT MARTIN CLAIMS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON ON FINAL DAY OF INDIANA TOURNAMENT; MACKEVICIUTE NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT SQUAD

Saturday, August 31

Bloomington, Ind.

9 a.m.

UT Martin

0-3

Indiana

3-0

UT Martin

Indiana

UT MARTIN CLAIMS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON ON FINAL DAY OF INDIANA TOURNAMENT; MACKEVICIUTE NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT SQUAD

8/31/2019 4:20:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Indiana PDF FIU PDF

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team earned its first victory of the young 2019 campaign this afternoon, defeating FIU by a 3-1 margin (25-17, 25-14, 22-25, 25-23) to close out the Indiana Invitational. Earlier in the day, the Skyhawks fell by a 3-0 margin to host Indiana (18-25, 13-25, 21-25).

On the day, Jessica Reynolds piled up a team-best 23 kills (3.29 per set) while Gintare Mackeviciute posted a .361 hitting percentage on 36 swings. Kenzie Hinshaw distributed 62 assists (8.86 per set) and also led the way with 22 digs (3.14 per set). Mackeviciute and Justine Walker accumulated nine blocks apiece (1.29 per set) to lead UT Martin at the net.

Mackeviciute was named to the Indiana Invitational all-tournament team after a stellar two days of performances. The senior middle blocker out of Jonava, Lithuania tallied 26 kills (2.40 per set) on a .324 attack percentage while also pitching in 15 blocks (1.00 per set) over the first four matches of the season.

The Skyhawks resume the 2019 slate next weekend when they make the short trip to Bluff City for the Memphis Invitational. UT Martin will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Gardner-Webb on Friday, Sept. 6 before facing host Memphis on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Indiana
The Skyhawks squared off against the Big Ten Conference Hoosiers this morning but could not find any momentum in a 3-0 setback.

A kill by Walker got UT Martin going in the first set but Indiana quickly opened up a 6-1 advantage. Reynolds followed with a kill and a service ace before back-to-back kills by Hinshaw and Hannah Phillips closed the Skyhawk deficit to 7-6. The Hoosiers were able to stretch their lead back out to five points late but Mackeviciute generated back-to-back kills to ignite a 3-0 surge. After UT Martin pulled within two points at 18-16, Indiana was able to end the set on a 7-2 run.

Reynolds (kill) and Phillips/Walker (assisted block) helped the Skyhawks race out to an early advantage in the second stanza. The Hoosiers responded with a 7-1 run before Mackeviciute and Reynolds went on a tear, combining for five kills in the span of five UT Martin points to make the score 11-7. However, Indiana would soon score five unanswered points and the Skyhawks could not dig themselves out of the hole.

The third set started off strongly for UT Martin, as Reynolds generated back-to-back kills before a Phillips kill made the score 5-4 in favor of the Skyhawks. The Hoosiers replied with six straight points on their way to a 9-1 run. UT Martin kept fighting, unreeling five unanswered points that included kills by Jamie Rys and Reynolds. After Indiana led by a 23-16 margin, the Skyhawks closed the gap to three points after Mackeviciute slammed down back-to-back kills but the comeback attempt was too late.

FIU
UT Martin displayed a lethal offensive performance as the Skyhawks hit .295 as a team in a four-set triumph over FIU. Hinshaw was a big part of UT Martin's victory as the junior boasted her 25^th career double-double with 34 assists and 16 digs to go along with three service aces, three kills and two blocks.

The Skyhawks gained the upper hand in the first set thanks to a late surge. Four different UT Martin players were responsible for the Skyhawks' first four kills of the match but the Panthers managed to take a 10-8 lead. Back-to-back service aces by Hinshaw were included during a 7-1 UT Martin run. Addison Conley powered through for a pair of big kills in the latter stages of the stanza to help the Skyhawks take the early momentum.

UT Martin took a 2-0 advantage in the match after committing just one attack error in 30 attempts in the second set. The trio of Phillips, Conley and Mackeviciute joined forces for three straight kills to snap an early 4-4 tie. Reynolds joined in with a big kill to start an 11-4 run that wrapped up the set for the Skyhawks, as UT Martin accounted for each of the final six points of the stanza.

The Skyhawks carried that momentum into the third set before FIU was able to force a fourth set. Karen Scanlon accumulated three kills as UT Martin built up a 7-2 advantage but the Panthers would soon piece together an 8-1 run to go on top by a 13-11 margin. The Skyhawks battled back to go ahead 17-16 but FIU responded with a 7-2 run on its way to the set win.

Reynolds boasted a pair of kills and a block assist as part of an early 4-0 run for UT Martin in the fourth set. The Panthers took a 9-8 lead but Mackeviciute took over, compiling three kills in the span of four Skyhawk points. FIU later took a 19-18 advantage but that was the last time that UT Martin would trail as Walker came away with a pair of kills down the stretch – including the match winner.