UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL COMES UP JUST SHORT AT MEMPHIS; HINSHAW AND PHILLIPS EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT ACCOLADES

Saturday, September 7

Memphis, Tenn.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

3-4

Memphis

6-0

UT Martin

Memphis

UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL COMES UP JUST SHORT AT MEMPHIS; HINSHAW AND PHILLIPS EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT ACCOLADES

9/7/2019 5:25:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score PDF

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team put up a fight today in the Tiger Brawl finale but ultimately was handed a 3-1 setback (17-25, 27-25, 18-25, 22-25) to host Memphis.

Following the tournament, junior setter Kenzie Hinshaw and senior outside hitter Hannah Phillips were each named to the Tiger Brawl all-tournament team. Hinshaw recorded 85 assists (7.08 per set) to go along with 29 digs (2.42 per set), 10 kills on a .333 attack percentage, seven blocks and a pair of service aces in the three-match event. Phillips tallied a team-best 31 kills (2.58 per set) on a .296 hitting percentage, 27 digs (2.25 per set), 10 blocks, two service aces and three assists over the weekend.

During today's match, Phillips came away with a team-best 13 kills while hitting .243 on 37 swings. Hinshaw was responsible for 31 assists while Jamie Rys (career-best 23 digs) paced four Skyhawks in double-digit digs. Justine Walker also had a hand in 12 assisted blocks, helping UT Martin (3-4) collect 17 blocks as a team.

Memphis (6-0) began the first set on an 8-3 run before the Skyhawks trimmed their deficit to 11-8. Moments later, the Tigers used an 8-1 surge to go on top by double-digits (21-10) but UT Martin was able to make it interesting late. A Gintare Mackeviciute kill spurned a 5-0 Skyhawk run and following back-to-back block assists, UT Martin battled all the way back to 23-17 before Memphis scored two straight points to close out the first stanza.

The Skyhawks showed tons of grit in the second set, staving off set point on two different occasions to even the match at 1-all. Walker was responsible for each of UT Martin's first four points in the set, dialing up three kills and a block assist in that span. Neither side would open up more than a two-point advantage four unanswered points out of Memphis created a 14-11 Skyhawk deficit. The Tigers eventually stretched their lead out to 22-18 but UT Martin evened the match at 24-all after a Jessica Reynolds kill. Memphis led 25-24 but Phillips (kill), Logan Wallick (kill) and Mackeviciute/Hinshaw (assisted block) completed the Skyhawk comeback.

Phillips started the third set with two straight kills and chipped in a block assist to provide UT Martin with an early 3-0 advantage. However, the Tigers reeled off six unanswered points as part of a 9-1 run. The Skyhawks battled all the way back to even the score at 9-all and the score remained tied (12-12) until a 6-0 Memphis surge. UT Martin would not get any closer than five points for the remainder of the set.

The Skyhawks received a pair of early kills out of Wallick in the fourth stanza but yet another extended run by the Tigers (6-0) led to a 10-4 UT Martin deficit. The Skyhawks soon opened up a 16-14 advantage behind a lengthy 11-3 run. The duo of Reynolds and Hinshaw each came away with a pair of kills during UT Martin's surge. Memphis later scored four straight points to go on top 24-19 but the Skyhawks responded quickly with a 3-0 run of their own, forcing Memphis to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Tigers came away with an assisted block to conclude the match.

UT Martin resumes its nonconference tournament schedule next weekend when it takes part in the Billiken Invitational hosted by Saint Louis University. The Skyhawks are pitted against Marshall on Friday, Sept. 13 and against both Troy and Saint Louis on Saturday, Sept. 14.