EXTENDED FOURTH-SET RUN CAPS OFF SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL'S ROAD VICTORY AT OVC RIVAL SIUE

Friday, October 22

Edwardsville, Ill.

6 p.m.

UT Martin

11-13,7-4OVC

SIUE

5-16,2-8OVC

UT Martin

SIUE

EXTENDED FOURTH-SET RUN CAPS OFF SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL'S ROAD VICTORY AT OVC RIVAL SIUE

10/22/2021 9:00:00 PM | Volleyball

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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Freshman Dylan Mott scooped up a season-best 22 digs for the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad this evening, helping the Skyhawks earn a four-set triumph (27-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-7) at SIUE.

Mott's effort keyed a stingy UT Martin defensive effort as the host Cougars hit only .050 for the match. The Skyhawks turned away 13 blocks and collected 60 digs, improving to 7-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play and 11-13 overall.

Haeleigh Paulino accounted for her 12^th double-double of the season, tallying 23 assists and 10 digs. Logan Wallick tied for a match-high 12 kills and was followed closely behind by Olivia Saunders (11 kills on a .381 hitting percentage to go along with six blocks). Addy Vaughn (16 assists) and Karen Scanlon (nine kills, match-high seven blocks) also played big roles for UT Martin this evening.

The first set was the most competitive as the two sides combined for 10 tie scores and eight lead changes. The Skyhawks raced out to a 5-1 lead behind a pair of early kills from Francela Ulate. SIUE answered with six of the next seven points but back-to-back kills from Vaughn and Saunders tilted the score back in UT Martin's favor at 11-10. The Cougars went on top by a 20-15 margin but the Skyhawks fought back, claiming set point (24-22) following a 5-0 run that included back-to-back kills from Addison Conley. The Cougars chalked up three straight points to notch set point but UT Martin reeled off three consecutive points to take a 1-0 lead. Saunders formed a wall in the opening set, rejecting four blocks.

Saunders slammed down three kills in the Skyhawks' first eight points of the second set as UT Martin claimed an 8-6 advantage. Following a 4-1 SIUE surge, a Scanlon kill capped off five straight points for the Skyhawks to make the score 14-10. The UT Martin trio of Scanlon, Conley and Wallick each had a pair of kills as the Skyhawks outscored the Cougars by an 11-6 margin down the stretch. As a team, UT Martin hit .300 with just four errors in 30 swings as Saunders tied for a team-high with four kills in only six attempts.

Wallick compiled kills on the Skyhawks' first two points of the third set but SIUE claimed an 8-4 lead. The Cougar lead expanded to 13-6 before UT Martin went on a 4-1 run to close within four points. During one stretch, Saunders collected three consecutive kills to help ignite a Skyhawk rally but UT Martin would not get within five points the rest of the way. Mott came away with eight digs in the third set alone to pace the Skyhawks.

The fourth set was all UT Martin as the Skyhawks sided out at 100 percent (8-for-8), hit .500 as a team (with just one error) and limited SIUE to a -.192 attack percentage (five kills, 10 errors in 26 swings). UT Martin nabbed a 7-2 lead behind a kill and service ace from Ulate. A pair of Saunders kills – sandwiched around a Cougar attack error – started a 6-2 Skyhawk advantage and forced SIUE to burn a timeout. The Cougars recorded a kill on their first possession once play resumed but that was it as UT Martin ended the set on a remarkable 11-0 run.

The Skyhawks conclude a four-match road swing tomorrow when they face the same SIUE squad. First serve is set for 2 p.m. from First Community Arena.