UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL REMAINS UNDEFEATED AT HOME, TAKING DOWN MURRAY STATE IN FOUR SETS

Saturday, October 9

Martin, Tenn.

11 a.m.

UT Martin

Murray State

UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL REMAINS UNDEFEATED AT HOME, TAKING DOWN MURRAY STATE IN FOUR SETS

10/9/2021 8:20:00 PM | Volleyball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball program equaled its longest winning streak in a decade with a 3-1 victory over Murray State (25-20, 25-16, 23-25, 25-17) at Skyhawk Fieldhouse this afternoon.

Today's result was the sixth consecutive win and the ninth victory in the last 10 tries for UT Martin, who improves to 6-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play and 10-10 overall. The Skyhawks last reeled off six wins in a row on Sept. 30 through Oct. 14, 2011.

Logan Wallick managed a season-best 18 kills on a .485 hitting percentage today to pace a trio of UT Martin players to reach double figures in the kill column. Less than 24 hours after she posted a triple-double, Karen Scanlon had 13 kills, nine blocks and seven digs while Addison Conley recorded 10 kills and eight digs for the Skyhawks, who hit .241 as a team today.

Haeleigh Paulino was responsible for her ninth double-double of the 2021 campaign as the sophomore setter from Peoria, Ariz. collected 25 assists and a team-best 16 digs. Addy Vaughn (15 assists), Kayla Carrell (12 digs), Baillie Kearns (10 digs) and Zoe Merriweather (seven blocks) also turned in notable performances as UT Martin won its fifth straight home meeting in the all-time series against the Racers.

The first set was tied at 6-6 before an 8-3 Skyhawk run as six different UT Martin players (Francela Ulate, Scanlon, Conley, Merriweather, Vaughn, Wallick) each had one kill during a 14-9 lead. The two sides alternated points for 11 consecutive rallies at one point before Conley caught fire. After Murray State shaved its deficit to 21-19, the senior out of London, Ohio put down three consecutive kills before Vaughn closed out the opening set with a kill to give the Skyhawks a 1-0 advantage. UT Martin hit .289 in the first stanza, highlighted by a team-high four kills from Conley.

The Skyhawk offense upped its attack percentage in the second set, hitting .343 with 15 kills and three errors in 35 swings. Scanlon and Conley both had two kills early as UT Martin took a 7-3 lead. Wallick soon generated three kills in the span of seven Skyhawk points, allowing UT Martin to expand its lead out to 21-10. Kills by Conley and Ulate polished off the set for the Skyhawks, who were led by Scanlon (team-highs of four kills, four blocks) in the second stanza.

UT Martin nearly completed a sweep but a third set that featured 12 tie scores and seven lead changes went the Racers' way late. Murray State scored four of the first five points but a Conley kill tilted the score in favor of the Skyhawks at 6-5. Moments later, Wallick secured three straight kills for UT Martin as the Skyhawks stretched their lead out to 18-15. However, the Racers tallied six of the next seven points to stave off elimination. Wallick (six) and Scanlon (five) joined forces for 11 of UT Martin's 15 kills in the third stanza.

The Skyhawks shined in the fourth set, putting the match away thanks to a 6-1 run in the latter stages of the stanza. Like the first set, UT Martin displayed plenty of offensive balance as Wallick, Ulate, Scanlon, Merriweather and Conley all managed kills during the Skyhawks' first seven points. Wallick slammed down three kills in a five-point span to allow UT Martin to nab a 14-9 edge. Murray State pulled within two points (14-12) but the aforementioned 6-1 run essentially iced the win as the Skyhawks led by as many as eight points going away. Wallick had six kills with zero errors in eight attempts (.750 hitting percentage) in the final set.

A season-long five-match homestand comes to an end on Tuesday, Oct. 12 as UT Martin takes on OVC foe Southeast Missouri. First serve from Skyhawk Fieldhouse is set for 6 p.m.