UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL COMES UP SHORT AGAINST MISSOURI STATE; SCANLON NAMED TO A-STATE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT SQUAD

Saturday, August 28

Jonesboro, Ark.

12 p.m.

UT Martin

0-3

Missouri State

2-1

UT Martin

Missouri State

UT MARTIN VOLLEYBALL COMES UP SHORT AGAINST MISSOURI STATE; SCANLON NAMED TO A-STATE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT SQUAD

8/28/2021 6:26:00 PM | Volleyball

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JONESBORO, Ark. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad ran into a hot Missouri State squad today, falling by a 3-0 margin (18-25, 13-25, 18-25) to round out its participation in the season-opening A-State Invitational.

Following the event, senior Karen Scanlon was named to the seven-member all-tournament squad. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native racked up a team-best 23 kills (2.30 per set), a team-high .203 attack percentage and 19 digs (1.90 per set) in three matches over the weekend. It marked the second all-tournament honor in her career (also winning such accolades at the Skyhawk Invitational on Sept. 20-21, 2019).

Facing a tough Bears squad finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference last season, UT Martin could only manage an .042 attack percentage as a team today. Scanlon, Jessica Reynolds and Francela Ulate each had four kills while Addy Vaughn (12 assists) and Haeleigh Paulino (11 assists) split reps at the setter position.

Baillie Kearns topped the Skyhawks in digs for the second consecutive match, snagging a career-best 21 scoops (eclipsing her previous high of 16 at Murray State on Feb. 28, 2021). Addison Conley topped UT Martin with three blocks (two solo) at the net.

Missouri State scored the first five points of the match but the Skyhawks answered right back with a 6-0 run, capped off by a Ulate service ace. Soon thereafter, the Bears recorded six straight points before back-to-back kills from Olivia Saunders and Ulate provided UT Martin with temporary momentum. A service ace from Paulino willed the Skyhawks within a single point at 19-18 but Missouri State accounted for the final six points of the stanza. Kearns made plays all over the court in the first set, posting nine of the team's 18 digs.

Reynolds got UT Martin on the scoreboard in the second set with two straight kills but the Bears never trailed in the stanza. A kill from Saunders closed the Skyhawk gap to 7-5 but Missouri State responded with an 8-2 run. Zoe Merriweather put an end to the Bears' run with a kill but it wasn't enough as Missouri State scored 10 of the last 15 points. Reynolds (three kills) and Kearns (seven digs) paced UT Martin in the second set.

The third stanza featured seven tie scores and four lead changes. A service ace by Kayla Carrell gave the Skyhawks their first lead of the set at 3-2 as neither side would lead by more than two points until 16-13. Audrey Haworth gave UT Martin a boost with back-to-back kills as part of her season debut, tilting the score back in favor of the Skyhawks at 7-6. Kambree Lucas was responsible for a pair of kills in the span of three points while another Merriweather kill evened the score at 12-all. The Bears went ahead by a 20-14 margin but Haworth came right back with back-to-back points (kill, service ace). However, Missouri State managed to end the match on a 5-2 run. Scanlon compiled a team-high four kills (against just one error) to lead UT Martin in the final set.

The Skyhawks will take part in their second of four nonconference tournaments next weekend when they travel to Carbondale, Ill. for the Saluki Bash. UT Martin will clash against Oral Roberts (10 a.m.) and Southern Illinois (7 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 3 before taking on Alabama A&M at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4.