Friday, November 11
Cookeville, Tenn.
6 p.m.
UT Martin
21-9,15-2OVC
3
at
1
Tennessee Tech
16-13,13-4OVC
1
2
3
4
F
UT Martin
25
23
25
25
3
Tennessee Tech
23
25
14
21
1
CHAMPIONS! UT MARTIN CLAIMS FIRST OVC REGULAR SEASON VOLLEYBALL TITLE IN TWO DECADES AFTER EIGHTH STRAIGHT VICTORY
11/11/2022 10:52:00 PM | Volleyball
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad mission roared to a four-set triumph in the opening match of the winner-take-all series against Tennessee Tech for the right to be called Ohio Valley Conference regular season champions.
When the smoke cleared, the Skyhawks ran their winning streak out to eight matches, picking up the 25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21 victory in front of 1,533 fans. With the win, UT Martin improves to 21-9 overall and equals the school record for OVC victories with 15 (against only two losses). The Skyhawks earned their third OVC regular season championship in school history (first since 2002) and will host the OVC Championship tournament next week, starting on Thursday, Nov. 17 and running through Saturday, Nov. 19.
Defense was crucial this evening as the first-place UT Martin squad needed one win this weekend to clinch the regular season title against a sizzling Tennessee Tech team that entered the match on a 10-match winning streak. The Golden Eagles (16-13, 13-4 OVC) had dropped only two sets in seven OVC home matches this fall but the Skyhawks were up for the challenge, registering 92 digs and 10 blocks. Dylan Mott led the way with 25 digs while Mia Saenz rejected eight blocks at the net for UT Martin.
Karen Scanlon (15 kills, 17 digs, five blocks), Kambree Lucas (10 kills, 16 digs) and Haeleigh Paulino (26 assists, 15 digs) each compiled double-doubles for the Skyhawks tonight. Logan Wallick (14 kills) and Kayla Carrell (12 digs) additionally turned in monster performances in a match that featured 25 tie scores and six lead changes.
Gallery: (11-11-2022) Volleyball at Tennessee Tech
Wallick got things started with a kill on the opening possession of the match. Scanlon soon tacked on two kills herself but Tennessee Tech took a 10-6 advantage. Lucas went on a frenzy as the sophomore from Brazil, Ind. put away four kills in the span of six points to even the score at 16-all. After the Golden Eagles went on a 4-0 run and maintained a 22-18 lead, UT Martin unreeled a 7-1 run to end the set, capped off with four straight points from Scanlon (three kills, one block assist). Scanlon had six kills while Mott scooped up nine digs in the first stanza.
The Skyhawks looked determined in the early stages of the second set as a Carrell service ace provided UT Martin with a 6-1 lead. Tennessee Tech responded with seven unanswered points as part of a 15-5 run that left the Skyhawks facing a 16-11 deficit. UT Martin climbed back to take a 20-19 lead as Saenz planted three kills in the span of seven points late. However, the Golden Eagles found a way to tie the match at 1-1. Saenz recorded team-highs of three kills and three blocks in the second set alone.
A relatively slow start was quickly overcome by the Skyhawks in the third set. Trailing by a 6-4 margin, UT Martin used an 8-0 run to double up the host by a 12-6 score. Tennessee Tech scored the next four points but would never get any closer than two points for the remainder of the set as the Skyhawks thwarted a potential Golden Eagle comeback bid. UT Martin accounted for 13 of the final 17 points as Lucas ended strong with three kills in the final seven points – including the set-clincher. Wallick (four kills on a .400 attack percentage) and Addy Vaughn (six assists) guided a Skyhawk offense that hit .263 while Saenz (three blocks) and Scanlon (seven digs) carried the defensive unit.
UT Martin seized the opportunity to end the match in four sets as Scanlon and Angel Baylark teamed up for six kills apiece in the final stanza. The score was knotted at 5-all until the Skyhawks went on a 5-0 run, never relinquishing the lead from that point forward. The tandem of Baylark and Scanlon combined for five consecutive UT Martin kills at one point to help the Skyhawks reach a 19-14 advantage. Tennessee Tech gave it their all to try and force a fifth set – inching within two points as late as 23-21 – but a Wallick kill set up match point. A Golden Eagle attack error veered left and a celebration broke out as UT Martin formed a dogpile to celebrate.
These two teams will meet up in the regular season finale tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Hooper Eblen Center.
When the smoke cleared, the Skyhawks ran their winning streak out to eight matches, picking up the 25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21 victory in front of 1,533 fans. With the win, UT Martin improves to 21-9 overall and equals the school record for OVC victories with 15 (against only two losses). The Skyhawks earned their third OVC regular season championship in school history (first since 2002) and will host the OVC Championship tournament next week, starting on Thursday, Nov. 17 and running through Saturday, Nov. 19.
Defense was crucial this evening as the first-place UT Martin squad needed one win this weekend to clinch the regular season title against a sizzling Tennessee Tech team that entered the match on a 10-match winning streak. The Golden Eagles (16-13, 13-4 OVC) had dropped only two sets in seven OVC home matches this fall but the Skyhawks were up for the challenge, registering 92 digs and 10 blocks. Dylan Mott led the way with 25 digs while Mia Saenz rejected eight blocks at the net for UT Martin.
Karen Scanlon (15 kills, 17 digs, five blocks), Kambree Lucas (10 kills, 16 digs) and Haeleigh Paulino (26 assists, 15 digs) each compiled double-doubles for the Skyhawks tonight. Logan Wallick (14 kills) and Kayla Carrell (12 digs) additionally turned in monster performances in a match that featured 25 tie scores and six lead changes.
Wallick got things started with a kill on the opening possession of the match. Scanlon soon tacked on two kills herself but Tennessee Tech took a 10-6 advantage. Lucas went on a frenzy as the sophomore from Brazil, Ind. put away four kills in the span of six points to even the score at 16-all. After the Golden Eagles went on a 4-0 run and maintained a 22-18 lead, UT Martin unreeled a 7-1 run to end the set, capped off with four straight points from Scanlon (three kills, one block assist). Scanlon had six kills while Mott scooped up nine digs in the first stanza.
The Skyhawks looked determined in the early stages of the second set as a Carrell service ace provided UT Martin with a 6-1 lead. Tennessee Tech responded with seven unanswered points as part of a 15-5 run that left the Skyhawks facing a 16-11 deficit. UT Martin climbed back to take a 20-19 lead as Saenz planted three kills in the span of seven points late. However, the Golden Eagles found a way to tie the match at 1-1. Saenz recorded team-highs of three kills and three blocks in the second set alone.
A relatively slow start was quickly overcome by the Skyhawks in the third set. Trailing by a 6-4 margin, UT Martin used an 8-0 run to double up the host by a 12-6 score. Tennessee Tech scored the next four points but would never get any closer than two points for the remainder of the set as the Skyhawks thwarted a potential Golden Eagle comeback bid. UT Martin accounted for 13 of the final 17 points as Lucas ended strong with three kills in the final seven points – including the set-clincher. Wallick (four kills on a .400 attack percentage) and Addy Vaughn (six assists) guided a Skyhawk offense that hit .263 while Saenz (three blocks) and Scanlon (seven digs) carried the defensive unit.
UT Martin seized the opportunity to end the match in four sets as Scanlon and Angel Baylark teamed up for six kills apiece in the final stanza. The score was knotted at 5-all until the Skyhawks went on a 5-0 run, never relinquishing the lead from that point forward. The tandem of Baylark and Scanlon combined for five consecutive UT Martin kills at one point to help the Skyhawks reach a 19-14 advantage. Tennessee Tech gave it their all to try and force a fifth set – inching within two points as late as 23-21 – but a Wallick kill set up match point. A Golden Eagle attack error veered left and a celebration broke out as UT Martin formed a dogpile to celebrate.
These two teams will meet up in the regular season finale tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Hooper Eblen Center.
Team Stats
UTM
TTU
Kills
56
52
Errors
28
31
Attempts
203
200
Hitting %
.138
.105
Points
67.0
65.0
Assists
50
48
Aces
1
1
Blocks
10.0
12.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB/OPP
/ Volleyball
S/OPP
/ VolleyballOH
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