UT Martin
Stetson
UT MARTIN BEACH VOLLEYBALL DOWNS ANOTHER RANKED OPPONENT, REACHING 20-WIN PLATEAU AFTER VICTORY OVER NO. 20 STETSON ON LAST DAY OF GSU DIGGIN’ DUALS
4/8/2023 10:39:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
ATLANTA, Ga. – For the second straight day, the University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball squad outperformed one of the best teams in the nation as the Skyhawks soared to a 3-2 win over No. 20 Stetson to begin the final day of the GSU Diggin' Duals event.
After defeating No. 11 Georgia State yesterday with a win in the decisive fifth pairing, a similar situation played out today. It all came down to the No. 3 position and UT Martin stamped another signature win after Lucy Kaufman/Addy Vaughn chalked up a 10-21, 21-19, 15-13 victory to break the 2-2 tie.
Later in the day, the Skyhawks completed their participation in the GSU Diggin' Duals with a 5-0 setback to No. 16 South Carolina. UT Martin rounds out the tournament with its first two victories over nationally ranked opponents in school history while extending its program record for most wins in a single season (20-8 overall).
The Skyhawks overcame a 2-1 deficit to surge ahead over Stetson, who defeated every team in the tournament with the exception of UT Martin. After Kayla Bryant/Kayla Carrell battled but fell 21-17, 21-17 at No. 5, Haeleigh Paulino/Jenna Vallée held on for a huge 21-18, 20-22, 15-13 victory at No. 4 to even the match at 1-all.
Stetson was able to manage a 21-16, 21-10 win at No. 1 against the Skyhawks' vaunted tandem of Dylan Mott/Logan Wallick, UT Martin reeled off back-to-back wins. The first triumph came courtesy of Kambree Lucas/Olivia O'Keefe as they were responsible for a 15-21, 23-21, 15-11 win at No. 2. With the match on the line, Kaufman/Vaughn rose to the occasion to give the Skyhawks their third three-set win of the day.
Against South Carolina, UT Martin kept things close but ultimately the scores went in favor of the Gamecocks. Paulino/Vallée fell at No. 4 while Brooke Kuball/Ryan Rednour dropped a 21-18, 21-15 decision at No. 5. Kaufman/Vaughn were defeated 21-11, 21-13 at No. 3 while Lucas/O'Keefe (21-12, 21-16 at No. 2) and Mott/Wallick (21-15, 21-16 at No. 1) also represented the Skyhawks.
UT Martin will take a well-deserved break from action until Friday, April 21 when it begins a two-day, four-match stretch against all Ohio Valley Conference competition in Morehead, Ky. That event will serve as the final tuneup before the Skyhawks host the 2023 OVC Championship on April 27-29.
