Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
UT MARTIN BEACH VOLLEYBALL LOOKING TO ADD ANOTHER “FIRST” TO HISTORIC 2023 CAMPAIGN AT UPCOMING NCAA TOURNAMENT
5/1/2023 2:22:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The long list of accolades for the 2023 University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball program seems to grow by the day.
A 13-match winning streak – almost doubling the previous school record of seven. The first victory in school history over a nationally ranked program. Then another win over a ranked opponent 24 hours later. Receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association top-20 poll for the first time ever. The first Ohio Valley Conference program to win back-to-back regular season titles. The first OVC school to win two straight league championship tournaments. An OVC record for most victories in a single season (27).
In a season that has featured so many new benchmarks for a surging program, the 2023 Skyhawks are hungry for more: the first postseason victory in school history. UT Martin will get that chance in two short days as it kicks off the 2023 NCAA Tournament against No. 17 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
"There's no doubt that this group has set a new standard for Skyhawk beach volleyball," said head coach Jaclynn Wilson, who has literally increased the school's win total in each of her six seasons at the helm. "To be where we are right now compared to our first year (0-15 record in 2017) is nothing short of amazing. For us to open the tournament and be the only match of the day is a cool opportunity that I know our girls are looking forward to."
While the 2023 OVC Championship tournament confirmed UT Martin's dominance – the Skyhawks won 48 out of 50 individual matchups in regular season league play – it also displayed a sign of balance. UT Martin's No. 4 pair of Haeleigh Paulino/Jenna Vallée and the No. 5 duo of Kayla Carrell/Ryan Rednour went 3-0 in the event, setting the tone for each of the three team victories.
After the No. 4 and No. 5 pairs did their jobs, each of the remaining UT Martin pairs dialed up match-clinching points. The No. 1 team of Dylan Mott/Logan Wallick sealed the first-round win over Tennessee Tech while the No. 3 duo of Lucy Kaufman/Addy Vaughn clinched the winner's bracket second-round showdown against Morehead State. In the finals one day later against the same Morehead State squad, it was the Skyhawk No. 2 pair's time to shine as Kambree Lucas/Olivia O'Keefe delivered yet another championship with a clinching point.
"A complete team is so tough to scout," Wilson said. "You're not always going to have your A-game but when your lineup is strong from top to bottom, you know your teammates are going to have your back and pick you up."
The facts reflect that statement. Three of the OVC's five first-team pairs are Skyhawks and another UT Martin pair was on the All-OVC second team. The only pair that didn't get all-conference recognition was the 5's – the same slot in the lineup where Carrell was 10-0 while playing alongside three different partners.
Mott/Wallick have exclusively partnered up at No. 1 since March 4, posting a 16-9 record against the very best the opposition has to offer. The All-OVC first team pair appears to be immune from all pressure as the highlight of their season was three consecutive match-clinching points – including the triumph at No. 11 Georgia State on April 7 – in a four-day span after the match was knotted at 2-all.
"If the match is on the line, I'd put Dylan and Logan up against any pair at any time," Wilson said. "Dylan is only a redshirt sophomore but she plays like a seasoned veteran – her on-court demeanor is always on point. What more can I say about Logan? She is a winner – she's a three-time all-conference player who will go down as one of the program's all-time greats."
At No. 2, Lucas/O'Keefe were a force from the start as they are the only Skyhawk pair to play alongside each other for all 35 matches (24-9 record with two matches unfinished). The All-OVC first teamers combined to win three of the league's nine Pair of the Week awards and did not drop a single set during conference play – clinching five of UT Martin's 10 league victories during the regular season.
"Our 2's have played at an extremely high level all season – they play perfectly off each other," Wilson said. "The trust and chemistry has been there since Day One. Kambree always rises to the challenge – she's been one-half of the pair that has clinched each of the last two OVC Tournament championships for us. We knew Olivia had the skillset to be a heavy contributor when she transferred here but she has exceeded all of my expectations – she is an absolute workhorse."
Like the Skyhawk 1's, Kaufman/Vaughn have exclusively remained partners since March 4. The duo has only played at No. 3 together and found immense success, reeling off a 20-7 record on the way to All-OVC second team status. That record includes an 11-match winning streak at one point during the season, a victory in the winner-take-all point against No. 20 Stetson on April 8 and three match-clinching decisions against OVC competition.
"Our 3's really started to click right before conference season and they just took off," Wilson said. "Lucy has shown no signs of rust since missing all of 2022 with her knee injuries – she's shown she is back at full-strength and that's been great news for us. Addy's positive attitude is infectious – I always know we're going to get incredible efforts and great energy out of her."
UT Martin's third and final All-OVC first team pair is its 4's as Paulino/Vallée have ambushed their opponents to the tune of a 23-3 record. In terms of experience this unlikely duo (Paulino as a three-time All-OVC performer, Vallée as a transfer who is in her first semester on campus) quickly meshed and at one point won 15 straight matches this spring.
"Going into a match knowing you have a pair who wins almost 90 percent of their matches is comforting," Wilson said. "Haeleigh's defense has been much improved and is a big reason for her success this year – she has elite court vision and can make plays anywhere in the sand. Jenna was more of a traditional indoor player when she got here but she quickly adapted and I couldn't keep her out of the lineup – her height at the net is a gamechanger."
The No. 5 pairing of Carrell/Rednour didn't officially play alongside each other until April 21 but all they've done is generate a six-match winning streak – currently the longest by any Skyhawk pair. They showed their grit during last Friday's winner's bracket matchup against Morehead State by overcoming a 21-13 first-set loss and a 10-3 deficit in the deciding third set to post a victory.
"Kayla is as professional as they come," Wilson said. "Ryan was the fifth partner she'd played with this spring but she always remained patient and also kept winning – that shows a lot about her character. Ryan has one of the best individual records on the team (13-3) and she earned a shot to play. They have adjusted on the fly and have presented a tough matchup for our opponents."
Wilson and associate head coach Julia Noe – the 2023 OVC Coaching Staff of the Year in beach volleyball – have carved out enough OVC championship rings to fit on one hand over the last 12 months (back-to-back sweeps of regular season and tournament titles in beach volleyball as well as the 2022 indoor regular season championship last fall).
Take a moment to consider the fact that a mere five months ago, 14 of the current beach volleyball student-athletes were on the indoor roster that collected the program's first postseason victory. Could a similar feat be just around the corner for a blossoming UT Martin beach volleyball program?
"We're a confident bunch and I think having six of our girls play in this same atmosphere last year will help calm the nerves a little," Wilson said. "With that said, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was in the NCAA Tournament last year too – they're a very, very dangerous team coming off another run through the Southland Conference regular season and tournament championships. I like where we're at but we'll need to be at our best – if we play the way we are capable of playing and leave it all out there on the sand, we'll take our chances."
A 13-match winning streak – almost doubling the previous school record of seven. The first victory in school history over a nationally ranked program. Then another win over a ranked opponent 24 hours later. Receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association top-20 poll for the first time ever. The first Ohio Valley Conference program to win back-to-back regular season titles. The first OVC school to win two straight league championship tournaments. An OVC record for most victories in a single season (27).
In a season that has featured so many new benchmarks for a surging program, the 2023 Skyhawks are hungry for more: the first postseason victory in school history. UT Martin will get that chance in two short days as it kicks off the 2023 NCAA Tournament against No. 17 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
"There's no doubt that this group has set a new standard for Skyhawk beach volleyball," said head coach Jaclynn Wilson, who has literally increased the school's win total in each of her six seasons at the helm. "To be where we are right now compared to our first year (0-15 record in 2017) is nothing short of amazing. For us to open the tournament and be the only match of the day is a cool opportunity that I know our girls are looking forward to."
While the 2023 OVC Championship tournament confirmed UT Martin's dominance – the Skyhawks won 48 out of 50 individual matchups in regular season league play – it also displayed a sign of balance. UT Martin's No. 4 pair of Haeleigh Paulino/Jenna Vallée and the No. 5 duo of Kayla Carrell/Ryan Rednour went 3-0 in the event, setting the tone for each of the three team victories.
After the No. 4 and No. 5 pairs did their jobs, each of the remaining UT Martin pairs dialed up match-clinching points. The No. 1 team of Dylan Mott/Logan Wallick sealed the first-round win over Tennessee Tech while the No. 3 duo of Lucy Kaufman/Addy Vaughn clinched the winner's bracket second-round showdown against Morehead State. In the finals one day later against the same Morehead State squad, it was the Skyhawk No. 2 pair's time to shine as Kambree Lucas/Olivia O'Keefe delivered yet another championship with a clinching point.
"A complete team is so tough to scout," Wilson said. "You're not always going to have your A-game but when your lineup is strong from top to bottom, you know your teammates are going to have your back and pick you up."
The facts reflect that statement. Three of the OVC's five first-team pairs are Skyhawks and another UT Martin pair was on the All-OVC second team. The only pair that didn't get all-conference recognition was the 5's – the same slot in the lineup where Carrell was 10-0 while playing alongside three different partners.
Mott/Wallick have exclusively partnered up at No. 1 since March 4, posting a 16-9 record against the very best the opposition has to offer. The All-OVC first team pair appears to be immune from all pressure as the highlight of their season was three consecutive match-clinching points – including the triumph at No. 11 Georgia State on April 7 – in a four-day span after the match was knotted at 2-all.
"If the match is on the line, I'd put Dylan and Logan up against any pair at any time," Wilson said. "Dylan is only a redshirt sophomore but she plays like a seasoned veteran – her on-court demeanor is always on point. What more can I say about Logan? She is a winner – she's a three-time all-conference player who will go down as one of the program's all-time greats."
At No. 2, Lucas/O'Keefe were a force from the start as they are the only Skyhawk pair to play alongside each other for all 35 matches (24-9 record with two matches unfinished). The All-OVC first teamers combined to win three of the league's nine Pair of the Week awards and did not drop a single set during conference play – clinching five of UT Martin's 10 league victories during the regular season.
"Our 2's have played at an extremely high level all season – they play perfectly off each other," Wilson said. "The trust and chemistry has been there since Day One. Kambree always rises to the challenge – she's been one-half of the pair that has clinched each of the last two OVC Tournament championships for us. We knew Olivia had the skillset to be a heavy contributor when she transferred here but she has exceeded all of my expectations – she is an absolute workhorse."
Like the Skyhawk 1's, Kaufman/Vaughn have exclusively remained partners since March 4. The duo has only played at No. 3 together and found immense success, reeling off a 20-7 record on the way to All-OVC second team status. That record includes an 11-match winning streak at one point during the season, a victory in the winner-take-all point against No. 20 Stetson on April 8 and three match-clinching decisions against OVC competition.
"Our 3's really started to click right before conference season and they just took off," Wilson said. "Lucy has shown no signs of rust since missing all of 2022 with her knee injuries – she's shown she is back at full-strength and that's been great news for us. Addy's positive attitude is infectious – I always know we're going to get incredible efforts and great energy out of her."
UT Martin's third and final All-OVC first team pair is its 4's as Paulino/Vallée have ambushed their opponents to the tune of a 23-3 record. In terms of experience this unlikely duo (Paulino as a three-time All-OVC performer, Vallée as a transfer who is in her first semester on campus) quickly meshed and at one point won 15 straight matches this spring.
"Going into a match knowing you have a pair who wins almost 90 percent of their matches is comforting," Wilson said. "Haeleigh's defense has been much improved and is a big reason for her success this year – she has elite court vision and can make plays anywhere in the sand. Jenna was more of a traditional indoor player when she got here but she quickly adapted and I couldn't keep her out of the lineup – her height at the net is a gamechanger."
The No. 5 pairing of Carrell/Rednour didn't officially play alongside each other until April 21 but all they've done is generate a six-match winning streak – currently the longest by any Skyhawk pair. They showed their grit during last Friday's winner's bracket matchup against Morehead State by overcoming a 21-13 first-set loss and a 10-3 deficit in the deciding third set to post a victory.
"Kayla is as professional as they come," Wilson said. "Ryan was the fifth partner she'd played with this spring but she always remained patient and also kept winning – that shows a lot about her character. Ryan has one of the best individual records on the team (13-3) and she earned a shot to play. They have adjusted on the fly and have presented a tough matchup for our opponents."
Wilson and associate head coach Julia Noe – the 2023 OVC Coaching Staff of the Year in beach volleyball – have carved out enough OVC championship rings to fit on one hand over the last 12 months (back-to-back sweeps of regular season and tournament titles in beach volleyball as well as the 2022 indoor regular season championship last fall).
Take a moment to consider the fact that a mere five months ago, 14 of the current beach volleyball student-athletes were on the indoor roster that collected the program's first postseason victory. Could a similar feat be just around the corner for a blossoming UT Martin beach volleyball program?
"We're a confident bunch and I think having six of our girls play in this same atmosphere last year will help calm the nerves a little," Wilson said. "With that said, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was in the NCAA Tournament last year too – they're a very, very dangerous team coming off another run through the Southland Conference regular season and tournament championships. I like where we're at but we'll need to be at our best – if we play the way we are capable of playing and leave it all out there on the sand, we'll take our chances."
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
Wednesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 13