SKYHAWK TRIO LANDS ON PRESEASON PLAYER TOP-10 LIST AS UT MARTIN VOTED ATOP OVC BEACH VOLLEYBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
2/16/2024 1:00:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball squad was tabbed as the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorites, the league announced today.
Seven of the 12 OVC head coaches and communication directors placed the Skyhawks atop their preseason standings as UT Martin's 47 points edged out Chattanooga (five first-place votes, 45 points) in the predicted order of finish. Morehead State (30 points), Tennessee Tech (24), Lindenwood (20) and Eastern Illinois (14) rounded out the poll.
The Skyhawks generated three members of the league's Preseason Player Top-10 in Dylan Mott (No. 3), Olivia O'Keefe (No. 6) and Haeleigh Paulino (No. 10).
A redshirt junior out of Hendersonville, Tenn., Mott has captured All-OVC first team accolades in each of her first two seasons in a UT Martin uniform. The 2022 OVC Freshman of the Year went 21-12 overall with an 8-2 mark against No. 1 competitors in OVC play last spring. She was part of two OVC Pair of the Week honors and also secured a spot on the OVC All-Tournament team. She owns the most individual victories (31 – 13 more than second place) and best winning percentage (.633) at No. 1 in school history.
O'Keefe shined in her debut season as a Skyhawk in 2023, collecting All-OVC first team honors after going 24-10 with an unblemished 10-0 mark against OVC competition. In fact, the senior from Scottsdale, Ariz. did not drop a single set against league opposition and was part of three OVC Pair of the Week accolades. She was one-half of the 2023 OVC Championship Most Valuable Pair, additionally earning a spot on the OVC All-Tournament squad. Her .714 winning percentage at No. 2 last season was the highest in that flight by any player in program history (minimum 10 decisions).
A three-time All-OVC recipient (including first team status in 2023 and 2021), Paulino was responsible for a 28-7 overall record and 10-0 mark in league play last season. Alongside fellow returner Jenna Vallée, the graduate who hails from Peoria, Ariz. won 15 matches in a row at one point and was one of just 54 pairs across NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA levels to be named an American Volleyball Coaches Association Top Flight Award winner in 2023. Paulino is the program's all-time leader in individual victories (67) and OVC wins (27).
Last season, the trio of Mott, O'Keefe and Paulino helped UT Martin claim its second straight season sweep of the OVC championship – earning the regular season and tournament titles. The Skyhawks piled up an OVC record 27 team victories and became the league's first program to complete an undefeated season in league play (10-0) – winning 48 of their 50 head-to-head matchups against league opponents.
The 2024 UT Martin beach volleyball season officially begins in one week as the Skyhawks will visit Ozark, Mo. for a Feb. 23-24 tournament hosted by Missouri State.
Seven of the 12 OVC head coaches and communication directors placed the Skyhawks atop their preseason standings as UT Martin's 47 points edged out Chattanooga (five first-place votes, 45 points) in the predicted order of finish. Morehead State (30 points), Tennessee Tech (24), Lindenwood (20) and Eastern Illinois (14) rounded out the poll.
The Skyhawks generated three members of the league's Preseason Player Top-10 in Dylan Mott (No. 3), Olivia O'Keefe (No. 6) and Haeleigh Paulino (No. 10).
A redshirt junior out of Hendersonville, Tenn., Mott has captured All-OVC first team accolades in each of her first two seasons in a UT Martin uniform. The 2022 OVC Freshman of the Year went 21-12 overall with an 8-2 mark against No. 1 competitors in OVC play last spring. She was part of two OVC Pair of the Week honors and also secured a spot on the OVC All-Tournament team. She owns the most individual victories (31 – 13 more than second place) and best winning percentage (.633) at No. 1 in school history.
O'Keefe shined in her debut season as a Skyhawk in 2023, collecting All-OVC first team honors after going 24-10 with an unblemished 10-0 mark against OVC competition. In fact, the senior from Scottsdale, Ariz. did not drop a single set against league opposition and was part of three OVC Pair of the Week accolades. She was one-half of the 2023 OVC Championship Most Valuable Pair, additionally earning a spot on the OVC All-Tournament squad. Her .714 winning percentage at No. 2 last season was the highest in that flight by any player in program history (minimum 10 decisions).
A three-time All-OVC recipient (including first team status in 2023 and 2021), Paulino was responsible for a 28-7 overall record and 10-0 mark in league play last season. Alongside fellow returner Jenna Vallée, the graduate who hails from Peoria, Ariz. won 15 matches in a row at one point and was one of just 54 pairs across NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA levels to be named an American Volleyball Coaches Association Top Flight Award winner in 2023. Paulino is the program's all-time leader in individual victories (67) and OVC wins (27).
Last season, the trio of Mott, O'Keefe and Paulino helped UT Martin claim its second straight season sweep of the OVC championship – earning the regular season and tournament titles. The Skyhawks piled up an OVC record 27 team victories and became the league's first program to complete an undefeated season in league play (10-0) – winning 48 of their 50 head-to-head matchups against league opponents.
The 2024 UT Martin beach volleyball season officially begins in one week as the Skyhawks will visit Ozark, Mo. for a Feb. 23-24 tournament hosted by Missouri State.
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 27
Tuesday, March 17
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 26
Tuesday, March 10
4-27-23 Beach Cruises in OVC Opener
Thursday, April 10
4-28-23: Beach Rolls in OVC Semifinals
Thursday, April 10