SKYHAWK BEACH VOLLEYBALL HOLDS HOME OPENER TOMORROW AGAINST IN-STATE FOES CHATTANOOGA AND AUSTIN PEAY

Thursday, March 14

Martin, Tenn.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

Chattanooga

Photo by: UT Martin University Relations

SKYHAWK BEACH VOLLEYBALL HOLDS HOME OPENER TOMORROW AGAINST IN-STATE FOES CHATTANOOGA AND AUSTIN PEAY

3/13/2024 11:18:00 AM | Beach Volleyball

MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time this season, the University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball squad will play in front of its home crowd with a pair of matchups tomorrow. The Skyhawks are set to square off against Chattanooga at 1 p.m. before facing Austin Peay at 5 p.m.

Tomorrow serves as a rare home outing on UT Martin's 2024 schedule as the Skyhawks will only play on their home sand again on April 19-20. The first match of the day will also serve as the Ohio Valley Conference opener for UT Martin, who is 7-2 all-time against Chattanooga (including a 3-0 record at the Skyhawk Beach Volleyball Complex). UT Martin will additionally take on a familiar Austin Peay squad for the 17^th time in the last five seasons, coming off the program's first home victory over the Governors the last time they met (3-2 on April 4, 2023). Overall, the Skyhawks have won seven consecutive home decisions – having not lost at their home facility since April 12, 2022.

UT Martin (3-5) has been idle since March 3 after opening the 2024 campaign with nonconference tournaments at Missouri State and UAB. The Skyhawks have found their most success at the No. 2 and No. 5 positions in the lineup, winning 62.5 percent (5-3 records) in both of those slots. UT Martin has added three wins at No. 1, three victories at No. 3 and two wins at No. 4.

A dozen Skyhawks have seen playing time in the early part of the spring, led by Sydney Eckhardt and Dylan Mott's five wins (all at No. 2). Kayla Carrell and Haeleigh Paulino have also added four wins apiece while bouncing back-and-forth between the No. 4 and No. 5 spots.

Olivia O'Keefe/Jenna Vallée (No. 1) and Ryan Rednour/Addy Vaughn (No. 3 and No. 4) have all collected three victories as pairs in 2024. Newcomers Dylan Sulcer (competing at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5) and Katie Cruise (No. 5) have tacked on two wins each while Reagan McGee (playing at No. 3 and No. 4) and Kristin Phillips (exclusively at No. 4) are responsible for one win apiece so far this season.