Friday, September 6
Martin, Tenn.
11:30 a.m.
UT Martin
vs
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
UT Martin Volleyball Proudly Hosts Two-Day, Four-Team Skyhawk Classic Starting Tomorrow
9/5/2024 8:28:00 AM | Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – Making its 2024 home debut this weekend is the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team, who hosts the Skyhawk Classic on Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 7.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Missouri State and North Alabama joins UT Martin in the 2024 tournament field as each of those three squads will be making its first visit to Skyhawk Fieldhouse since UT Martin joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992. A total of six matches will be played over the course of two days as the Skyhawks play host to an in-season tournament for the seventh time since 2011.
Action begins on Friday as Missouri State and North Alabama are set to square off at 9 a.m. UT Martin then plays its home season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 11:30 a.m. before Arkansas-Pine Bluff takes on Missouri State at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks wrap up Day 1 of the event with a 6:30 p.m. showdown against North Alabama.
A pair of matches are on tap for Saturday, starting with North Alabama squaring off against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 11 a.m. UT Martin then hosts Missouri State at 2 p.m. to conclude the tournament.
The Skyhawks enter the tournament with a 1-2 record, taking part in the Crimson Tide Invitational hosted by Alabama last weekend. Kylie Surratt was named Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week after slamming down a team-best 32 kills to go along with 29 digs in three matches. OVC Preseason Player to Watch Dylan Mott led UT Martin defensively with 50 digs (4.17 per set) while redshirt sophomore setter Katie Cruise paced or tied for the team lead in assists (93), service aces (six) and blocks (five).
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is in search of its first victory of the young 2024 campaign as it dropped three decisions at the Gamecock Classic hosted by Jacksonville State last weekend. Preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference honoree Zykia Jones guided the Lady Lions in kills (21), digs (21) and service aces (two) while Laila Fortson rejected 16 blocks (1.45 per set) during the opening week. As a team, Arkansas-Pine Bluff had three players dial up double-digit blocks last weekend as Ashanti Butler and Amayah Jones each swatted 10 blocks (0.91 per set) for a defensive attack that compiled 28 blocks (2.55 per set).
Entering the weekend with a 2-2 record is Missouri State, who won two out of three at the Spartan Classic hosted by UNC Greensboro before falling to Tulsa last night. The Bear offense is led by the duo of Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week Aniya Joseph (61 kills, 3.59 per set) and Rilynn Finley (59 kills, 3.69 per set) while Morgan Sprague distributes 10.06 assists per set for an offense that is hitting .244 as a team. Defensively, Missouri State is guided by Brooke Eslinger (71 digs, 4.44 per set) and Grace Smith (13 blocks, 0.87 per set).
North Alabama (1-3) is coming off its first win of the fall, sweeping Alabama A&M on Tuesday following an opening-weekend appearance at the War Eagle Invitational hosted by Auburn. Brenna Tietz (51 kills, 3.53 per set) and Reese Ricketts (45 kills, 2.81 per set) lead the Lion offense while Audrey Small (67 digs, 4.19 per set) and Nicole Sargent (15 blocks, 0.94 per set) shore up the defense for the Atlantic Sun Conference squad who produced the program's most victories (17) at the NCAA Division I level last season.
Tickets are $5 per day as all fans will need to enter Skyhawk Fieldhouse through the southeast lobby doors and abide by the newly-implemented Clear Bag Policy.
Both of UT Martin's matches on Friday will be streamed live on ESPN+. For those links, plus links to live stats for all six matches, visit the Skyhawk Classic Tournament Central webpage located above.
SKYHAWK CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 6
Missouri State vs. North Alabama, 9 a.m.
UT Martin vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 11:30 a.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Missouri State, 4 p.m.
UT Martin vs. North Alabama, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7
North Alabama vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 11 a.m.
UT Martin vs. Missouri State, 2 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Missouri State and North Alabama joins UT Martin in the 2024 tournament field as each of those three squads will be making its first visit to Skyhawk Fieldhouse since UT Martin joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992. A total of six matches will be played over the course of two days as the Skyhawks play host to an in-season tournament for the seventh time since 2011.
Action begins on Friday as Missouri State and North Alabama are set to square off at 9 a.m. UT Martin then plays its home season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 11:30 a.m. before Arkansas-Pine Bluff takes on Missouri State at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks wrap up Day 1 of the event with a 6:30 p.m. showdown against North Alabama.
A pair of matches are on tap for Saturday, starting with North Alabama squaring off against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 11 a.m. UT Martin then hosts Missouri State at 2 p.m. to conclude the tournament.
The Skyhawks enter the tournament with a 1-2 record, taking part in the Crimson Tide Invitational hosted by Alabama last weekend. Kylie Surratt was named Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week after slamming down a team-best 32 kills to go along with 29 digs in three matches. OVC Preseason Player to Watch Dylan Mott led UT Martin defensively with 50 digs (4.17 per set) while redshirt sophomore setter Katie Cruise paced or tied for the team lead in assists (93), service aces (six) and blocks (five).
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is in search of its first victory of the young 2024 campaign as it dropped three decisions at the Gamecock Classic hosted by Jacksonville State last weekend. Preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference honoree Zykia Jones guided the Lady Lions in kills (21), digs (21) and service aces (two) while Laila Fortson rejected 16 blocks (1.45 per set) during the opening week. As a team, Arkansas-Pine Bluff had three players dial up double-digit blocks last weekend as Ashanti Butler and Amayah Jones each swatted 10 blocks (0.91 per set) for a defensive attack that compiled 28 blocks (2.55 per set).
Entering the weekend with a 2-2 record is Missouri State, who won two out of three at the Spartan Classic hosted by UNC Greensboro before falling to Tulsa last night. The Bear offense is led by the duo of Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week Aniya Joseph (61 kills, 3.59 per set) and Rilynn Finley (59 kills, 3.69 per set) while Morgan Sprague distributes 10.06 assists per set for an offense that is hitting .244 as a team. Defensively, Missouri State is guided by Brooke Eslinger (71 digs, 4.44 per set) and Grace Smith (13 blocks, 0.87 per set).
North Alabama (1-3) is coming off its first win of the fall, sweeping Alabama A&M on Tuesday following an opening-weekend appearance at the War Eagle Invitational hosted by Auburn. Brenna Tietz (51 kills, 3.53 per set) and Reese Ricketts (45 kills, 2.81 per set) lead the Lion offense while Audrey Small (67 digs, 4.19 per set) and Nicole Sargent (15 blocks, 0.94 per set) shore up the defense for the Atlantic Sun Conference squad who produced the program's most victories (17) at the NCAA Division I level last season.
Tickets are $5 per day as all fans will need to enter Skyhawk Fieldhouse through the southeast lobby doors and abide by the newly-implemented Clear Bag Policy.
Both of UT Martin's matches on Friday will be streamed live on ESPN+. For those links, plus links to live stats for all six matches, visit the Skyhawk Classic Tournament Central webpage located above.
SKYHAWK CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 6
Missouri State vs. North Alabama, 9 a.m.
UT Martin vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 11:30 a.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Missouri State, 4 p.m.
UT Martin vs. North Alabama, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7
North Alabama vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 11 a.m.
UT Martin vs. Missouri State, 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Hawk Walk with Kristin Phillips
Tuesday, September 30
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 5
Tuesday, September 23
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 3
Tuesday, September 09
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 2
Tuesday, September 02