Skyhawks Put Up A Fight But Come Up Short In Western Illinois Series Opener

Thursday, October 9

Martin, Tenn.

6 p.m.

UT Martin

1-15,0-5OVC

Western Illinois

5-13,2-3OVC

Western Ill.

UT Martin

Skyhawks Put Up A Fight But Come Up Short In Western Illinois Series Opener

10/9/2025 10:27:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Stats PDF

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team received double-doubles out of Kylie Surratt and Kayla Bryant this evening but the Skyhawks fell by a 3-1 margin (21-25, 25-21, 18-25, 19-25) to Western Illinois.

Surratt produced a stat line of a season-best 15 kills, 12 digs, four blocks and two service aces for her fifth double-double of the season and third in as many matches. Bryant collected 12 kills, 13 digs for her third double-double in 2025.

Ava Peters (match-high 32 assists) also helped lead UT Martin's offense tonight while Abby Freund (15 digs), Makaelah Paulino (10 digs), Kristin Phillips (four blocks) and DyYanna Wade (four blocks) paved the way for the Skyhawks defensively.

Bryant had two kills as part of UT Martin's first four points of the evening but the Leathernecks gained the upper hand early. Bryant's third rally killer of the match pulled the Skyhawks within striking distance at 11-9 but Western Illinois scored seven of the next eight points. A kill by Peters capped off an 8-3 UT Martin run and made the score 22-19 but that was ultimately as close as the Skyhawks would get in the opening stanza. Bryant's four kills and six digs were both team-highs for UT Martin in the first set.

The Skyhawks never trailed in the second set as a Maddy Gladson kill got UT Martin off to a fast 5-2 advantage. The Skyhawks soon unreeled nine consecutive points with Bryant at the service line as Surratt accounted for 2.5 points (two kills, block assist) during that run that boosted UT Martin's lead out to 15-6. That momentum helped the Skyhawks even the match at 1-all as kills from Bryant and Surratt closed out the set. Surratt was responsible for four kills on a .300 attack percentage to go along with three blocks in the second stanza alone.

Surratt began the third set with two kills and a service ace during a 5-1 UT Martin surge. Back-to-back Freund service aces doubled up the Leathernecks by an 8-4 advantage but Western Illinois eventually went on top following an 8-2 run. A kill from Wade trimmed the Skyhawk deficit to 16-14 but the Leathernecks responded with five straight points on the way to taking a 2-1 lead in the match. In addition to her two aces, Freund also set the tone with four digs in the third set.

UT Martin raced out to a 4-2 lead in the fourth set but Western Illinois took its first lead at 8-7. That was part of a 13-4 Leatherneck run until Bryant settled the Skyhawks back down with a kill. A pair of Surratt kills – sandwiched around a Phillips service ace – helped UT Martin get within five points late but Western Illinois was able to hang on for the win. Surratt's four kills in the final set ranked as a team-high for the Skyhawks.

These two teams wrap up their two-match series tomorrow at 4 p.m. for a "Pink Out" contest. Fans are invited to wear pink in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.