Friday, March 21
Martin, Tenn.
2:25 p.m.
UT Martin
5
vs
0
Eastern Illinois
Skyhawks Split First Day Of OVC Home Weekend
3/21/2025 10:16:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin notched a dominant 5-0 victory over Eastern Illinois before falling in a 3-2 heartbreaker against Morehead State on Day 1 of its OVC weekend at the Skyhawk Beach Volleyball Complex.
Three Skyhawk duos went undefeated on the day as the No. 3 pairing of Kayla Bryant/Olivia O'Keefe (team-best 11th and 12th wins of the season) and No. 4 partnership of Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (11-0 this spring) each won both decisions. Ryan Rednour/Kylie Surratt also won their lone matchup today, competing against Eastern Illinois out of the No. 5 position in the lineup.
UT Martin's firepower was on full display in its first match of the tournament. Eckhardt/McGee started things off with a 21-10, 21-13 victory and was followed by a 21-18, 21-11 triumph out of Rednour/Surratt. The win was officially clinched when Bryant/O'Keefe unspooled a 21-10, 21-15 win while Dylan Mott/Jenna Vallée (21-15, 21-8 at No. 1) and Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (21-10, 21-13 at No. 2) completed the sweep.
A few hours later against Morehead State, the Skyhawks battled until the bitter end but were outlasted in a tiebreaking third set on the final point of the evening. Eckhardt/McGee claimed a 21-16, 21-16 win to open the match before Kristin Phillips/Rednour were narrowly defeated 11-21, 21-13, 15-8 at No. 5. Bryant/O'Keefe gave UT Martin a 2-1 edge after a complete 21-13, 21-10 triumph but Rushing/Sulcer were defeated 21-7, 21-18 to set up the match-clinching point. It was a showdown at No. 1 as each teams traded blows before Mott/Vallée fell by a 23-25, 21-18, 18-16 margin.
The Skyhawks (10-6) conclude the OVC Weekend at UT Martin tomorrow with back-to-back matchups against Lindenwood (4 p.m.) and Tennessee Tech (6 p.m.)
Gallery: (3-21-2025) Beach VB vs. Eastern Ill./Morehead St.
Three Skyhawk duos went undefeated on the day as the No. 3 pairing of Kayla Bryant/Olivia O'Keefe (team-best 11th and 12th wins of the season) and No. 4 partnership of Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (11-0 this spring) each won both decisions. Ryan Rednour/Kylie Surratt also won their lone matchup today, competing against Eastern Illinois out of the No. 5 position in the lineup.
UT Martin's firepower was on full display in its first match of the tournament. Eckhardt/McGee started things off with a 21-10, 21-13 victory and was followed by a 21-18, 21-11 triumph out of Rednour/Surratt. The win was officially clinched when Bryant/O'Keefe unspooled a 21-10, 21-15 win while Dylan Mott/Jenna Vallée (21-15, 21-8 at No. 1) and Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (21-10, 21-13 at No. 2) completed the sweep.
A few hours later against Morehead State, the Skyhawks battled until the bitter end but were outlasted in a tiebreaking third set on the final point of the evening. Eckhardt/McGee claimed a 21-16, 21-16 win to open the match before Kristin Phillips/Rednour were narrowly defeated 11-21, 21-13, 15-8 at No. 5. Bryant/O'Keefe gave UT Martin a 2-1 edge after a complete 21-13, 21-10 triumph but Rushing/Sulcer were defeated 21-7, 21-18 to set up the match-clinching point. It was a showdown at No. 1 as each teams traded blows before Mott/Vallée fell by a 23-25, 21-18, 18-16 margin.
The Skyhawks (10-6) conclude the OVC Weekend at UT Martin tomorrow with back-to-back matchups against Lindenwood (4 p.m.) and Tennessee Tech (6 p.m.)
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
4-27-23 Beach Cruises in OVC Opener
Thursday, April 10
4-28-23: Beach Rolls in OVC Semifinals
Thursday, April 10
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 2, Episode 31
Thursday, April 10
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 2, Episode 29
Thursday, April 10