Thursday, April 24
Chattanooga, Tenn.
3 p.m. CT
UT Martin
vs
Eastern Illinois
Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
UT Martin Travels Across The State In Search Of Third OVC Tournament Championship In Last Four Years
4/22/2025 9:05:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin makes the 285-mile trek across the Volunteer State this week to compete in the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Beach Volleyball Championship. This year's event is hosted by Chattanooga for the first time ever and will take place from Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26.
The Skyhawks have won five of the past seven combined OVC beach volleyball titles, including two of the last three tournament crowns. Over the course of four all-time OVC Championship tournaments, UT Martin is 10-4 and has advanced to the final day in every such year.
This year's version of the Skyhawks earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the bracket. UT Martin owns a 22-8 record – its second-most victories in the eight-year history of the program – and went 7-3 in league play in 2025. The Skyhawks enter the postseason on a hot streak, defeating every OVC team during a nine-match winning streak – outscoring opponents by a 37-8 margin during that span.
On the season, UT Martin has won 64.7 percent of its head-to-head decisions (97-53 record) – including a 72 percent clip (36 of 50) against OVC competition. The Skyhawks have found their most success at the No. 3 slot in the lineup (24-6, 80 percent) while also winning at least 70 percent of their decisions at No. 4 (22-8, .733) and No. 2 (21-9, .700). UT Martin is 17-13 (.567 winning percentage) at No. 5 and has added 13 victories out of the No. 1 position.
The Skyhawk lineup at the OVC Championship will consist of Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (15-15 overall, 7-7 at No. 1), Kayla Bryant/Olivia O'Keefe (UT Martin single-season record of 25 victories overall, 12-1 at No. 2), Lauren Mariscal/Jenna Vallée (10-2 overall, all at No. 3), Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (22-3 overall, 21-1 at No. 4) and Kristin Phillips/Kylie Surratt (making their season debut together at No. 5).
The Skyhawks will make their 2025 OVC Championship debut on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT, taking on the winner of the 11 a.m. Morehead State/Eastern Illinois match. Four matches are on tap for Friday before three teams advance to Saturday. For more information on the event, including links to the ESPN+ streams and live stats for each match of the tournament, visit the Championship Central webpage at the link above.
The Skyhawks have won five of the past seven combined OVC beach volleyball titles, including two of the last three tournament crowns. Over the course of four all-time OVC Championship tournaments, UT Martin is 10-4 and has advanced to the final day in every such year.
This year's version of the Skyhawks earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the bracket. UT Martin owns a 22-8 record – its second-most victories in the eight-year history of the program – and went 7-3 in league play in 2025. The Skyhawks enter the postseason on a hot streak, defeating every OVC team during a nine-match winning streak – outscoring opponents by a 37-8 margin during that span.
On the season, UT Martin has won 64.7 percent of its head-to-head decisions (97-53 record) – including a 72 percent clip (36 of 50) against OVC competition. The Skyhawks have found their most success at the No. 3 slot in the lineup (24-6, 80 percent) while also winning at least 70 percent of their decisions at No. 4 (22-8, .733) and No. 2 (21-9, .700). UT Martin is 17-13 (.567 winning percentage) at No. 5 and has added 13 victories out of the No. 1 position.
The Skyhawk lineup at the OVC Championship will consist of Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (15-15 overall, 7-7 at No. 1), Kayla Bryant/Olivia O'Keefe (UT Martin single-season record of 25 victories overall, 12-1 at No. 2), Lauren Mariscal/Jenna Vallée (10-2 overall, all at No. 3), Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (22-3 overall, 21-1 at No. 4) and Kristin Phillips/Kylie Surratt (making their season debut together at No. 5).
The Skyhawks will make their 2025 OVC Championship debut on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT, taking on the winner of the 11 a.m. Morehead State/Eastern Illinois match. Four matches are on tap for Friday before three teams advance to Saturday. For more information on the event, including links to the ESPN+ streams and live stats for each match of the tournament, visit the Championship Central webpage at the link above.
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