UT Martin Cranks Up 2025 Campaign This Weekend In Music City
8/27/2025 8:42:00 AM | Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – Year 11 of the Jaclynn Wilson Era begins this weekend as the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad heads to Nashville, Tenn. for a neutral-site matchup against Seton Hall and a road test against Belmont.
The Skyhawks officially began practice on Aug. 1 and Wilson is pleased with her scrappy group of experienced returners and talented freshman class.
"Our gym has been very lively this preseason," said Wilson, who became the program's all-time NCAA Division I wins leader last fall. "We have had some hard practices over the course of this past month. The returners know that last season's finish was not up to our standards and have really set the tone so far while the newcomers have come in with plenty of energy. We are excited to see how we stack up against a road-heavy nonconference schedule that will prepare us for Ohio Valley Conference play."
A total of nine players return from last season, including a trio of starters in Kylie Surratt (outside hitter), Kayla Bryant (outside hitter) and Kristin Phillips (middle blocker). Surratt nabbed All-OVC second team honors last season as a freshman, ranking in the top-10 in the league with 292 kills (2.98 per set). Bryant (539 kills, 507 digs in her career) and Phillips (only UT Martin returner to start in all 27 matches in 2024) are the only two seniors on the roster and boast a wealth of experience.
Maddy Gladson also returns at opposite side hitter as the lefty saw increased playing time at the end of her true freshman campaign, logging 10 starts. Dylan Sulcer (23 matches played, five starts) and Makaelah Paulino (21 matches played) round out the returners who saw extensive playing time a year ago.
Three Skyhawks who received redshirts last season are set to make an impact in 2025. Mia Saenz (170 career blocks over 59 matches played) returns at middle blocker while Abby Freund (libero/defensive specialist) and Ella McFarland (setter) gained valuable practice reps last season as freshmen.
Battles for starting positions at setter and libero have been up for competition during the preseason. McFarland and true freshman Ava Peters (985 assists as a senior at River Falls High School in Wisconsin) each split setting duties in UT Martin's exhibition tuneup against Southern Illinois, combining for 35 assists, 11 digs, four kills and four blocks. Paulino and Freund each started two sets at libero in the exhibition against Southern Illinois, joining forces for 25 digs in the four-set outing. All four are projected to see substantial playing time at their respective positions throughout the season as Sulcer also looks to factor in to the libero spot.
Chyler Martin (all-time kills leader at Willow Canyon High School in Arizona), Carly Mueller (first team all-district accolades at Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tenn.), Megan Wood (Missouri all-state performer at Jefferson High School), DyYanna Wade (3.9 kills per set on a .414 hitting percentage as a junior at Western Guilford High School in North Carolina), Sienna Wnetrzak (part of a Florida 6A state runner-up squad at Gulf Breeze High School) will all push for playing time as true freshmen in 2025.
The Skyhawks open the 2025 campaign with 12 consecutive road or neutral-site matchups before their home opener against OVC rival Little Rock on Sept. 30. The challenging 18-match OVC slate runs through Nov. 19 before the league's regular season champion hosts the OVC Championship tournament on Nov. 23-25.
The Skyhawks officially began practice on Aug. 1 and Wilson is pleased with her scrappy group of experienced returners and talented freshman class.
"Our gym has been very lively this preseason," said Wilson, who became the program's all-time NCAA Division I wins leader last fall. "We have had some hard practices over the course of this past month. The returners know that last season's finish was not up to our standards and have really set the tone so far while the newcomers have come in with plenty of energy. We are excited to see how we stack up against a road-heavy nonconference schedule that will prepare us for Ohio Valley Conference play."
A total of nine players return from last season, including a trio of starters in Kylie Surratt (outside hitter), Kayla Bryant (outside hitter) and Kristin Phillips (middle blocker). Surratt nabbed All-OVC second team honors last season as a freshman, ranking in the top-10 in the league with 292 kills (2.98 per set). Bryant (539 kills, 507 digs in her career) and Phillips (only UT Martin returner to start in all 27 matches in 2024) are the only two seniors on the roster and boast a wealth of experience.
Maddy Gladson also returns at opposite side hitter as the lefty saw increased playing time at the end of her true freshman campaign, logging 10 starts. Dylan Sulcer (23 matches played, five starts) and Makaelah Paulino (21 matches played) round out the returners who saw extensive playing time a year ago.
Three Skyhawks who received redshirts last season are set to make an impact in 2025. Mia Saenz (170 career blocks over 59 matches played) returns at middle blocker while Abby Freund (libero/defensive specialist) and Ella McFarland (setter) gained valuable practice reps last season as freshmen.
Battles for starting positions at setter and libero have been up for competition during the preseason. McFarland and true freshman Ava Peters (985 assists as a senior at River Falls High School in Wisconsin) each split setting duties in UT Martin's exhibition tuneup against Southern Illinois, combining for 35 assists, 11 digs, four kills and four blocks. Paulino and Freund each started two sets at libero in the exhibition against Southern Illinois, joining forces for 25 digs in the four-set outing. All four are projected to see substantial playing time at their respective positions throughout the season as Sulcer also looks to factor in to the libero spot.
Chyler Martin (all-time kills leader at Willow Canyon High School in Arizona), Carly Mueller (first team all-district accolades at Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tenn.), Megan Wood (Missouri all-state performer at Jefferson High School), DyYanna Wade (3.9 kills per set on a .414 hitting percentage as a junior at Western Guilford High School in North Carolina), Sienna Wnetrzak (part of a Florida 6A state runner-up squad at Gulf Breeze High School) will all push for playing time as true freshmen in 2025.
The Skyhawks open the 2025 campaign with 12 consecutive road or neutral-site matchups before their home opener against OVC rival Little Rock on Sept. 30. The challenging 18-match OVC slate runs through Nov. 19 before the league's regular season champion hosts the OVC Championship tournament on Nov. 23-25.
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