Strong Start Not Enough For UT Martin In Carrie Yerty Classic Opener

Friday, September 12

Memphis, Tenn.

3 p.m.

UT Martin

0-6,0-0OVC

Chattanooga

4-5,0-0SoCon

UT Martin

Chattanooga

Strong Start Not Enough For UT Martin In Carrie Yerty Classic Opener

9/12/2025 6:45:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Stats PDF

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Despite several strong individual performances by the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad, the Skyhawks fell in four sets (25-21, 24-26, 14-25, 23-25) in a highly competitive matchup against Chattanooga.

Kayla Bryant earned her 11^th career double-double today with a season-highs of 11 kills and 18 digs to go along with four service aces. Freshman setter Ava Peters nearly doubled her previous career-high in assists today with 46 helpers to go along with six kills, five digs and two blocks. The River Falls, Wis. native became the first UT Martin player to dish out 45-plus assists in a match since Haeleigh Paulino (48) accomplished that feat at Southern Indiana on Nov. 15, 2023.

Abby Freund made plays all over the floor today for the Skyhawk defense, piling up a career-best 24 digs. Kylie Surratt (nine kills, season-best 13 digs) barely missed a double-double while Kristin Phillips (season-highs of nine kills and four blocks) also contributed on both ends to UT Martin's attack.

The lead changed hands 13 times with 21 tie scores in today's match. The Skyhawks (0-6) overcame a 9-0 deficit in the opening set to gain the upper hand early. Phillips had a hand in four points (two blocks, two block assists) during an eight-point span when UT Martin was mounting its comeback. Moments later, a Carly Mueller kill gave the Skyhawks their first lead of the day at 14-13. The Mocs (4-5) briefly reclaimed the lead at 17-16 but UT Martin outscored Chattanooga by a 9-4 margin down the stretch, capped off with a set-clinching service ace by Freund. Bryant (five kills, five digs), Peters (14 assists) and Freund (six digs) led the way in the opening set as the Skyhawks hit .278 with 16 kills.

A Sienna Wnetrzak kill gave UT Martin its first lead of the second set at 5-4. The Skyhawks trailed by a 12-7 margin but kept chipping away at their deficit as back-to-back Surratt kills midway through the set fueled a run. Another Wnetrzak kill provided UT Martin with a 21-19 advantage before a Maddy Gladson kill gave the Skyhawks set point at 24-23. However, the Mocs scored the final three points of the set to even the match at 1-all. Bryant accounted for team-highs of four kills and seven digs while Peters distributed 13 assists in the second set.

Chattanooga scored four of the first five points in the third stanza but UT Martin soon tightened things up. A Peters kill pulled the Skyhawks within one point at 6-5 before Bryant and Gladson each had two kills apiece in a five-point stretch. A Phillips putaway kept UT Martin within a single point at 14-13 but the Mocs ended the set on an 11-1 run. Gladson had four kills on six swings while Freund scooped six digs in the third set.

The Skyhawks shook off a 3-0 deficit in the fourth stanza to take a 10-8 lead following the third Surratt kill in a four-point span. Chattanooga came back to lead by as many as four points (17-13) but UT Martin quickly flipped the script with nine of the next 11 points with Phillips (two kills) and Bryant (two service aces) leading the charge. After the Skyhawks led by a 22-19 margin, the Mocs pieced together six of the final seven points to claim the narrow win. Surratt equaled team-highs in kills (four) and digs (six) in the final set while Wnetrzak (four kills) and Freund (six digs) matched her in their respective categories.

UT Martin has a busy day tomorrow, concluding their participation in the Carrie Yerty Classic with matchups against Lamar (11 a.m.) and tournament host Memphis (3 p.m.).