UT Martin Drops Nonconference Finale; Surratt Selected To All-Tournament Team

Saturday, September 20

Macon, Ga.

12 p.m.

UT Martin

1-10,0-0OVC

Mercer

4-9,0-0SoCon

UT Martin

Mercer

UT Martin Drops Nonconference Finale; Surratt Selected To All-Tournament Team

9/20/2025 3:41:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Stats PDF

MACON, Ga. – Kylie Surratt led the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team in kills for the third time in as many matches at the Mercer Invitational but the Skyhawks fell in four sets (23-25, 25-19, 13-25, 18-25) to tournament host Mercer.

The sophomore from Maryland Heights, Mo. tallied 11 kills on a .300 hitting percentage (just two errors in 30 swings) while also snaring a team-best eight digs. Kayla Bryant came close to a double-double with nine kills, a team-high eight digs and match-best four service aces while Maddy Gladson (.300 attack percentage) and Carly Mueller each had eight kills apiece for UT Martin.

Ava Peters was responsible for 32 assists and six digs to go along with career-highs of two service aces and four blocks. Kristin Phillips (match-best four blocks) and Abby Freund (seven digs) also helped pace the Skyhawk defensive attack today.

The opening set included 16 tie scores and six lead changes. Surratt got going early with a pair of kills before a Bryant service ace made the score 7-5 in UT Martin's favor. The action continued back-and-forth before a Mueller kill plus a block assist from Phillips and Gladson gave the Skyhawks a 21-19 advantage. UT Martin led as late as 23-22 but the Bears scored the final three points of the set. Surratt (four kills), Peters (10 assists) and Bryant (two service aces) led the Skyhawks in the first set.

UT Martin never trailed in the second stanza as a Peters service ace and Gladson kill helped the Skyhawks take a 4-1 lead. Gladson powered through for three kills in a five-point stretch before a Makaelah Paulino service ace extended UT Martin's advantage out to 18-12. Back-to-back kills from Surratt and Mueller pushed the Skyhawk lead out to 23-16 before a solo block from Mueller clinched set point and evened the match at 1-all. Gladson (.800 hitting percentage) and Surratt (.400) each had four kills in the second set for UT Martin.

A Surratt kill opened the scoring in the third set but Mercer bounced back to take an 8-3 lead. Bryant (kill) and Phillips (service ace) soon got the Skyhawks back on track before an assisted block by Phillips and Chyler Martin moved UT Martin back within striking distance late. However, the Bears ended the third set with seven of the final eight points. Phillips topped the Skyhawks in third-set points with a kill, a service ace and two blocks.

Mercer led 5-2 in the fourth stanza before back-to-back kills from Bryant. The Bears then tallied 10 unanswered points until a DyYanna Wade kill ended UT Martin's scoring drought. Bryant then tacked on two service aces and a kill during a 6-0 Skyhawk surge. A Gladson kill pulled UT Martin back within four points (20-16) but that was ultimately as close as the Skyhawks would get the rest of the way. Bryant accounted for seven points (five kills, two service aces) in the final set alone.

UT Martin starts Ohio Valley Conference play next week, traveling to Southeast Missouri for its lone matchup against the Redhawks this season. First serve from Cape Girardeau, Mo. is set for Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.