UT Martin Battles But Drops Decision To Marist In Blue Raider Bash

Saturday, September 6

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

0-4,0-0OVC

Marist

1-4,0-0MAAC

UT Martin

Marist

UT Martin Battles But Drops Decision To Marist In Blue Raider Bash

9/6/2025 4:47:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Stats PDF

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Day 2 of the Blue Raider Bash delivered a highly competitive matchup for the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad but the Skyhawks fell by a 3-0 score (25-23, 25-22, 25-15) to Marist.

Freshman setter Ava Peters had a great all-around match today for UT Martin, tallying team-highs in kills (six, on a .545 hitting percentage) and assists (19) while also posting three digs and two blocks. Kristin Philips (.333 attack percentage), Carly Mueller (.462 hitting percentage) and Kylie Surratt equaled Peters for the team-high in kills with six apiece.

On the defensive side, Abby Freund scooped up a team-best 10 digs while Makaelah Paulino and Surratt each registered seven digs. Carly Mueller rejected a career-high five blocks while Sienna Wnetrzak (five kills, .455 attack percentage, three blocks) also provided the Skyhawks (0-4) with a spark in her first career start.

A Kayla Bryant kill plus a block assist from Mueller and Wnetrzak gave UT Martin an early lead in the opening set. The Red Foxes (1-4) answered with six straight points before a Peters kill pulled the Skyhawks back within striking distance at 11-9. A trio of Surratt kills over a four-point stretch trimmed the Marist advantage down to 22-21 before a Wnetrzak rally killer brought UT Martin within a point (24-23) late. However, the Red Foxes clinched the set on the next possession. Wnetrzak was on fire in the opening set, slamming down four kills in six tries (.667 hitting percentage) while Carly Mueller turned away three blocks at the net in the first set.

The second set was a back-and-forth effort, featuring 10 tie scores. Mueller came away with two early kills to give the Skyhawks a 4-2 edge before Marist recovered to take a 10-7 lead. Following a Peters kill that knotted the score at 15-all, the Red Foxes had set point at 24-19. UT Martin kept fighting – trimming its deficit to 24-22 – but Marist went ahead by a 2-0 margin in the match after securing the next point. Mueller had four kills in seven attempts (.571 attack percentage) while Freund posted five digs in the middle set.

The Skyhawks led early in the third stanza but a 6-0 Red Fox run led to a 12-4 UT Martin deficit. Marist took a nine-point lead before Peters gave the Skyhawks momentum late – landing three kills in UT Martin's final four points. However, the Skyhawks' deficit proved to be too large to overcome as the Red Foxes closed out the match. Phillips and Peters had three kills apiece on a combined .750 hitting percentage to pace UT Martin offensively.

The Skyhawks' third and final match of the Blue Raider Bash will take place tomorrow against tournament host Middle Tennessee. First serve is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.