UT Martin Knocks Off OVC Foe Western Illinois In Four Sets

Friday, October 16

Macomb, Ill.

6 p.m.

UT Martin

8-10,3-4OVC

Western Illinois

2-13,2-3OVC

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UT Martin	25	25	22	25	3
Western Ill.	20	23	25	17	1

Stats PDF

UT Martin Knocks Off OVC Foe Western Illinois In Four Sets

10/16/2026 9:43:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Stats PDF

MACOMB, Ill. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team started its Ohio Valley Conference road series at Western Illinois on the right foot tonight, defeating the Leathernecks by a 3-1 margin (25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17).

Rylee Key led the way for the Skyhawk offense with a career-high 12 kills on a .296 hitting percentage while Maddy Gladson also reached double-digits in the kill column (10). Dylan Sulcer operated UT Martin's offense with 37 assists and a season-best seven kills on a .600 attack percentage while also contributing seven digs.

On the defensive end, Lauren Mariscal racked up a match-high 20 digs while Luli Arcucci (10 digs) and Carly Mueller (team-best three blocks) also pitched in as Western Illinois was held to a .129 hitting percentage.

The Skyhawks (8-10, 3-4 OVC) scored four of the first six points but the Leathernecks scored four unanswered to take their first lead of the night. Service aces from Abby Freund and Arcucci nudged UT Martin back on top before the score was knotted at 16-all. A kill by Mueller immediately followed and the Skyhawks did not relinquish their lead from there, ending the opening set on a 9-4 surge. Sulcer (10 assists) and Mariscal (six digs) led UT Martin in the first set.

The second set featured a lengthy Skyhawk comeback as UT Martin trailed by a 19-15 margin before storming back to take a 2-0 advantage in the match. The Skyhawks led 5-2 early before Western Illinois took its first lead of the set at 11-10. At the conclusion of a 12-5 Leatherneck run, UT Martin got back in it and eventually ended the set with three unanswered points, ignited by a Mueller kill before a Western Illinois attack error and bad set. Key had four kills on eight swings (.500 attack percentage) to pace the Skyhawks in the second stanza.

After UT Martin led 4-1 to begin the third set, the Leathernecks went on a 10-0 run to temporarily shift momentum. Back-to-back service aces by Penny Kirkham helped spur a Skyhawk comeback as UT Martin eventually took an 18-17 advantage following a Riley Rushing kill. The Skyhawks led as late as 22-21 but Western Illinois avoided a sweep with four unanswered points to wrap up the set. Rushing and Gladson shared the team lead with three kills apiece in the third set.

The lead never changed hands in the fourth set as Key had three kills during a hot 6-1 UT Martin start. Kills on consecutive rallies by Arcucci and Gladson helped the Skyhawks build a 15-7 lead but the Leathernecks eventually shaved their deficit to two points at 18-16. However, that was as close as they would get the rest of the way as Sulcer owned a pair of late kills – including the match-clincher. Sulcer had four kills on a whopping .600 hitting percentage with 11 assists in the final set alone.

UT Martin goes for the series sweep tomorrow as these two sides clash at 2 p.m. inside Western Hall on ESPN+.