Thursday, October 29
Evansville, Ind.
6 p.m.
UT Martin
10-12,5-6OVC
3
at
2
Southern Indiana
9-12,4-5OVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Martin | 21 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Southern Ind. | 25 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 13 | 2 |
10/29/2026 9:28:00 PM | Volleyball
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A reverse sweep was in store for the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team this evening as the Skyhawks rallied for a 3-2 triumph (21-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-13) at Ohio Valley Conference rival Southern Indiana.
Tonight's result was only the third five-set decision of the season for UT Martin, who improved to 10-12 overall and 5-6 in OVC play after notching its first 3-2 victory in 2026.
Rylee Key shined on both ends as the Skyhawk freshman slammed down a career-best 15 kills on a sizzling .481 hitting percentage while adding a match-high five blocks. Carly Mueller and Maddy Gladson tacked on double-digit kills with 11 and 10, respectively.
Dylan Sulcer (career-high 51 assists, 11 digs) registered her fifth double-double of the season, also tallying five kills, three blocks and a pair of service aces while guiding the UT Martin offense to a .210 attack percentage.
Defensively, Abby Freund was responsible for a season-best 25 digs and was joined in double figure scoops by Luli Arcucci (career-highs of 17 digs and five blocks) and Lauren Mariscal (11 digs, match-high three service aces).
Mueller owned the hot hand early for the Skyhawks as her fourth kill of the opening set pulled UT Martin within a single point at 11-10. The Screaming Eagles (9-13, 4-6 OVC) scored the next three points and despite a Sophie Diouf kill that trimmed the Skyhawk deficit to 24-21, Southern Indiana converted the next point to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Mueller (five kills on a .333 hitting percentage), Freund (seven digs) and Arcucci (seven digs) led UT Martin in the first stanza.
The Screaming Eagles scored four of the first five points in the second set but back-to-back kills by Mueller and Key helped the Skyhawks trim their deficit to 11-9. Southern Indiana eventually went on top by a 22-13 margin but UT Martin soon went on a 5-1 run to get back in the match. However, the Screaming Eagles recovered and claimed a 2-0 edge. Key (four kills, .500 attack percentage) and Mariscal (six digs) guided the Skyhawks in Set 2.
UT Martin hit an even .400 with zero errors in the third set. Back-to-back service aces by Penny Kirkham helped spur an 8-3 Skyhawk run that included a pair of Riley Rushing kills. A kill from Sulcer opened up UT Martin's biggest lead of the match up to that point (16-12) as an assisted block by Key and Arcucci served as the set-clinching point. Sulcer was the engine who sparked the Skyhawks in the third stanza, posting team-highs across the board in kills (three), assists nine), digs (four) and blocks (two).
The Skyhawks never trailed in the fourth stanza, racing out to a 5-1 advantage. By the time that Mariscal landed a service ace, UT Martin had doubled up Southern Indiana (12-6) and forced the Screaming Eagles to burn a timeout. Gladson earned two straight Skyhawk kills to help UT Martin keep its margin at six points before the lefty extended the match with yet another kill on set point. Gladson and Key shared the team lead with five kills apiece while Sulcer (14 assists) and Freund (eight digs) also excelled in the fourth set.
The abbreviated fifth stanza featured five tie scores and three lead changes. Key had a hand in three points (two block assists, one kill) during an early 5-0 Skyhawk run. Southern Indiana briefly reclaimed the lead at 11-10 before UT Martin pushed through to take a 14-11 lead after a Mueller kill. The Screaming Eagles made the score 14-13 but the Skyhawks held on as Gladson put the finishing touches on the come-from-behind effort with a kill on match point. UT Martin was led by Gladson (three kills, .429 hitting percentage) and Freund (five digs) in the final set.
The Skyhawks will aim for a series sweep tomorrow as these two squads will once again play at 6 p.m. inside Liberty Arena.
Tonight's result was only the third five-set decision of the season for UT Martin, who improved to 10-12 overall and 5-6 in OVC play after notching its first 3-2 victory in 2026.
Rylee Key shined on both ends as the Skyhawk freshman slammed down a career-best 15 kills on a sizzling .481 hitting percentage while adding a match-high five blocks. Carly Mueller and Maddy Gladson tacked on double-digit kills with 11 and 10, respectively.
Dylan Sulcer (career-high 51 assists, 11 digs) registered her fifth double-double of the season, also tallying five kills, three blocks and a pair of service aces while guiding the UT Martin offense to a .210 attack percentage.
Defensively, Abby Freund was responsible for a season-best 25 digs and was joined in double figure scoops by Luli Arcucci (career-highs of 17 digs and five blocks) and Lauren Mariscal (11 digs, match-high three service aces).
Mueller owned the hot hand early for the Skyhawks as her fourth kill of the opening set pulled UT Martin within a single point at 11-10. The Screaming Eagles (9-13, 4-6 OVC) scored the next three points and despite a Sophie Diouf kill that trimmed the Skyhawk deficit to 24-21, Southern Indiana converted the next point to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Mueller (five kills on a .333 hitting percentage), Freund (seven digs) and Arcucci (seven digs) led UT Martin in the first stanza.
The Screaming Eagles scored four of the first five points in the second set but back-to-back kills by Mueller and Key helped the Skyhawks trim their deficit to 11-9. Southern Indiana eventually went on top by a 22-13 margin but UT Martin soon went on a 5-1 run to get back in the match. However, the Screaming Eagles recovered and claimed a 2-0 edge. Key (four kills, .500 attack percentage) and Mariscal (six digs) guided the Skyhawks in Set 2.
UT Martin hit an even .400 with zero errors in the third set. Back-to-back service aces by Penny Kirkham helped spur an 8-3 Skyhawk run that included a pair of Riley Rushing kills. A kill from Sulcer opened up UT Martin's biggest lead of the match up to that point (16-12) as an assisted block by Key and Arcucci served as the set-clinching point. Sulcer was the engine who sparked the Skyhawks in the third stanza, posting team-highs across the board in kills (three), assists nine), digs (four) and blocks (two).
The Skyhawks never trailed in the fourth stanza, racing out to a 5-1 advantage. By the time that Mariscal landed a service ace, UT Martin had doubled up Southern Indiana (12-6) and forced the Screaming Eagles to burn a timeout. Gladson earned two straight Skyhawk kills to help UT Martin keep its margin at six points before the lefty extended the match with yet another kill on set point. Gladson and Key shared the team lead with five kills apiece while Sulcer (14 assists) and Freund (eight digs) also excelled in the fourth set.
The abbreviated fifth stanza featured five tie scores and three lead changes. Key had a hand in three points (two block assists, one kill) during an early 5-0 Skyhawk run. Southern Indiana briefly reclaimed the lead at 11-10 before UT Martin pushed through to take a 14-11 lead after a Mueller kill. The Screaming Eagles made the score 14-13 but the Skyhawks held on as Gladson put the finishing touches on the come-from-behind effort with a kill on match point. UT Martin was led by Gladson (three kills, .429 hitting percentage) and Freund (five digs) in the final set.
The Skyhawks will aim for a series sweep tomorrow as these two squads will once again play at 6 p.m. inside Liberty Arena.
Players Mentioned
MB/OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S/DS
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
UTM
USI
Kills
61
66
Errors
23
25
Attempts
181
190
Hitting %
.210
.216
Points
79.0
79.0
Assists
57
62
Aces
7
5
Blocks
11
8
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
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