11/2/2026 3:00:00 PM | Volleyball
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Rylee Key made more University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball history today as the 6-2 middle blocker was crowned as Ohio Valley Conference Rookie of the Week for the third time this fall.
Key now joins Kylie Surratt (2024) as the only three-time winners of the OVC Freshman/Rookie of the Week award in school history (the longtime Freshman of the Week award was renamed Rookie of the Week prior to this season). Key, who also achieved this honor on Sept. 28 and Oct. 19, is now tied with Lindenwood's Lauren Ortwerth and Morehead State's Ella Warrick for the most OVC Rookie of the Week mentions in 2026.
Hailing from nearby Newbern, Tenn., Key was a major part of the Skyhawks' road split at Southern Indiana last week. She piled up team-highs of 31 kills (3.10 per set), a flaming .472 hitting percentage and 10 blocks (1.00 per set) in the two-match series where both sides won a five-set decision.
During Thursday's victory, Key set a career-high with 15 kills on a .481 attack percentage (only two errors against 27 attempts) to go along with five blocks at the net. The career-best tally in kills was short-lived as she amassed 16 rally killers while hitting .462 (just four errors in 26 swings) with five more blocks, a service ace and an assist in Friday's narrow setback.
Key ranks fourth in the OVC in blocks (0.87 per set) and fifth in attack percentage (.308) while upping those numbers to 0.95 blocks per set and a .336 hitting percentage against league opponents.
UT Martin holds its final two home matches of the season this week, colliding against OVC foe Lindenwood on Thursday, Nov. 5 (6 p.m.) and Friday, Nov. 6 (5 p.m.).
Key now joins Kylie Surratt (2024) as the only three-time winners of the OVC Freshman/Rookie of the Week award in school history (the longtime Freshman of the Week award was renamed Rookie of the Week prior to this season). Key, who also achieved this honor on Sept. 28 and Oct. 19, is now tied with Lindenwood's Lauren Ortwerth and Morehead State's Ella Warrick for the most OVC Rookie of the Week mentions in 2026.
Hailing from nearby Newbern, Tenn., Key was a major part of the Skyhawks' road split at Southern Indiana last week. She piled up team-highs of 31 kills (3.10 per set), a flaming .472 hitting percentage and 10 blocks (1.00 per set) in the two-match series where both sides won a five-set decision.
During Thursday's victory, Key set a career-high with 15 kills on a .481 attack percentage (only two errors against 27 attempts) to go along with five blocks at the net. The career-best tally in kills was short-lived as she amassed 16 rally killers while hitting .462 (just four errors in 26 swings) with five more blocks, a service ace and an assist in Friday's narrow setback.
Key ranks fourth in the OVC in blocks (0.87 per set) and fifth in attack percentage (.308) while upping those numbers to 0.95 blocks per set and a .336 hitting percentage against league opponents.
UT Martin holds its final two home matches of the season this week, colliding against OVC foe Lindenwood on Thursday, Nov. 5 (6 p.m.) and Friday, Nov. 6 (5 p.m.).
Players Mentioned
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