Skyhawks Compete Throughout But Fall To Lindenwood

Thursday, November 5

Martin, Tenn.

6 p.m.

UT Martin

10-14,5-8OVC

Lindenwood

20-3,10-1OVC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Lindenwood	25	25	25	3
UT Martin	23	18	23	0

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11/5/2026 9:59:00 PM | Volleyball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Despite a .303 attack percentage during tonight's Ohio Valley Conference battle, the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team dropped a three-set decision (23-25, 18-25, 23-25) to the Lindenwood Lions.

The .303 hitting percentage was the second highest of the season for the Skyhawks (10-14, 5-8 OVC), only trailing the .342 clip at Western Illinois on Oct. 17. Freshman Rylee Key led the way offensively with 11 kills against just one miscue in 18 swings, hitting a red-hot .556 for the match. Maddy Gladson (nine kills), Chyler Martin (.455 attack percentage), Riley Rushing (.375) and Dylan Sulcer (29 assists) paced UT Martin offensively while Abby Freund's 10 digs guided the Skyhawks on defense.

The first set was a battle from start to finish as there were 16 tie scores and four lead changes. Gladson was on fire to begin the match, slamming down five kills in a five-point span early to even the score at 10-all. A kill from Rushing gave UT Martin an 18-17 advantage but the Lions (20-3, 10-1 OVC) went on a 4-0 run late to take the opening set. Gladson muscled up for seven kills on a .500 hitting percentage while Sulcer provided 11 assists and six digs in the first stanza.

Lindenwood accounted for six of the first eight points in the second set before points by Luli Arcucci (service ace) and Rushing (kill) shaved the Skyhawk deficit to 7-5. The Lions responded with a 6-0 run but Martin provided a spark with back-to-back kills late to pull UT Martin back within striking distance. However, Lindenwood was able to take a 2-0 lead in the match despite Martin's four kills on six attempts (.667 attack percentage).

The Skyhawks scored the first four points of the final set as four different UT Martin players (Carly Mueller kill, Freund service ace, Key solo block, Sulcer kill) had a hand in the blazing start. The Lions went on an 8-3 run midway through the set but the Skyhawks continued to chip away until knotting the score at 18-all after a Mueller/Rushing block assist. A pair of kills from Key and a Gladson kill made the score 24-23 but Lindenwood was able to convert the next point to claim the win. Key was responsible for five kills on a .444 hitting percentage in the final stanza.

UT Martin's 2026 home finale is on tap for tomorrow as it is also Senior Night at Skyhawk Fieldhouse. The match will begin at 5 p.m. with a pregame ceremony recognizing UT Martin's Rushing, Sulcer and Mia Saenz occurring at approximately 4:53 p.m.