Surging UT Martin Squad Ready To Host OVC Championship This Week

Thursday, April 23

Martin, Tenn.

12 p.m.

UT Martin

Tennessee Tech

Photo by: UT Martin University Relations

Surging UT Martin Squad Ready To Host OVC Championship This Week

4/22/2026 8:09:00 AM | Beach Volleyball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Winners of four straight decisions, the University of Tennessee at Martin will look to carry its momentum into this week's 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Beach Volleyball Championship tournament.

This year's event will take place at the Skyhawk Beach Volleyball Complex and runs from Thursday, April 23 through Saturday, April 25. Admission is free for the entire tournament, which is a double-elimination format until the "winner-take-all" finals on Saturday.

This marks UT Martin's third time to host the OVC Championship event, also putting on the tournament in 2021 and 2023. The Skyhawks have made it to the championship finals four times in the five-year history of the event, winning the league's automatic bid and securing an ensuing NCAA Tournament appearance in both 2022 and 2023.

UT Martin (14-7 overall) enters the postseason on its longest winning streak of the season after reeling off four consecutive victories at the OVC Weekend at Morehead State. The Skyhawks combined to win 15 of the 18 duals and improved to 7-3 in the league standings in the process, tying Lindenwood for second place while clinching the No. 3 seed for UT Martin.

The Skyhawks will trot out the same starting lineup at the OVC Championship as they showed during their hot stretch last weekend. Current OVC Pair of the Week Kayla Bryant and Riley Rushing will occupy the No. 1 spot after going 5-3 on the season with a 4-1 mark against conference competition. Reagan McGee and Dylan Sulcer are 4-0 together (all in league play) in 2026 and will represent UT Martin at No. 2. Luli Arcucci and Lauren Mariscal will compete at No. 3 after teaming up for a 10-8 record (6-4 OVC) this spring. At No. 4, Andie Kryak and Amara Traiger boast a team-best 13-4 record and an 8-1 mark against OVC foes. After going 3-1 while teaming up for the first time last weekend, Abby Freund and Kristin Phillips will reprise their role at No. 5.

The Skyhawks start their quest for the program's third OVC beach volleyball title tomorrow with a 12 p.m. showdown against No. 6 seed Tennessee Tech. For more information on this year's event – including links for ESPN+ live video streaming and live scoring – visit the Championship Central link above.