Friday, August 28
Clarksville, Tenn.
1 p.m.
UT Martin
at
Austin Peay
Photo by: UT Martin Sports Information
Lengthy UT Martin Volleyball Squad Opens 2026 Season This Weekend
8/26/2026 9:32:00 AM | Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin starts its 2026 volleyball campaign this weekend with a short 95-mile drive to Clarksville, Tenn. for three matches at the Stacheville Challenge hosted by Austin Peay.
The Skyhawks enter Year 12 of the Jaclynn Wilson Era with an experienced roster and noticeable size at the net. Ten of UT Martin's 17 student-athletes are upperclassmen in 2026 while 11 Skyhawks stand at 6-0 or taller, which are three more than any other UT Martin team in its NCAA Division I Era (since 1992).
"Our team makeup looks completely different," said Wilson, who is the program's all-time NCAA Division I wins leader with 117 victories. "We have always been a smaller, feisty squad in my tenure but this year we will be more of a block-heavy team. We have more depth than we've had in the past and we're really encouraged with the hard work we have put in this preseason – not only on the physical side but the mental side of things. This team has taken the IQ part of the game a lot more seriously and has really stayed focused."
All seven Skyhawk returners have starting experience while five of those student-athletes have logged at least 20 starts in a UT Martin uniform. That list begins with fifth-year middle blocker Mia Saenz, who started 52 matches in her first two seasons but has been limited to one combined match since 2024 due to injuries. The 6-1 Lexington, Ky. native is medically cleared for the fall and boasts an impressive 0.84 blocks per set average in her collegiate career.
Joining Saenz at middle blocker is Carly Mueller, who started 27 matches as a freshman and ranked fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 1.00 blocks per set in league play a year ago. The trio of Abby Freund (team-best 357 digs last fall), Maddy Gladson (12 matches started in 2025) Dylan Sulcer (11 official starts plus six more at libero last season) each enter their third year in the Skyhawk program while Chyler Martin (2026 OVC Watch List honoree) and DyYanna Wade (nine matches played before a season-ending injury) also made starts as true freshmen last fall.
Amongst the 10 UT Martin newcomers are a mix of seasoned veterans with plenty of NCAA Division I and high-level junior college backgrounds. The tallest player on the team at 6-3, Luli Arcucci earned an OVC Watch List recognition after collecting 217 kills over two seasons (32 starts) at Buffalo. She joins setter Reagan Hamm (335 assists in 22 starts at Northwestern State last fall), setter Ida Wiszomirska (301 assists in 19 starts over two seasons at Hampton), middle blocker Sophie Diouf (119 kills, team-high 73 blocks with 35 service aces as a freshman at Southern in 2025) and outside hitter Mari Haas (443 kills, 283 digs in a two-year career at Santa Fe College) as battle-tested options in 2026.
Although technically listed as newcomers, a pair of familiar faces joined the Skyhawks this season in senior Riley Rushing and junior Lauren Mariscal. After each earned All-OVC accolades on the beach volleyball court, both Rushing and Mariscal have made a seamless transition and will vie for major playing time at outside hitter and libero/defensive specialist, respectively.
Three freshmen with immense potential are also set to make their collegiate debuts in 2026. Middle blocker Rylee Key (two-time all-state and 2025 TVBCA Miss Volleyball winner at Dyer County High School in Newbern, Tenn.) and libero/defensive specialist Penny Kirkham (all-region honoree who was part of a run of 13 straight region championships at McCracken County High School in Paducah, Ky.) join the program as exciting local signees while setter Addie Rosales (2,500 career assists at the high school level) is pushing for immediate playing time after a standout career at Loretto Academy in El Paso, Texas.
UT Martin will look to take advantage of a home-heavy slate in 2026 as almost half (13 of 27) of its regular season matches will take place inside Skyhawk Fieldhouse. UT Martin has 11 nonconference tests – including five in a row at home from Sept. 15-19 – before opening its 16-match league schedule on Sept. 25. The OVC Championship tournament will be hosted by the league's regular season champion and is set for Nov. 22-24.
The Skyhawks enter Year 12 of the Jaclynn Wilson Era with an experienced roster and noticeable size at the net. Ten of UT Martin's 17 student-athletes are upperclassmen in 2026 while 11 Skyhawks stand at 6-0 or taller, which are three more than any other UT Martin team in its NCAA Division I Era (since 1992).
"Our team makeup looks completely different," said Wilson, who is the program's all-time NCAA Division I wins leader with 117 victories. "We have always been a smaller, feisty squad in my tenure but this year we will be more of a block-heavy team. We have more depth than we've had in the past and we're really encouraged with the hard work we have put in this preseason – not only on the physical side but the mental side of things. This team has taken the IQ part of the game a lot more seriously and has really stayed focused."
All seven Skyhawk returners have starting experience while five of those student-athletes have logged at least 20 starts in a UT Martin uniform. That list begins with fifth-year middle blocker Mia Saenz, who started 52 matches in her first two seasons but has been limited to one combined match since 2024 due to injuries. The 6-1 Lexington, Ky. native is medically cleared for the fall and boasts an impressive 0.84 blocks per set average in her collegiate career.
Joining Saenz at middle blocker is Carly Mueller, who started 27 matches as a freshman and ranked fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 1.00 blocks per set in league play a year ago. The trio of Abby Freund (team-best 357 digs last fall), Maddy Gladson (12 matches started in 2025) Dylan Sulcer (11 official starts plus six more at libero last season) each enter their third year in the Skyhawk program while Chyler Martin (2026 OVC Watch List honoree) and DyYanna Wade (nine matches played before a season-ending injury) also made starts as true freshmen last fall.
Amongst the 10 UT Martin newcomers are a mix of seasoned veterans with plenty of NCAA Division I and high-level junior college backgrounds. The tallest player on the team at 6-3, Luli Arcucci earned an OVC Watch List recognition after collecting 217 kills over two seasons (32 starts) at Buffalo. She joins setter Reagan Hamm (335 assists in 22 starts at Northwestern State last fall), setter Ida Wiszomirska (301 assists in 19 starts over two seasons at Hampton), middle blocker Sophie Diouf (119 kills, team-high 73 blocks with 35 service aces as a freshman at Southern in 2025) and outside hitter Mari Haas (443 kills, 283 digs in a two-year career at Santa Fe College) as battle-tested options in 2026.
Although technically listed as newcomers, a pair of familiar faces joined the Skyhawks this season in senior Riley Rushing and junior Lauren Mariscal. After each earned All-OVC accolades on the beach volleyball court, both Rushing and Mariscal have made a seamless transition and will vie for major playing time at outside hitter and libero/defensive specialist, respectively.
Three freshmen with immense potential are also set to make their collegiate debuts in 2026. Middle blocker Rylee Key (two-time all-state and 2025 TVBCA Miss Volleyball winner at Dyer County High School in Newbern, Tenn.) and libero/defensive specialist Penny Kirkham (all-region honoree who was part of a run of 13 straight region championships at McCracken County High School in Paducah, Ky.) join the program as exciting local signees while setter Addie Rosales (2,500 career assists at the high school level) is pushing for immediate playing time after a standout career at Loretto Academy in El Paso, Texas.
UT Martin will look to take advantage of a home-heavy slate in 2026 as almost half (13 of 27) of its regular season matches will take place inside Skyhawk Fieldhouse. UT Martin has 11 nonconference tests – including five in a row at home from Sept. 15-19 – before opening its 16-match league schedule on Sept. 25. The OVC Championship tournament will be hosted by the league's regular season champion and is set for Nov. 22-24.
Players Mentioned
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