Friday, September 4
Florence, Ala.
10 a.m.
UT Martin
0-4,0-0OVC
0
vs
3
Chattanooga
2-2,0-0SoCon
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Martin | 15 | 14 | 21 | 0 |
| Chattanooga | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Diouf Paces Skyhawks On First Day Of Noona Kennard Invitational
9/4/2026 7:50:00 PM | Volleyball
FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad battled a pair of familiar opponents on Day 1 of the Noona Kennard Invitational today, falling 3-0 to in-state foe Chattanooga (15-25, 14-25, 21-25) before dropping a three-set decision to Jackson State (21-25, 16-25, 21-25) in the second meeting between those two squads so far in 2026.
Sophomore middle blocker Sophie Diouf led the Skyhawks today, combining for 24 kills (4.00 per set) on a .212 hitting percentage. Carly Mueller also secured double-digits in kills (13) today on a .242 attack percentage while freshman Addie Rosales distributed a team-best 38 assists (7.60 per set).
Defensively, Abby Freund accounted for a team-best 14 digs while Maddy Gladson and Mia Saenz each rejected a team-high five blocks (1.00 per set) over UT Martin's two matches.
The Skyhawks close out their second nonconference weekend of the early 2026 campaign tomorrow with a 3 p.m. matchup against tournament host North Alabama.
Chattanooga
Diouf reached double digits in the kills column (11) for the first time today but UT Martin fell in its first matchup of the day.
The Mocs scored the first nine points of the opening set before Mueller gave the Skyhawks their first kill of the match. UT Martin would later score five unanswered points that included back-to-back service aces from Freund but Chattanooga was able to claim a 1-0 advantage. Mueller had a pair of kills to guide the Skyhawks in the first stanza.
UT Martin's first three points of the second set all came via Diouf kills but the Mocs went on a 13-2 run to take a late lead. Diouf then powered through with five consecutive kills for the Skyhawks as her final rally killer of the set spurred a 5-0 surge. However, Chattanooga recovered to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Diouf recorded a whopping seven kills against just one error (.462 attack percentage) in the second set alone.
UT Martin led for a majority of the third set as Diouf kills accounted for the Skyhawks' first three points. A kill from Saenz pushed the Skyhawk lead out to 13-10 but the Mocs answered with 11 of the next 14 points. A pair of kills by Mueller pulled UT Martin back within two points (22-20) but Chattanooga hung on for the win. Rosales handed out 10 assists in the final set for the Skyhawks.
Jackson State
Diouf's 13 kills were four more than anybody else on either side but UT Martin could not find momentum in its second match of the day.
A competitive opening set featured 11 tie scores and a pair of lead changes. The match swayed back-and-forth until the Skyhawks took their first lead of the day after a Penny Kirkham service ace made the score 19-18. The Tigers then tallied the next three points as part of a 7-2 run to close out the set. Diouf stayed hot with five kills against only one error in 10 swings (.400 hitting percentage in the opening stanza.
Diouf earned three kills in UT Martin's first three points of the second set. Jackson State eventually led by a 15-8 margin at the media timeout before a Diouf kill and service ace on back-to-back rallies trimmed the Skyhawk deficit to 17-14. However, that was as close as UT Martin would get in the middle set as the Tigers ended the set on an 8-2 run. Diouf (four kills) and Saenz (two blocks) led the Skyhawk offense and defense, respectively, in the second set.
Sturdy defense at the net midway through the third set helped UT Martin close the gap in the third stanza. Saenz and Gladson teamed up for a block assist before a Gladson solo block gave the Skyhawks a boost. Lauren Mariscal added a service ace and Gladson rose high for a kill to pull UT Martin within a single point (12-11). Despite three Diouf kills over the Skyhawks' next four points, Jackson State escaped with the win. Diouf's four kills and Saenz's two blocks once again guided UT Martin in the final set.
Sophomore middle blocker Sophie Diouf led the Skyhawks today, combining for 24 kills (4.00 per set) on a .212 hitting percentage. Carly Mueller also secured double-digits in kills (13) today on a .242 attack percentage while freshman Addie Rosales distributed a team-best 38 assists (7.60 per set).
Defensively, Abby Freund accounted for a team-best 14 digs while Maddy Gladson and Mia Saenz each rejected a team-high five blocks (1.00 per set) over UT Martin's two matches.
The Skyhawks close out their second nonconference weekend of the early 2026 campaign tomorrow with a 3 p.m. matchup against tournament host North Alabama.
Chattanooga
Diouf reached double digits in the kills column (11) for the first time today but UT Martin fell in its first matchup of the day.
The Mocs scored the first nine points of the opening set before Mueller gave the Skyhawks their first kill of the match. UT Martin would later score five unanswered points that included back-to-back service aces from Freund but Chattanooga was able to claim a 1-0 advantage. Mueller had a pair of kills to guide the Skyhawks in the first stanza.
UT Martin's first three points of the second set all came via Diouf kills but the Mocs went on a 13-2 run to take a late lead. Diouf then powered through with five consecutive kills for the Skyhawks as her final rally killer of the set spurred a 5-0 surge. However, Chattanooga recovered to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Diouf recorded a whopping seven kills against just one error (.462 attack percentage) in the second set alone.
UT Martin led for a majority of the third set as Diouf kills accounted for the Skyhawks' first three points. A kill from Saenz pushed the Skyhawk lead out to 13-10 but the Mocs answered with 11 of the next 14 points. A pair of kills by Mueller pulled UT Martin back within two points (22-20) but Chattanooga hung on for the win. Rosales handed out 10 assists in the final set for the Skyhawks.
Jackson State
Diouf's 13 kills were four more than anybody else on either side but UT Martin could not find momentum in its second match of the day.
A competitive opening set featured 11 tie scores and a pair of lead changes. The match swayed back-and-forth until the Skyhawks took their first lead of the day after a Penny Kirkham service ace made the score 19-18. The Tigers then tallied the next three points as part of a 7-2 run to close out the set. Diouf stayed hot with five kills against only one error in 10 swings (.400 hitting percentage in the opening stanza.
Diouf earned three kills in UT Martin's first three points of the second set. Jackson State eventually led by a 15-8 margin at the media timeout before a Diouf kill and service ace on back-to-back rallies trimmed the Skyhawk deficit to 17-14. However, that was as close as UT Martin would get in the middle set as the Tigers ended the set on an 8-2 run. Diouf (four kills) and Saenz (two blocks) led the Skyhawk offense and defense, respectively, in the second set.
Sturdy defense at the net midway through the third set helped UT Martin close the gap in the third stanza. Saenz and Gladson teamed up for a block assist before a Gladson solo block gave the Skyhawks a boost. Lauren Mariscal added a service ace and Gladson rose high for a kill to pull UT Martin within a single point (12-11). Despite three Diouf kills over the Skyhawks' next four points, Jackson State escaped with the win. Diouf's four kills and Saenz's two blocks once again guided UT Martin in the final set.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
UTM
UTC
Kills
27
34
Errors
23
9
Attempts
94
80
Hitting %
.043
.313
Points
32.0
49.0
Assists
25
32
Aces
3
10
Blocks
2
5
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
2
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Wednesday, September 02
Tuesday, September 01
Tuesday, August 25
Friday, January 23