By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – Four nonconference tournaments and a full 18-match Ohio Valley Conference slate highlight the 2021 University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball schedule, which was announced today by head coach Jaclynn Wilson.
The Skyhawks will play 30 regular season matches and compete against teams from nine different conferences this fall, including the second straight season of an altered OVC schedule. With the exception of midweek matches against your travel partner, the league returns to its traditional Friday and Saturday contests as each OVC school will face the same opponent as part of a two-match series on back-to-back days.
The 2021 campaign officially starts with UT Martin’s first nonconference tournament in 707 days, making the short trip to Jonesboro, Ark. for the A-State Invitational. The Skyhawks will take on tournament host Arkansas State and Wichita State for the first time in school history on Aug. 27 before squaring off against Missouri State for the first time since 1999 on Aug. 28.
The Saluki Bash is next on the docket as UT Martin travels to Carbondale, Ill. on Sept. 3-4. The Skyhawks will take on Oral Roberts (first time since 1993) and tournament host Southern Illinois on the opening day of the event before finishing up against Alabama A&M on Day 2.
UT Martin then heads to Bowling Green, Ky. for the two-day Holiday Inn-University Plaza Invitational. The Skyhawks will go for their second straight victory over Ole Miss before battling defending Southern Conference champion Samford on Sept. 10. UT Martin follows with a matchup against tournament host Western Kentucky – fresh off its first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in school history – on Sept. 11.
The Skyhawks’ fourth and final nonconference tournament takes place on Sept. 17-18 in Memphis, Tenn. UT Martin will match up against Arkansas State for the second time in three weeks while also taking on Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Day 1 of the event. The Skyhawks close out the tournament with an outing against event host Memphis.
OVC play begins with three straight road matches for UT Martin as the Skyhawks travel to Belmont on Sept. 24-25 before paying a visit to Southeast Missouri on Sept. 29.
A season-long five-match homestand kicks off the month of October as UT Martin will play in front of the Skyhawk Fieldhouse faithful for the first time on Oct. 1-2 with an Eastern Illinois series. Murray State comes to town on Oct. 8-9 before UT Martin concludes its season series against Southeast Missouri with a home matchup on Oct. 13.
Four consecutive road matches follow as the Skyhawks head to Morehead State (Oct. 15-16) and SIUE (Oct. 22-23).
UT Martin’s final six matches come against in-state rivals. The Skyhawks host Tennessee Tech on Oct. 29-30 before going on the road for the final time on Nov. 5-6 against Austin Peay. The regular season finale is set for Nov. 12-13 against Tennessee State at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.
The OVC regular season champion will once again host the league tournament, which is scheduled for a three-day window between the dates of Nov. 18 and Nov. 22.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information