By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference portion of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s 2022 beach volleyball schedule got off to a rousing start Friday as the Skyhawks earned a pair of commanding victories.
UT Martin started the day with a 5-0 triumph over Eastern Illinois before completing its perfect afternoon with a 4-1 victory over Chattanooga. In the process, the Skyhawks improved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in OVC play – passing their previous school record of three consecutive victories set on April 24-25, 2021.
Four of the five UT Martin pairs went undefeated on the day. The No. 4 tandem of Kayla Carrell and Addison Conley extended their perfect start (7-0) to the 2022 campaign while the No. 1 pair of Dylan Mott/Karen Scanlon, No. 2 team of Kambree Lucas/Hannah Phillips and No. 3 duo of Haeleigh Paulino/Logan Wallick all won their fourth straight decisions. Additionally, Brooke Kuball/Addy Vaughn collected their fifth win of the season while teaming up at No. 5.
The Skyhawks’ highly successful day started with a sweep over Eastern Illinois in the league opener. Kuball and Vaughn struck for a 21-13, 21-10 victory while Carrell/Conley (21-18, 21-9) took care of business before the second wave began.
Paulino/Wallick powered through for a 21-9, 21-10 victory while Mott/Scanlon (21-12, 21-16) and Lucas/Phillips (21-14, 21-14) also emerged victorious.
Facing off against a Chattanooga squad that entered with a 9-2 record, UT Martin made short work of the tournament hosts. Carrell/Conley soared to a 21-16, 21-12 win while Kuball/Vaughn battled but narrowly fell 23-21, 26-24.
All three remaining matches went into a decisive third set but the Skyhawks stood tall in each decision. Mott and Scanlon accounted for a 21-14, 17-21, 15-9 win, setting up Paulino/Wallick (13-21, 22-20, 15-11) for the come-from-behind clinching point. UT Martin ended on a high note after Lucas/Phillips collected a 21-18, 16-21, 15-12 victory.
The University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball squad continued its winning ways Saturday as the Skyhawks completed a perfect week with 4-1 victories over Ohio Valley Conference rivals Morehead State and Austin Peay.
In the aftermath, UT Martin (7-2) ran its school-record winning streak out to six matches. The two results today also resulted in an unblemished 4-0 league record as the Skyhawks won 17 of 20 head-to-head matchups during the OVC-opening weekend.
UT Martin’s No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 teams were undefeated today as Haeleigh Paulino/Logan Wallick (No. 3), Kayla Carrell/Addison Conley (No. 4) and Brooke Kuball/Addy Vaughn (No. 5) each accounted for a pair of victories. The Skyhawks’ No. 2 tandem of Kambree Lucas/Hannah Phillips added a victory against Morehead State while UT Martin’s No. 1 team of Dylan Mott/Karen Scanlon earned a win over Austin Peay.
Against Morehead State, Carrell/Conley pieced together a 21-18, 21-11 victory while Kuball/Vaughn’s 21-18, 21-14 triumph gave the Skyhawks the early 2-0 advantage.
Lucas/Phillips delivered the clinching point courtesy of a 23-21, 21-14 victory – their seventh win of the young 2022 campaign. Paulino/Wallick outlasted their competitors by a 21-16, 19-21, 15-7 margin while Mott/Scanlon competed throughout but fell 21-15, 21-17.
UT Martin then avenged a March 13 nonconference loss to defending OVC champion Austin Peay in a competitive matchup that featured four 3-set decisions. Carrell/Conley extended their season record to 9-0 after a 21-18, 13-21, 15-8 victory while Kuball/Vaughn wrapped up their seventh win of the year with a 20-22, 21-15, 15-13 decision.
Mott/Scanlon were responsible for the clinching point with a hard-fought 21-18, 21-18 victory – their sixth of the season. Paulino/Wallick picked up their seventh win of the season (sixth in a row) with a 21-23, 21-15, 15-13 triumph. The Skyhawks nearly dialed up a sweep but Lucas/Phillips were barely edged by a 21-23, 21-11, 15-13 margin.
After its first nine matches of the season were on the road, UT Martin plays its next six matches at the Skyhawk Beach Volleyball Complex. That stretch begins with the Skyhawk Beach Invitational on April 1-2 as UT Martin will host its first-ever regular season tournament. The Skyhawks welcome Liberty, Missouri State, Ottawa (Kan.) and Tulane as 10 matches will take place over the two-day span.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information