By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Competing on the same sand where it won last season’s Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship, the University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball squad completed another piece of history today, earning its second straight regular season league title with 5-0 sweeps over Tennessee Tech and Morehead State.
The victories improved the Skyhawks’ OVC record to 8-0 and 22-8 overall, extending their own school record for most wins in a season. Receiving votes in back-to-back weeks in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Beach Coaches Top 20 Poll, UT Martin has now swept 14 opponents this spring – six of which have come against league opposition.
The Skyhawks used the same five pairs for both matches today as Dylan Mott/Logan Wallick claimed the No. 1 spot, Kambree Lucas/Olivia O’Keefe were in the No. 2 position, Lucy Kaufman/Addy Vaughn filled the No. 3 slot, Haeleigh Paulino/Jenna Vallée competed at No. 4 and Kayla Carrell/Ryan Rednour teamed up for the first time all season at No. 5.
Against Tennessee Tech this morning, Carrell/Rednour got things started with a 21-16, 21-13 victory. After Paulino/Vallée posted a 21-16, 21-14 win, the clinching point came via Kaufman/Vaughn’s 21-18, 21-10 victory. Lucas/O’Keefe (21-8, 21-17) and Mott/Wallick (21-18, 21-4) closed out the sweep with dominant performances.
A six-and-a-half hour break followed before UT Martin was back in action but the Skyhawks showed no signs of rust. Carrell/Rednour scored a 21-17, 24-22 triumph while Paulino/Vallée ended the first wave with a 21-18, 21-18 win. Lucas/O’Keefe came away with the match-clincher behind a 21-9, 21-12 triumph before Kaufman/Vaughn (21-17, 21-12) and Mott/Wallick (21-16, 21-18) wrapped up the day with big victories.
The University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball program put the finishing touches on a record-setting 2023 regular season today, capping off an unbeaten run through the Ohio Valley Conference schedule with 5-0 sweeps against Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois.
One day after earning their second straight OVC regular season championship, the Skyhawks came out laser-focused and achieved another piece of history. UT Martin’s two wins pushed its OVC record to 10-0 – becoming the first OVC beach volleyball program to run through the league slate with an unblemished mark.
The Skyhawks are now 24-8 overall and will enter next week’s OVC Championship event – held on the UT Martin campus for the second time in three years – as the No. 1 seed.
Eleven different Skyhawks saw playing time and contributed to the victories today. Dylan Mott/Logan Wallick polished off an 8-2 OVC season at No. 1 while Kambree Lucas/Olivia O’Keefe (No. 2), Lucy Kaufman/Addy Vaughn (No. 3) and Haeleigh Paulino/Jenna Vallée (No. 4) all completed perfect 10-0 seasons in league play. At No. 5, Kayla Carrell also improved to 10-0 against OVC competition, partnering with Ryan Rednour (3-0 OVC) and Kayla Bryant (4-0 OVC) today.
During UT Martin’s morning triumph over Lindenwood, Paulino/Vallée began the match with a 21-9, 21-13 victory. Carrell/Rednour posted a 21-17, 21-17 win, setting up Kaufman/Vaughn for the clinching 21-10, 21-18 triumph. Lucas/O’Keefe soared for a commanding 21-3, 21-14 victory before Mott/Wallick outlasted their opposition by a 16-21, 21-10, 15-12 margin.
The Skyhawks followed up with a sweep against Eastern Illinois, ignited by a 21-7, 21-14 win from Bryant/Carrell. After Paulino/Vallée earned a 21-11, 21-14 triumph, the match was officially sealed with a 21-8, 21-13 victory from the duo of Mott/Wallick. For good measure, Kaufman/Vaughn (21-18, 21-12) and Lucas/O’Keefe (21-15, 25-23) tacked on additional wins.
UT Martin will play its first match in the 2023 OVC Championship tournament at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 27. Visit UTMSports.com tomorrow to view the full 10-match bracket as the tournament runs through Saturday, April 29 at the Skyhawk Beach Volleyball Complex.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information