By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MOREHEAD, Ky. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team ran into a hot team Friday evening, as Morehead State won its fifth straight contest by a 3-0 margin (25-23, 25-17, 27-25) in Ohio Valley Conference action.
Addison Conley led the way offensively for the Skyhawks (10-12, 6-3 OVC), putting away 10 kills on a .296 hitting percentage. Haeleigh Paulino managed her 11th double-double of the season with team-highs of 13 assists and 13 digs while Olivia Saunders blocked a match-best four blocks.
The match may have only been three sets but there were 33 tie scores and 17 lead changes – including 18 ties and nine lead changes in the first set alone. Conley had two kills in UT Martin’s first four points as the Skyhawks nabbed an early advantage. The Eagles (10-9, 6-2 OVC) eventually went ahead by a 13-12 margin but UT Martin went on a 4-0 run – capped off by another Conley kill and a Saunders solo block – to take a 17-14 lead. Morehead State answered with a 7-3 run but a Logan Wallick kill and Kayla Carrell service ace tilted the score back in the Skyhawks’ favor at 22-21. However, the Eagles tallied four of the final five points to take a 1-0 lead. Wallick and Conley each had three kills to pace UT Martin in the first set.
The Skyhawks led early in the second set but Morehead State took a 15-9 advantage following a 9-4 run. A pair of Conley kills and a Saunders/Scanlon block assist pulled UT Martin within three at 16-13. However, the Eagles unreeled five unanswered points and managed four of the final five points of the set to take a 2-0 advantage in the match. Conley powered through for four kills in 10 swings in the middle stanza.
The third set saw the Skyhawks seize control midway through the set before Morehead State stormed back late. Wallick notched a pair of kills and a block assist during a 5-0 run, which made the score 10-8 in favor of UT Martin. A kill by Francela Ulate later made the score 15-11 as the Skyhawks seemed destined to send the match into a fourth set. However, the Eagles went on a 7-2 run to momentarily take the lead. Ulate slammed down back-to-back kills to switch the momentum on UT Martin’s side after the Skyhawks claimed a 22-19 advantage. Morehead State then ended the match on an 8-3 run, despite UT Martin tallying set point at 24-23. Ulate (four kills) and Paulino (nine digs) led the Skyhawks in the final set.
UT Martin and the Eagles wrap up their two-match weekend series tomorrow at 10 a.m. CST.
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information