By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Eight different University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball players claimed victories Friday as the Skyhawks split a pair of 4-1 decisions against Ohio Valley Conference rivals Austin Peay and Morehead State.
UT Martin’s No. 4 pair of Kayla Carrell/Addison Conley continued their remarkable run today, picking up two more victories to improve their season record to 19-1. That duo was the only victorious pair on the Skyhawk side this morning against Austin Peay but UT Martin recovered in a big way to defeat Morehead State late this afternoon.
Against the host Governors, Carrell/Conley provided the Skyhawks with a 1-0 lead following a quick 21-12, 21-10 triumph. However, Austin Peay was responsible for the final four points – two of which were three-set affairs.
Audrey Haworth/Addy Vaughn were barely defeated (19-21, 21-16, 15-7) at No. 5 as the score was knotted at 1-all at the conclusion of the first wave of matches. Dylan Mott/Karen Scanlon gave it their all at No. 1 but fell by a slim 20-22, 21-15, 15-7 margin. UT Martin competed throughout in the final two matchups but Kambree Lucas/Hannah Phillips (21-14, 21-12) and Haeleigh Paulino/Logan Wallick (21-16, 21-11) fell at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
The Skyhawks bounced back strong in their nightcap, almost pulling off a sweep of the defending OVC regular season champion. Carrell/Conley were up to their usual winning ways – opening the match with a 21-17, 21-16 victory for their ninth consecutive win. Haworth/Vaughn then powered through for an impressive 21-11, 12-21, 19-17 victory at No. 5 to give UT Martin a 2-0 advantage.
Mott/Scanlon provided the match-clinching point at No. 1 via a 21-19, 21-6 triumph. Teaming up for just the second time in 2022, Paulino/Lucas posted a 21-17, 21-13 victory out of the No. 3 slot. Also joining forces for only the second time this season was Phillips/Wallick but that Skyhawk duo narrowly fell 22-20, 21-13 at the No. 2 position.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – For the first time ever, the University of Tennessee at Martin can call itself Ohio Valley Conference beach volleyball champions as the Skyhawks secured a share of the 2022 regular season title Saturday.
UT Martin began the last day of the regular season with a riveting 5-0 win over Eastern Illinois, which clinched a co-OVC championship with Austin Peay. With a portion of the title already in hand, the Skyhawks wrapped up the day with a slim 3-2 setback against Chattanooga.
Four UT Martin players sported an unblemished 2-0 record on the day as the Skyhawk No. 3 pair of Kambree Lucas/Haeleigh Paulino and No. 4 team of Kayla Carrell/Addison Conley boasted perfect days. Lucas/Paulino ran their OVC record out to 3-0 while Carrell/Conley moved to 8-0 in league play and an astounding 21-1 on the season.
UT Martin’s sweep of Eastern Illinois was its eighth of the 2022 campaign. Carrell/Conley initiated the victory with a 21-6, 21-13 win while Audrey Haworth/Brooke Kuball came away with a 21-16, 12-21, 15-5 win at No. 5. Paulino/Lucas posted the clincher with a 21-11, 21-13 triumph.
Dylan Mott/Karen Scanlon fought through for a 21-18, 21-18 victory at No. 1 while Hannah Phillips/Logan Wallick capped off the win with an impressive 21-14, 21-15 win out of the No. 2 slot.
The second match of the day came down to the final point but unfortunately the Skyhawks were edged by the Mocs. Once again, Carrell/Conley got UT Martin on track with a 21-16, 21-19 victory – their 11th in a row. Chattanooga evened the match at 1-1 following a win at No. 5 as Haworth/Addy Vaughn were narrowly defeated 22-20, 21-11.
Wallick/Phillips battled throughout but fell in a tight 21-18, 21-6 decision at No. 2 but the Skyhawks evened the match at 2-all after Lucas/Paulino scored a 21-17, 21-17 win. At No. 1, Mott/Scanlon claimed the first set but fell in a heartbreaker, 16-21, 21-15, 15-10.
UT Martin will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming OVC Championship, which will take place on April 28-30 in Morehead, Ky. The Skyhawks’ first action in the tournament is set for 3 p.m. CST on April 28 as they will take on the winner of the No. 4 seed Morehead State/No. 5 seed Eastern Illinois match.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information