By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – A successful week of accolades for the University of Tennessee at Martin wrapped up today as the Skyhawk beach volleyball and softball programs earned 2021-22 Ohio Valley Conference Team Academic Achievement Awards.
Instituted in the 2004-05 academic year, the OVC distributes its Team Academic Achievement Awards on an annual basis. The accolade is presented to each Conference-sponsored sport to the member institution’s team with the greatest percentage of its eligible student-athletes who achieved a 3.25 Grade Point Average or higher.
This marks the second straight year that the UT Martin beach volleyball team has won this prestigious award. The Skyhawks have now won the honor in two of the three seasons the league has recognized a winner. The UT Martin softball program collected the award for the fifth time in school history (also winning in 2014-15, 2013-14, 2006-07 and 2004-05) – marking the most awards for any OVC institution in the sport of softball.
The Skyhawk beach volleyball program boasted a 3.49 cumulative GPA for head coach Jaclynn Wilson during the 2021-22 academic year, producing 10 OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipients. Away from the sand, UT Martin became the first OVC team to sweep the regular season and tournament championships – making its first NCAA Tournament appearance after a school record 17 victories.
Head coach Brian Dunn oversaw a Skyhawk softball program that dialed up a 3.65 team GPA in 2021-22, landing 14 student-athletes on the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll list. Off the diamond, UT Martin went 34-19 with a 17-8 record in league play – accumulating its most OVC victories since 2012.
Today’s announcement concludes the OVC’s weeklong announcements regarding 2021-22 academic awards. On Monday, the Skyhawks touted a school record 28 OVC Medal of Honor recipients with perfect 4.0 GPA’s. Yesterday, UT Martin brought home 161 OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll winners (achieving at least a 3.25 GPA).
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information