By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The fifth-largest crowd in Skyhawk Fieldhouse history cheered on the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad to their sixth straight win Thursday evening in a 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-23, 25-22) over Morehead State.
A total of 729 fans were on hand to witness the Skyhawks collect their fourth consecutive sweep – improving the team record to 19-9 overall with a 13-2 record against Ohio Valley Conference opponents. The 13 league victories are the third-most OVC wins in school history.
Karen Scanlon earned her ninth double-double of the season and 25th of her illustrious collegiate career this evening, accumulating 14 kills on a .324 hitting percentage and 13 digs. Angel Baylark hit .385 with a match-high four blocks while Dylan Mott (match-high 16 digs) and Kambree Lucas (10 digs) chipped in valuable defensive performances. Haeleigh Paulino barely missed a double-double (15 assists, eight digs) and had a pair of service aces while Addy Vaughn provided 10 assists and three kills.
UT Martin doubled up the Eagles in blocks (8 to 4) and held a 6-2 advantage in service aces as the match featured 13 tie scores and six lead changes.
The Skyhawks fed off the home crowd throughout the night, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first set thanks to kills from Mia Saenz, Scanlon and Paulino. Scanlon went through a hot stretch with three straight kills to help UT Martin take a 7-4 advantage. The Skyhawks maintained a three-point lead at 12-9 but two ties soon followed. UT Martin led by a slim 18-17 margin before accounting for seven of the last eight points, capped off by a Kayla Bryant kill. Scanlon had five kills on a .417 hitting percentage in the opening set.
Service aces from Paulino, Kayla Carrell and Saenz helped the Skyhawks pull away for a 10-4 advantage to start the second set. Vaughn and Wallick joined forces for six kills in a nine-point stretch, allowing UT Martin to build a six-point lead. Morehead State was able to pull back within one point on two separate occasions down the stretch but Saenz accounted for the putaway kill on set point to end the Eagle threat. Scanlon tallied a stat line of four kills, a .300 attack percentage, seven digs and two blocks in the second stanza.
Back-to-back kills out of Scanlon ignited a 4-1 Skyhawk lead in the final set. Baylark went off for three kills in the span of five points to keep UT Martin on top but Morehead State soon evened the score at 13-all. Lucas had a hand in back-to-back blocks (one assisted, one solo) as the Skyhawks began to gradually extend their lead out to 22-17. The Eagles then used a 5-0 run to even things up but UT Martin completed the sweep after scoring the final three points of the match, including a block assist out of Saenz and Wallick on match point. Mott scooped up nine digs in the third set alone, helping limit Morehead State to an .093 hitting percentage.
The Skyhawks host the Eagles Friday at 2 p.m. in the regular season home finale. Senior Day ceremonies – honoring the career accomplishments of Wallick, Scanlon, Paulino and Audrey Haworth – will start approximately 10 minutes before first serve.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information