By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Haeleigh Paulino and Jenna Vallée went a perfect 2-0 for the University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball team today but the Skyhawks were defeated by 3-2 margins in a pair of tough matches against Central Arkansas and Austin Peay at the Governors Beach Challenge event.
The first match of the day came down to the wire as Central Arkansas narrowly claimed the win following a decisive tiebreaking third-set victory. UT Martin (6-6) was also extremely competitive through the duration of the Austin Peay matchup but the Governors escaped with a win on its home court.
Paulino and Vallée were undefeated out of the No. 4 slot this afternoon while the Skyhawk teams of Kambree Lucas/Olivia O’Keefe (No. 2) and Lucy Kaufman/Addy Vaughn (No. 3) also claimed one victory apiece on the day.
UT Martin got off to a 1-0 lead in the Central Arkansas matchup after Paulino/Vallée earned a hard-fought 21-18, 21-16 win. Kayla Bryant/Kayla Carrell left it all on the sand at No. 5 but narrowly fell 21-19, 21-19 while Audrey Haworth/Dylan Mott – teaming up for the first time in 2023 – fell 21-10, 21-15 at No. 1.
Lucas/O’Keefe evened the match at 2-all following a 21-18, 21-19 triumph out of the No. 2 slot. All eyes then shifted to the No. 3 matchup as Kaufman/Vaughn battled back to force a third set but barely fell 21-15, 17-21, 15-12.
The Skyhawks once again captured early momentum in the Austin Peay match as Paulino/Vallée pieced together a 21-11, 22-20 victory. However, the Governors were able to nab the next three points as Bryant/Carrell were barely outlasted 22-20, 18-21, 15-13 at No. 5, Haworth/Mott were defeated 21-12, 21-14 at No. 1 and Lucas/O’Keefe fell 21-15, 21-19 at No. 2.
The UT Martin duo of Kaufman/Vaughn pulled through for a big win at No. 3, earning a 21-19, 19-21, 15-12 for their third victory of the 2023 campaign.
Ohio Valley Conference play is next in store for the Skyhawks as they hold their home opener with a Tuesday, March 21 double dual. UT Martin will take on in-state conference rival Chattanooga at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Skyhawk Beach Volleyball Complex.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information