By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball team soared to a pair of 5-0 sweeps today, defeating Ohio Valley Conference foe Chattanooga in a double dual that served as the Skyhawks’ home and league opener.
All 11 UT Martin players who saw action this afternoon earned victories as the Skyhawks improved to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in OVC play (only the frontend of today’s double dual counted in the league standings).
Dylan Mott/Logan Wallick went 2-0 on the day at No. 1 while Kambree Lucas/Olivia O’Keefe came away with a 2-0 mark out of the No. 2 slot in UT Martin’s lineup. Lucy Kaufman/Addy Vaughn tallied a 2-0 record at No. 3 while Haeleigh Paulino/Jenna Vallée went undefeated (2-0) out of the No. 4 position. Kayla Carrell won both matches at No. 5 today while partnering alongside Kayla Bryant and Audrey Haworth.
In the first match of the day, Paulino/Vallée opened with a convincing 21-8, 21-14 win. Bryant/Carrell teamed up for a 21-18, 21-13 triumph before Lucas/O’Keefe clinched the Skyhawk victory with a 21-12, 21-16 decision. Mott/Wallick (21-19, 22-20) and Kaufman/Vaughn (21-17, 24-26, 15-11) tacked on two more wins for good measure.
The tandem of Carrell/Haworth got UT Martin on the scoreboard in the second match of the day, collecting a 21-13, 21-11 victory. Paulino/Vallée outlasted the opposition in a 22-20, 12-21, 15-2 decision while Kaufman/Vaughn’s 21-14, 21-12 triumph officially clinched the match in favor of the Skyhawks. Lucas/O’Keefe managed a 21-13, 21-16 victory before Mott/Wallick polished off the double dual sweep with a 21-15, 21-17 win.
UT Martin plays its next two weekends in Chattanooga, starting with an OVC Weekend on March 24-25. The Skyhawks will take on Morehead State and Eastern Illinois on Friday before squaring off against Tennessee Tech and Lindenwood on Saturday as all four matches will count towards the league standings.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information