By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – A 28-match slate awaits the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball program this fall as head coach Jaclynn Wilson released the 2023 schedule today.
After winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship for the first time in two decades in 2022, the Skyhawks will be tested with four nonconference tournaments before an 18-match league schedule begins on Sept. 22. Overall, Wilson’s squad will battle against teams from 10 separate conferences while a trio of first-time opponents (Marist, Kansas State, Oakland) dot this fall’s slate.
UT Martin starts the 2023 campaign in a little over two months, taking part in the Tennessee Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. The Skyhawks officially open the season with a matchup against 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference runner-up Marist on Aug. 25 before facing defending Sun Belt Conference West division champion Texas State and 2022 NCAA Tournament participant Tennessee out of the Southeastern Conference on Aug. 26.
A trip to Springfield, Mo. follows on Sept. 1-2 for an appearance in the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational. UT Martin opens the event against Southwestern Athletic Conference representative Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Missouri State from the Missouri Valley Conference before squaring off against Kansas City out of the Summit League on the final day.
The Skyhawks make a short trip to Music City for a two-day tournament on Sept. 7-8, lining up against in-state ASUN Conference foe Lipscomb and Kansas State from the Big 12 Conference.
Nonconference play wraps up with an appearance in the Saluki Invitational. UT Martin takes on MVC representative Southern Illinois on Sept. 14 before facing Oakland from the Horizon League on Sept. 15.
The Skyhawks’ pursuit of a repeat OVC championship begins one week later when UT Martin hosts Eastern Illinois for the home-opening weekend of Sept. 22-23. The Skyhawks conclude the month of September with a Thursday (Sept. 28)/Friday (Sept. 29) road trip to league rival Lindenwood.
UT Martin briefly returns home for a Tuesday, Oct. 3 matchup against defending OVC Tournament champion Tennessee State. The Skyhawks then head to Southeast Missouri on Oct. 6-7 for a pair of matches.
OVC newcomer Western Illinois visits UT Martin for the second straight year on Oct. 13-14. A return trip of the home-and-home series against league foe Tennessee State is set for Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The Skyhawks resume their OVC schedule by hosting SIUE on Oct. 20-21 and head to league rival Morehead State on Oct. 27-28.
UT Martin’s final home matches of the regular season are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 9 and Friday, Nov. 10 against Little Rock. The Skyhawks’ 2023 regular season slate wraps up with a Wednesday (Nov. 15)/Thursday (Nov. 16) road matchup at OVC foe Southern Indiana.
The 2023 OVC Championship tournament will be held at the site of the regular season champion and will occur in a three-day span during the week of Nov. 19 through Nov. 25. An exact timeframe is at the host’s discretion and will be announced towards the end of the regular season.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information