By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time since the 2019 season, the University of Tennessee at Martin proudly plays host to an in-season volleyball tournament as the Skyhawk Invitational will take place on Friday, Sept. 2 through Saturday, Sept. 3.
This year’s field includes Alabama A&M, Arkansas State, Western Illinois and UT Martin. Admission is free for all six matches at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.
The event begins at 10 a.m. on Friday with a matchup between Western Illinois and Arkansas State. UT Martin makes its debut in the tournament at 12:30 p.m. with a showdown against Alabama A&M. The second wave of Friday matches starts with a 3:30 p.m. contest featuring Alabama A&M and Arkansas State. The nightcap includes the Skyhawks and Western Illinois with first serve set for 6 p.m.
A pair of matches are on the docket for Saturday, beginning with an 11 a.m. matchup between Alabama A&M and Western Illinois. The tournament wraps up with UT Martin taking on Arkansas State at 1:30 p.m.
This weekend caps off a four-match homestand for the Skyhawks, who enter the tournament with a 2-2 record under head coach Jaclynn Wilson. Karen Scanlon leads UT Martin in kills (48, 2.82 per set) and service aces (eight, 0.47 per set) while Logan Wallick (team-best .264 hitting percentage) and Haeleigh Paulino (team-high 106 assists, 6.24 per set) also pace the Skyhawk offensive attack. On the flipside, Dylan Mott (81 digs, 4.76 per set) and Angel Baylark (22 blocks, 1.47 per set) guide UT Martin defensively.
Directed by ninth-year head coach Rose Magers-Powell, Alabama A&M enters the weekend with an 0-3 record after visiting Boca Raton, Fla. for the FAU Invitational on Aug. 26-27. The Bulldogs are visiting Skyhawk Fieldhouse for the first time since the 2016 campaign. Bailey Duckett has been Alabama A&M’s star so far in 2022, topping the squad in kills (25, 2.50 per set), attack percentage (.160), service aces (three) and digs (30, 3.00 per set). Caitlin Shaw is tied with Duckett for the team lead with 25 kills while Keyara Brooks and Kemora Coachman guide the Bulldogs with 44 assists and six blocks, respectively.
Making its first visit to Martin since 2009 is Arkansas State, who hosted the A-State Invitational during the season’s opening weekend. The Red Wolves collected a 2-1 record as Macey Putt slammed down a remarkable 52 kills (4.73 per set). Kyla Wiersema led the team in hitting percentage (.448 with 35 kills) and blocks (five) while Sarah Martinez delivered team-highs in service aces (eight, 0.62 per set) and digs (55, 4.23 per set). Setter Kassidy Reeves kept Arkansas State’s offense flowing with 88 assists (8.00 per set) as rookie head coach Brian Gerwig oversaw a squad that hit .202 as a team.
Western Illinois has never played at Skyhawk Fieldhouse but first-year head coach Dale Starr has plenty of experience in the facility as he was a former UT Martin assistant (1998-99, 2003-04). The Leathernecks went 0-3 at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational last weekend despite a strong showing out of Aubrey Putman (team-highs of 37 kills and 47 digs). Julianna Schmidt’s .290 attack percentage and Maggie Craker’s 79 assists (6.08 per set) led the Western Illinois offense while Grace Nichols landed six service aces (0.55 per set). Elizabeth Ziegler’s team-best 11 blocks shored up the Leathernecks’ defensive attack.
Live stats will be available for all six matches of the tournament. For direct links and further information about the Skyhawk Invitational, visit the Tournament Central webpage at this link: https://utmsports.com/sports/2018/8/15/skyhawk-invitational.aspx.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information