By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – After collecting three match-clinching victories in the span of four days, the University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball’s No. 1 duo of Logan Wallick and Dylan Mott secured Ohio Valley Conference Pair of the Week accolades.
Wallick/Mott are the third different Skyhawk tandem to claim this award in 2023, joining Kayla Bryant/Addy Vaughn (Feb. 28) and Kambree Lucas/Olivia O’Keefe (March 7, March 28, April 4). UT Martin has now brought home OVC Pair of the Week honors five times out of a possible seven opportunities this spring. In general, the Skyhawks have won 11 of the league’s weekly accolade in 20 tries since the award was initiated in 2020.
Wallick/Mott went 3-3 against the best competition the opposition had to offer last week, helping UT Martin go 4-2 and extend its school-record win tally out to 20. The Skyhawks defeated a pair of nationally ranked squads for the first time in school history, downing No. 11 Georgia State on Friday and No. 20 Stetson on Saturday.
The week started with a pair of dramatic home victories on Tuesday, keyed by Wallick/Mott’s heroics. With all other pairings completed and the North Alabama match tied at 2-all, Wallick/Mott came from behind to post a 9-21, 21-16, 15-13 triumph. The same exact scenario occurred approximately two hours later as UT Martin and Austin Peay were knotted at 2-2 with only the No. 1 decision remaining. Wallick/Mott powered through for another three-set victory (21-15, 19-21, 15-11) to give the Skyhawks the win.
In its Friday opener in the GSU Diggin’ Duals event held in Atlanta, Ga., UT Martin was once again tied at 2-all at No. 11 Georgia State with the No. 1 result pending. Wallick/Mott fought back after dropping the first set to generate a 16-21, 21-12, 15-13 triumph, resulting in the program’s 13th straight win (a school record).
On the season, Wallick (a graduate from Waddell, Ariz.) and Mott (a redshirt sophomore out of Hendersonville, Tenn.) are 12-9 while playing together this season with all but one decision coming at No. 1.
The Skyhawks are off this week before returning to the sand on April 21-22, completing the regular season with an OVC Weekend at Morehead State. UT Martin will clash against Tennessee Tech and Morehead State on Friday before turning around to face Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information