CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team could not find its rhythm this evening, dropping a three-set decision at Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri (14-25, 21-25, 18-25).
The Skyhawks were led offensively by Kayla Bryant’s eight kills while Kristin Phillips trailed closely behind with seven kills and a team-best .238 hitting percentage (only two errors in 21 swings). Olivia Saunders added six kills but attack errors hampered UT Martin as the team combined to hit .067.
Just three days after her first career triple-double, Skyhawk setter Haeleigh Paulino was the only player on either side to accumulate a double-double tonight. The Peoria, Ariz. native distributed 21 assists and tallied team-highs in digs (10) plus service aces (two) for UT Martin.
Kayla Carrell (eight) and Dylan Mott (seven) combined for 15 digs defensively for the Skyhawks, who are now 4-12 overall with a 2-4 mark in OVC play.
This evening’s match featured 23 tie scores and 10 lead changes – including a second set that had 14 ties and eight lead changes. The Redhawks (12-4, 4-1 OVC) turned a one-point lead into a first set win thanks in large part to a 14-6 run. Paulino had eight assists and a team-high six digs in the second set alone but Southeast Missouri was once again able to go on a long streak, flipping a 19-18 deficit into a 2-0 match lead following a 7-2 run. The third stanza was tight through the middle stages but UT Martin was unable to extend the match.
The Skyhawks will go for a weekend split tomorrow when these same two teams square off at 2 p.m. in Houck Field House on ESPN+.