MOREHEAD, Ky. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team took the opening set this evening but the host Morehead State Eagles recovered to claim the final three sets (20-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-22) at Ellis T. Johnson Arena.
Jenna Vallée landed a team-best 13 kills while also pacing the Skyhawks (8-15, 6-7 Ohio Valley Conference) with a .379 hitting percentage tonight. Kristin Phillips was responsible for 11 kills against just one error (.278 attack percentage) and three blocks while Olivia Saunders (.350 hitting percentage, one error) and Halle Everett (match-high six blocks) each produced eight kills apiece.
Piecing together a double-double this evening was Haeleigh Paulino as the graduate setter came away with 26 assists and a dozen digs. Addy Vaughn also saw significant playing time at setter as she handed out 13 assists.
On the defensive end, Kayla Carrell had a match-high 27 digs for her sixth 20-plus dig effort of the 2023 campaign. Kayla Bryant and Dylan Mott (two service aces) nearly accumulated double figures in the dig column with nine and eight scoops, respectively.
UT Martin scored five of the first seven points of the match and led by as many as eight in the opening set. The second stanza was evened up at 19-all before Morehead State (13-11, 6-6 OVC) ended the set on a 6-2 run. Nine tie scores led to a back-and-forth third set as Carrell’s nine digs led the Skyhawks. The match appeared to be headed the distance as UT Martin opened up a 17-11 lead in the fourth set but the Eagles scored 14 of the final 19 points in the match.
The Skyhawks will look to salvage a weekend split tomorrow when these two teams collide at 1 p.m. CT.
