UT Martin Volleyball’s Olivia Saunders Named to All-OVC Second Team

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Olivia Saunders, a 6-2 graduate middle blocker on the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad, was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference second team at the league’s postseason banquet this evening.

 

Saunders becomes only the second Skyhawk to ever be named All-OVC second team twice in a career, joining Lindsay Stock (2000 and 2002). Saunders was also voted to the All-OVC second team in 2021 – her debut season at UT Martin after spending four years at Wake Forest.

 

The Mississauga, Ontario, Canada native played in 102 out of a possible 104 sets for the Skyhawks this fall, starting in all 28 matches. Saunders ranked 10th in the OVC in both attack percentage (.260) and blocks per set (0.94) – leading UT Martin in both of those categories as well as kills (266, 2.61 per set), total blocks (96, 20 solo) and points (336, 3.29 per set). In conference play, she ranked ninth in the OVC in points (3.58 per set) and 10th in blocks per set (0.97).

 

Saunders’ strong play in nonconference action set the tone for her overall success in 2023. After missing the entire 2022 campaign because of injury, she was named to all-tournament teams in her first weekend back at the Tennessee Classic (Aug. 25-26) and then again two weeks later at the Lippy Invitational (Sept. 7-8).

 

Saunders topped UT Martin in kills on nine separate occasions in 2023, seven of which came during conference play. Overall, she reached double figures in the kill column 14 times with a season-high of 17 (on a season-best .412 hitting percentage) in just four sets in the Aug. 25 season-opening win over Marist. She hit .300 or better in 15 matches while also serving up multiple aces four times (all during a 14-match stretch in conference play).

 

Defensively, Saunders swatted away at least four blocks in 13 different matches. Her season-high tally in blocks was seven as she accomplished that feat in Skyhawk victories against Marist (Aug. 25), Tennessee State (Oct. 3) and Western Illinois (Oct. 14).

 

Saunders departs the UT Martin program ranking fifth all-time in attack percentage (.267) and 10th in blocks per set (0.93) while adding 479 kills (2.38 per set). For her collegiate career, she amassed 792 kills (2.12 per set), a .269 hitting percentage and 341 blocks (0.91 per set).

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