BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball team started its participation in the UAB Beach Classic today, falling 5-0 to Florida Atlantic and 4-1 to Eastern Kentucky.
The Skyhawks’ No. 2 tandem of Sydney Eckhardt/Dylan Mott scored a victory in the second match of the day against Eastern Kentucky, winning by a 21-17, 21-16 margin. Two other matchups in that outing went into decisive third sets but UT Martin came up just short.
Against Florida Atlantic this morning, the No. 4 Skyhawk pair of Reagan McGee/Dylan Sulcer fell 21-12, 21-13. Eckhardt/Mott were locked in a tight battle before falling 21-18, 22-20 before another close decision did not go UT Martin’s way as Kayla Carrell/Haeleigh Paulino fell 21-18, 23-21 at No. 5. Ryan Rednour/Addy Vaughn (21-9, 21-9) and Olivia O’Keefe/Jenna Vallée (21-18, 21-12) were defeated in the No. 3 and No. 1 pairings, respectively.
McGee/Sulcer battled until the very end against Eastern Kentucky but ultimately fell 21-18, 21-19 at No. 4. Eckhardt/Mott’s win evened the match at 1-all before O’Keefe/Vallée were defeated 21-8, 21-16 at No. 1. The match was still hanging in the balance as each of the last two pairings went into tiebreaking third sets but Rednour/Vaughn (19-21, 21-16, 15-13 at No. 3) and Carrell/Paulino (21-16, 16-21, 15-11 at No. 5) fell in heartbreakers.
The Skyhawks return to action tomorrow with a pair of matchups. UT Martin takes on UTEP at 8 a.m. before squaring off against tournament host UAB at 2 p.m.
