CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball squad put forth a dominant effort today to start off the Ohio Valley Conference Weekend at Chattanooga, sweeping league rivals Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech.
With the victories, the Skyhawks improve to 7-5 overall and 3-0 in OVC play – extending their league winning streak out to 13 matches dating back to last spring.
UT Martin trotted out the same five pairings for both matches today as they all went a perfect 2-0. Those duos included Olivia O’Keefe/Jenna Vallée at No. 1, Sydney Eckhardt/Dylan Mott at No. 2, Ryan Rednour/Addy Vaughn at No. 3, Haeleigh Paulino/Kristin Phillips at No. 4 and Kayla Carrell/Reagan McGee at No. 5.
Against Eastern Illinois, Carrell/McGee set the tone with a 21-13, 21-15 victory before Paulino/Phillips came away with a 21-17, 21-11 triumph. Eckhardt/Mott clinched the team win with a 21-18, 21-10 victory while Rednour/Vaughn (21-6, 21-18) and O’Keefe/Vallée (21-9, 21-18) also made short work of the opposition.
Paulino/Phillips earned the Skyhawks’ first triumph of the Tennessee Tech match, improving to 3-1 together after a 21-10, 21-11 win. Carrell/McGee ran their record to 4-0 following a 21-10, 21-12 victory before O’Keefe/Vallée picked up their fifth triumph of 2024 with a 21-18, 21-17 win. Rednour/Vaughn (22-20, 21-16) joined forces for their seventh victory of the spring before the sweep was rounded out with a 21-12, 21-8 triumph from Eckhardt/Mott, their team-high ninth win of the season.
UT Martin returns to the sand tomorrow with two more OVC matches, taking on Lindenwood at 9 a.m. and Morehead State at 3 p.m.
