CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin took part in a midweek double dual at in-state rival Austin Peay today, dodging inclement weather to sweep Jacksonville State before falling 5-0 to the Governors at the Atkins Family Beach Volleyball Facility.
The Skyhawks (11-13) kept the same five pairings for both matchups today as Olivia O’Keefe/Jenna Vallée occupied the No. 1 spot, followed by 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.
UT Martin improved to 7-0 all-time against the Gamecocks, winning in dominant fashion in the first match of the day. Carrell/McGee got things started with a 21-5, 21-17 victory for their co-team-best 13th win of the season. After Eckhardt/Mott tied for the team lead with their 13th victory of the spring (21-5, 21-10), Paulino/Phillips generated the clinching point with a 21-15, 21-13 win for their sixth win in 2024. O’Keefe/Vallée (21-16, 21-17) and Rednour/Vaughn (21-17, 21-8) added their eighth and 11th triumphs of the season, respectively, for good measure.
The match against Austin Peay was closer than the final result indicated as three of the five pairings went into tiebreaking third sets. Eckhardt/Mott (19-21, 21-14, 15-8) and Rednour/Vaughn (17-21, 21-17, 15-11) each claimed their opening set before falling victim to Governor comebacks. Paulino/Phillips faced a 1-0 deficit but forced a third set before narrowly dropping a 21-17, 17-21, 15-8 decision. The remaining two head-to-head decisions – O’Keefe/ Vallée falling 21-15, 21-18 and Carrell/McGee falling 21-17, 21-15 – were tight throughout before going Austin Peay’s way.
The Skyhawks are off this weekend before tackling an active final week of the regular season. UT Martin will travel to Florence, Ala. on Tuesday, April 16 to take on UAB and North Alabama before hosting a two-day Ohio Valley Conference Weekend tournament featuring all five OVC schools on April 19-20.
