BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the second straight day at the March to May tournament hosted by UAB, the University of Tennessee at Martin beach volleyball squad managed a split as the Skyhawks swept New Orleans before narrowly falling by a 3-2 margin to Eastern Kentucky.
Two UT Martin duos each went undefeated on the day as Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (No. 4) and Ryan Rednour/Kylie Surratt (No. 5) came away with unblemished 2-0 records.
The day began with a 5-0 rout of New Orleans as Eckhardt/McGee started the win off with a 21-13, 21-11 triumph. The Skyhawks’ No. 2 pairing of Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer kept the momentum going with a 21-17, 21-17 victory before Rednour/Surratt officially clinched the match with a 21-15, 21-14 win. Kayla Bryant/Olivia O’Keefe dialed up their team-best fifth victory of the season courtesy of a 21-15, 21-18 decision at No. 3 while UT Martin’s No. 1 duo of Dylan Mott/Jenna Vallée put the finishing touches on the sweep with a 22-20, 23-21 win.
In the second match of the day, Eckhardt/McGee once again helped the Skyhawks claim an early lead after the duo managed a 21-12, 21-14 win at No. 4. Three of the last four pairings went into tiebreaking third sets as UT Martin emerged victorious at No. 5 thanks to a 21-13, 15-21, 15-9 victory from Rednour/Surratt. Unfortunately, the other two decisions went Eastern Kentucky’s way as Mott/Vallee (21-13, 16-21, 15-10 at No. 1) and Rushing/Sulcer (21-10, 17-21, 15-12 at No. 2) fell after leaving it all in the sand. Bryant/O’Keefe were also embroiled in a tight one at No. 3 but dropped a 21-13, 25-23 decision.
The Skyhawks head to Youngsville, La. next weekend for four matches in two days. UT Martin will take on Southern Miss and Spring Hill College on Friday, March 14 before completing the Sugar Beach Bash against New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, March 15.
