By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – If it’s possible to fly under the radar as a defending regular season conference champion, the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball program may be in that position heading into the 2023 season.
One year after winning 23 matches and tying a school record with 15 Ohio Valley Conference victories, the Skyhawks were picked third in the league’s preseason polls released last week. That may actually be a positive omen as five of the previous seven OVC predictions did not correctly identify the regular season champion (including last fall, when UT Martin was selected third).
Naysayers can point to the fact that the Skyhawks lost four starters, including a pair of All-OVC first-team performers who each recorded their 1,000th career kill last season.
Reigning OVC Coach of the Year Jaclynn Wilson, who between her indoor and beach volleyball accomplishments has won five OVC championships since May 2022, knows her team is up to the task as UT Martin opens its 28-match regular season slate this weekend in Knoxville, Tenn.
“I know this team is up to the challenge,” Wilson said. “You can’t deny that we lost a lot of talent off last year’s roster but at the same time, I have full confidence that we have players who can step in and effectively fill those roles. We’ll tinker with the lineup and search for the right combinations during the nonconference season and hopefully be ready to roll once OVC play comes around.”
One aspect of this year’s 2023 Skyhawk roster that jumps off the page is size. For the first time since the program transitioned into the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992, UT Martin boasts at least four players who stand 6-2 or higher. That list includes a pair of returners in 6-2 middle blocker Olivia Saunders (212 kills, .273 hitting percentage, 90 blocks on her way to All-OVC second team in 2021 but missed last season with an injury) and 6-2 opposite side hitter Kristin Phillips (13 matches played as a redshirt freshman in 2022). Newcomers in that group include 6-3 outside hitter Halle Everett (Memphis transfer who was a first team All-American and also won a junior college national championship at Parkland College, slamming down 738 kills in two seasons) and 6-2 outside hitter/opposite side hitter Jenna Vallée (718 kills, 664 digs and 122 blocks in her career at Indian Hills Community College).
Also returning for the Skyhawks is a pair of 6-1 middle blockers in Mia Saenz (only player to start all 35 matches and play in all 132 sets last season, team-best 138 blocks as a true freshman) and redshirt junior Zoe Merriweather (eighth in school history with a career 1.03 blocks per set average, did not play in 2022 due to injury).
“It’s exciting to utilize that height to our advantage – which is a facet of the game that we’ve never had here before,” Wilson said. “I expect big things out of that group of six players – we have the size to comfortably match up against any team in the OVC.”
Arguably, the deepest position on UT Martin’s roster is at libero/defensive specialist. Junior Dylan Mott secured her 1,000th career dig and “started” every match at libero last season, ranking fifth in the OVC with 4.35 digs per set. She is joined by graduate returner Kayla Carrell (616 career digs) and newcomer Josie Hess (school-record 1,762 digs at Parkland College, leading the junior college ranks in digs in back-to-back seasons).
Haeleigh Paulino (1,611 career assists, fourth in the OVC with 0.36 service aces per set a year ago) is a returning starter at setter and will be joined once again by Addy Vaughn (787 assists, 213 kills, 152 digs, 92 blocks over her career) and Hannah Haislip (14 matches played before a season-ending injury in October last season).
Wilson has particularly singled out the trio of Kayla Bryant, Ryan Rednour and Olivia O’Keefe for their play during preseason camp, which began on Aug. 7. Bryant made six starts as a true freshman in 2022 and managed at least eight kills on six different occasions. After playing exclusively as a defensive specialist for her entire collegiate career, Rednour has been taking practice reps at outside hitter and looks for an expanded role after playing in 19 matches a year ago. Both Bryant and Rednour bring strong back row attack options for Wilson this upcoming season. Fresh off an All-OVC beach volleyball season in the spring, O’Keefe offers an intriguing 6-rotation opposite/right-side hitter option in 2023.
With a downsized roster of 15 players, Wilson anticipates every player to contribute this season as UT Martin strives for a replication of last fall’s success.
“I like what I’ve seen so far this preseason,” Wilson said. “The girls have had the right mindset every day – we understand that we’re not going to sneak up on anybody this year. We set a school record for attendance last season and led the OVC in that category as well – we need that energy to carry over to the fall. We’re looking forward to giving our fans something to be proud of once again in 2023.”
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information
