FRIDAY'S SCORES
Kent State 3,
Eastern Kentucky 0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-17)
Eastern Kentucky 3, Gardner Webb 1 (23-25, 25-11, 25-21, 25-21)
@NC State 3,
Austin Peay 0 (25-14, 25-13, 24-26)
@Winthrop 3,
Morehaed State 2 (16-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-17, 17-15)
Morehead State 3, North Carolina A&T 0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-12)
North Alabama 3,
@Belmont 1 (25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 26-24)
Milwaukee 3,
@Belmont 0 (25-19, 25-10, 26-24)
DePaul 3,
Southeast Missouri 2 (24-26, 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 15-13)
Valparaiso 3,
Murray State 1 (25-20, 14-25, 25-18, 25-20)
South Dakota State 3,
@Eastern Illinois 1 (18-25, 25-25, 25-20, 25-23)
Marshall 3,
UT Martin 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-23)
Santa Clara 3,
UT Martin 2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-9, 15-9)
UC Riverside 3,
SIUE 0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-18)
Tennessee State 3, @Auburn 2 (25-21, 17-25, 25-22, 13-25, 15-11)
Butler 3,
Tennessee State 0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-17)
Northern Arizona 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-20)
Oakland 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-16)
East Tennessee State 3,
@Jacksonville State 1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23)
Troy 3,
@Jacksonville State 1 (23-25, 28-26, 25-19, 25-23)
SIUE 3, @Northern Illinois 1
KENT STATE 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0; EASTERN KENTUCKY 3, GARDNER WEBB 1
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Eastern Kentucky University’s volleyball team began the 2019 season by splitting a pair of matches at the Charlotte Invitational. The Colonels beat Gardner-Webb, 3-1, after opening with a 3-0 loss to Kent State.
The Golden Flashes won the first match by scores of 25-23, 25-19 and 25-17. EKU beat Gardner-Webb by scores of 23-25, 25-11, 25-21 and 25-21.
Eastern Kentucky led Gardner-Webb 23-22 in the first set before the Bulldogs scored three straight to win and take a 1-0 lead. The Colonels took control early in the second set and never gave it up. EKU scored the first four points, went in front 8-1 on a kill by Rachel Woody, and cruised to a 25-11 match-tying win.
Gardner-Webb jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the third and was up 17-14 late in the set. Eastern used a 7-1 run to regain momentum in the match. A kill by Katelyn Caserma-Kloeble finished off the run and have her team a 21-18 advantage. Freshman Abby Noll’s kill ended the set, 25-21, and put Eastern Kentucky on top 2-1. With the fourth set tied 19-19, the Colonels scored three straight points to build a cushion they never relinquished, winning the final set 25-21.
Noll had a match-best 24 kills to go along with 23 digs. Dena Tekavec registered 31 digs. Caserma-Kloeble had 12 kills.
Against KSU, Jovana Bulatovic went for 16 kills and seven digs. Senior setter Rachel Woody posted her first double-double of the year with 27 assists and 12 digs. Noll chipped in six kills and six digs on the contest.
Early on in set one the two teams trades points making it 12-12 after an EKU error. Kent State went on to score five of the next six points to take a 17-13 lead over the Colonels. After falling behind 24-17, Eastern did not go down without a fight. EKU scored six straight points behind Bulatovic’s three kills to cut the lead to 24-23. A Savannah Matthews kill would end the set for Kent State and give the Golden Flashes a 1-0 lead.
Set two started off much like set one and the teams were all tied at 4-4 after trading points. KSU used a 9-2 run after a kill by Jacqlyn Caspers to take a 13-6 lead and not look back. Eastern made a couple runs but could never get closer than four points the rest of the set.
The Golden Flashes used a 7-2 run early in set three to take a 10-5 lead. Eastern cut the lead KSU lead to 20-15 after a kill by Bulatovic, but the Colonels could not get any closer.
Alex Haffner posted a team-best 25 assists along with six digs on the match for Kent State. KSU had four players post five kills or more in the contest.
The Colonels will conclude play at the Charlotte Invitational on Saturday against host 49ers at noon.
NC STATE 3, AUSTIN PEAY 0
RALEIGH, N.C. – Junior Jenna Panning had eight kills and two blocks, but Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team dropped a three-set decision (14-25, 13-25, 24-26) to host North Carolina State in the opening match of the Wolfpack Invitational, Friday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum.
North Carolina State (1-0) jumped out to early leads in both the first and second sets. Austin Peay would show signs of snapping out of the slow start midway through each frame but saw their comeback stall each time as the Wolfpack struck out to a 2-0 lead.
Austin Peay (0-1) would make a lineup change in the third, and the move appeared to pay dividends immediately as they would trade the first 12 points with North Carolina State. A Brooke Moore kill would give the Govs their first lead at 7-6 in the third and APSU would extend that lead to four points at 11-7.
The Govs would hold that lead until the set’s closing moments and led 23-19, but could not fend off a late Wolfpack run spearheaded by Melissa Evans. The Wolfpack scored seven of the final eight points behind Evans’ last effort that saw her post five kills down in that closing run.
Panning led the Govs with 10 points (8 kills, 2 blocks) and was tied with junior Chloe Stitt with eight kills. Junior Caroline Waite made the start at setter and finished with 15 assists. Senior Ginny Gerig Busse recorded 15 digs. Freshman Tegan Seyring impressed in her first outing, scoring six kills and posting a team-best .417 attack percentage.
North Carolina State’s Evans finished with a match-best 14 kills and a .364 attack percentage while also chipping in four blocks.
WINTHROP 3, MOREHEAD STATE 2; MOREHEAD STATE 3, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 0
ROCK HILL, S.C. – After a month of preseason practice, Morehead State officially opened the 2019 season Friday afternoon, competing at the Cristi Curtis Volleyball Invitational hosted by Winthrop. The Eagles opened the three-match event, dropping in five sets to their hosts.
Winthrop took the event's opening match, downing Morehead State 16-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-17, and 17-15.
Ending last season with 12 consecutive matches of double-digits kills, junior outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier picked right up where she left off a season ago, establishing a career-high with 25 kills, hitting .212 on 66 swings. Her 25 kills eclipses her previous career-high of 21 kills, recorded last season at Toledo.
Junior outside hitter Lauren Rokey followed Lohmeier in double-figures with 14 kills as sophomore middle blockers Hannah Keating and Mia Swearingen notched career-best efforts, also reaching double-digit kills. Keating tied Rokey on the box score with 14 kills while Swearigen added 11.
Redshirt junior setter Chandler Clark extended her streak of matches with 25 or more assists, dishing out a match-high 58 helpers. Friday's opening match makes 32 straight matches in which she's reached 25 or more assists. Clark also chipped in eight digs and one kill in addition to her setting duties.
Defensively, sophomore libero Allison Whitten continued a streak of her own, scooping up double-digit balls for the 20th straight match. She concluded the match with 19 digs to pace Morehead State's backline, leading a group that saw four Eagles record 10 or more digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Montelisciani also added 19 digs to join Whitten atop the team's digs list while redshirt sophomore Taylor Hodges (17) and redshirt senior Danielle McCarson (16) also reached double-figures.
Morehead State recorded six blocks in the match with Swearingen leading with five total blocks. Allen and Rokey recorded the Eagles' additional blocks, recording three apiece. Morehead State also added six service aces in the match.
Behind match-high kill and dig totals from junior outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier and sophomore libero Allison Whitten, Morehead State rebound Friday afternoon, downing North Carolina A&T in straight sets. The victory improved the Eagles to 1-1 on the season while dropping the Aggies to 0-1.
Morehead State swept the match, taking the three sets by scores of 25-17, 25-19, and 25-12.
Following a career-high 25 kill performance in the afternoon's first match, Lohmeier provided a good follow-up act, reaching double-digit kills for the 14th straight match. The Cincinnati, Ohio native was the only player in double-figures, slamming home a match-high 15 kills.
Sophomore middle blocker Mia Swearingen nearly joined Lohmeier with 10 plus kills, recording nine kills with just one error on 17 swings, finishing the match with a .471 hitting percentage. Elsewhere on the stat sheet, junior outside hitter Lauren Rokey chipped in five kills while redshirt junior outside hitter Liz Allen and sophomore middle blocker Hannah Keating added four. Setters Chandler Clark and Bridget Bessler would dump in a kill apiece as well.
Clark and Bessler split setting duties during the match, combining for 29 of the team's 37 assists on the afternoon. Clark led the way with 16 while Bessler dished out 13.
Whitten once again paced the Morehead State backline, recording double-figure digs for the 22nd straight match. She led all players with 16 digs. Fellow sophomore, defensive specialist Olivia Montelisciani chipped in seven digs as the Eagles dug up 41 total balls.
At the net, Swearingen once again led Morehead State, turning away three more shots in the afternoon's finale. Allen and Lohmeier added two blocks apiece while Keating recorded a single block as the Eagles combined for five total blocks en route to holding North Carolina A&T to a .042 hitting percentage.
Morehead State concludes play at the Cristi Curtis Invitational tomorrow morning, facing Davidson. First serve is set for 10 a.m. ET.
NORTH ALABAMA 3, BELMONT 1; MILWAUKEE 3, BELMONT 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Flashes of greatness was not enough to sustain Belmont University Volleyball (0-2) on the first day of the Bruiser Showcase. The Bruins battled to force a fourth set before falling to North Alabama (1-1), 3-1. In the nightcap, BU was held off 3-0 by first-time opponent Milwaukee (2-0).
After a tight exchange to open the first set, the Lions used a brief burst to pull ahead, 16-9. Belmont rallied through the midpoint of the set and was able to close the gap to four points, 18-14, forcing North Alabama to call for a timeout. UNA pulled away again down the stretch, unfortunately, going on to take the frame, 25-20.
The second stanza was all Belmont after a 5-5 stalemate. A kill by junior Halee Van Poppel (Argyle, Texas) combined with a Lion attack error put the Bruins ahead by five, 12-7, and saw the visitors call for a break in the action. BU did not let up, using a service ace by sophomore Carly Mason (Forsyth, Ill.) to keep the streak going. In the waning points, North Alabama was only able to get as close as six points as BU cruised to the 25-16 set victory to tie up the match.
Set three was a complete back and forth battle from the first whistle with neither team able to pull away by more than a handful of points. Midway through, Belmont took advantage of three consecutive errors by the Lions to inch within two points, 19-17. A stunned UNA bench called for a timeout. After being threatened, North Alabama fired back and this time, it would be Belmont calling for a break, trailing, 22-18. BU pulled within two points, 23-21 but it would not be enough in the end. The Lions went on to take the set, 25-22.
The fourth set saw UNA break it open early, forcing the Bruins to burn an early timeout after falling behind 5-1. Tenacious work down the stretch saw Belmont inch to within three points with back-to-back kills from Van Poppel helping to knot the score, 19-19. BU remained within striking distance in the waning points. A kill by sophomore Mary Catherine Ball (Hendersonville, N.C.) saw Belmont close to within one point but North Alabama was able to hold out for the 26-24 win.
For the match, Van Poppel led the Bruins with 16 kills, followed by Ball, who recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 digs. Also notching a double-double was Mason with 23 assists and 13 digs.
In the nightcap, the Bruins went to battle with first time opponent Milwaukee from the start. After feeling each other out for the first few points, the Panthers were the first to make a move, pulling ahead by as many as four points, 20-16, before Belmont finally called for a timeout. BU attempted to surge behind kills from junior MacKenzie Harless (Brownsburg, Ind.) and Van Poppel but was unable to make up the difference down the stretch, falling 25-19.
Milwaukee jumped out to a hot start to open the second frame, causing BU to burn a timeout early to regroup. The Bruins struggled to fall back into its earlier offensive rhythm and the Panthers easily rolled to a 25-10. However, Belmont had its collective eye on rebounding in the third frame. After forcing three scoring stalemates, BU grabbed the lead, 13-10, sending the Bruin fans to their feet. Belmont led the way through the midpoint of the set, thanks to kills by Van Poppel, Ball and sophomore Taylor Floyd (Louisville, Ky.).
The Panthers were able to knot the score 17-17 before taking their first lead on the following play. Belmont battled back and used a service ace by Mason to send the set to its sixth tie, this time at 20-20. The score would be tied up only once more as Milwaukee was able to string together a series of attacks to eventually secure the 26-24 victory.
For the match, both Ball and Van Poppel finished with 10 kills apiece. Mason and junior Akia Warrior (Fort Worth, Texas) contributed 19 and 10 assists, respectively, while sophomore Faith Cobaugh (Union, Ky.) collected a team-high 12 digs.
DEPAUL 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Laney Malloy and Annie Wehrheim combined for 32 kills as Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (0-1) were edged out by the BIG EAST's DePaul (2-0) in five sets, 26-24, 20-25, 17-25, 25-21, 13-15, Friday in their season opener Friday at the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational held at the Hammons Student Center.
Malloy paced the Redhawks with 17 kills including three in the fifth set to complement 12 digs for a double-double performance. She also had four service aces. Wehrheim, a 2019 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree, chipped in 15 with two in the final set.
After capturing the first set, Southeast rallied from a 2-1 deficit with a fourth frame victory to force the decisive fifth set.
The Blue Demons started with three straight and grew their advantage to 5-1 with a kill from Bailey Nelson in the fifth set. Malloy notched a winner to cut the lead to 9-5 before Mikayla Kuhlmann's kill made the score, 11-9.
A block from Talia Gouard coupled with another kill from Malloy knotted the contest at 12-12. In her Redhawks debut, Gouard finished with five total blocks as SEMO out blocked DePaul, 14-6.
Wehrheim then blasted a kill to tie the match at 13-13 before the Blue Demons grabbed the win with a kill by Brittany Maxwell and a block from Elana Brueggemann and Donna Brown.
SEMO hit a match best .312 in the final set.
Southeast jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match with a 26-24 first set. Trailing, 6-1, the Redhawks went on 5-0 run to pull ahead 8-7 with kills from Colby Greene, Malloy (2), Krista Berns along with a block assist from Berns and Malloy.
DePaul retied the first set, 9-9, on a kill from Emma Price before SEMO rallied off nine straight points punctuated by a Berns service ace. With an 18-9 advantage, the Blue Demons clawed within a point, 21-20, to prompt Southeast's second timeout.
Out of the break, DePaul tied the set at 21-21 before pulling ahead 24-22. Facing set point, the Redhawks compiled four straight points to earn the set win.
The Blue Demons then took a 2-1 advantage with 25-20, 25-17 second and third sets.
Facing a 2-1 hole, SEMO forced a fifth set with a 25-21 decision in the fourth. Tied at 8-8 in the set, Southeast pulled away with two kills from Kuhlmann, 14-9.
Up a point, the Redhawks made the margin 21-17 with a kill and ace from Malloy along with a Berns block. The Blue Demons came within a point before SEMO closed out the set with three straight points.
Greene competed in her first match in a Redhawk uniform, finishing with six kills, a block and a dig.
Berns led the team with eight blocks.
Ochs dished out 41 assists and had a double-double with 12 digs
Ally Dion paced the Redhawks with 13 digs. Beilsmith added 10 in her first collegiate match.
Southeast plays in two matches Saturday to close out the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational at the Hammons Student Center. The Redhawks face Jacksonville at 10:30 a.m. to start the day and then take on tournament host, Missouri State, at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
VALPARAISO 3, MURRAY STATE 1
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Murray State volleyball team opened the 2019 season, Friday afternoon, taking on Valparaiso at the IUPUI Hampton Inn Invitational in Indianapolis, ultimately falling in four sets to the Crusaders.
Rachel Giustino led the Racers with 24 kills and 18 digs. Ashley McBee had 50 assists for MSU while Kolby McClelland led the way with three blocks.
The Racers got off to a fast start in the first set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead, but Valpo responded with an 8-2 run to take a slim lead. With the score tied at 11, the Crusaders went on a 6-0 run to break the set open, eventually winning 25-20.
Murray State got off to another fast start in the second set, winning the first four points, alternating kills by McClelland and Giustino. A 7-2 run later in the set expanded the Racer lead to 17-8, which was a wide enough cushion for the Racers as they took the set 25-20 as McClelland and Giustino teamed up for the block to end it.
The third set went back and forth until Valpo went on a 6-0 run to take a 14-10 lead midway through the set. The Racers got back to within two at 20-18 on a kill by Rachel Holthaus, but the Crusaders responded with a 5-0 run to take the set.
In the fourth set, a 4-0 run by Valparaiso gave them a 17-13 lead which they were able to hold onto as they won the set, 25-20, to take the match.
The Racers will continue their opening weekend tomorrow beginning with host IUPUI at 11 a.m. before wrapping up with South Dakota at 3:30 p.m.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois volleyball team squared off against South Dakota State in the last match of the day at the EIU Panther Invitational presented by Holiday Inn. SDSU won 3-1 (18-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-23).
The first set started very evenly match trading punches to 15. EIU pulled away with Katie Sommer leading the way. The Panthers finished off the set 25-18 with a block by Katie Sommer and Hannah Sieg. Sommer had a big night with 19 kills.
The Jackrabbits ran away with second set with 6 straight points to start it off. The Panthers pulled back to within three points at 14-11, but Eastern Illinois could not find their rhythm in the set. SDSU went on to win the set 25-15 to tie the match.
In the third set the Jackrabbits and the Panthers went back and forth all the way until 16-16. SDSU pulled away when the Panthers had three errors in a row. The Jackrabbits won the set 25-20 off of a EIU service error to take A 2 sets to 1 lead.
In the final set, each team was trading blows though out the whole set. In the end SDSU won 25-23 and won the match 3-1 and improving to 1-1 in the tournament. Sieg led the team in blocks with 3, Bailey Chandler led the team in assist with 47.
For SDSU Crystal Burk led the team with 14 kills. Madison Fay led the team in assists with 20 and Carly Wedel was right behind her 17 assist and 3 blocks.
Play resumes tomorrow at 11 a.m. with EIU hosting Memphis.
TENNESSEE STATE 3, AUBURN 2, BUTLER 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0
AUBURN, Ala. - Tennessee State completed day one at the War Eagle Invitational split. TSU won the match against Auburn (25-21, 17-25, 25-22, 13-25, 15-11), but lost the later match against Butler (25-22, 25-23, 25-17), making Tennessee State's overall record 1-1 for the season.
Tennessee State Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers
Khalia Jordan and Julia Pierson continue adding to their stats with 11 kills for Jordan and 10 for Pierson, as well as an ace for each. Gina Rivera-Ortiz helped the Tigers defensively with 18 digs. Teuila Lolotai dished out 17 assists, pushing TSU towards the win against the SEC school Auburn.
SET ONE- Starting off rough with a block error, an attack error and an Auburn kill, the AU offered Big Blue a chance to come back with a service error. Kariely Santana-Delgado notched a kill while a block from Julia Pierson and Santana-Delgado allowed Big Blue to take the lead for the first time in set one. Auburn took back the lead with a kill, making the Tigers dig deep. Aria Holmes tied the set up with a kill, a great block from Holmes and Aniya Williams and another kill from Holmes took the lead back for TSU. Two attack errors on Auburn kept Big Blue ahead. At game point, Morgan Kull kept Auburn in the game with a block. Tigers won the last point with a kill from Pierson, winnig the set 25-21.
SET TWO- A volley between the two teams ended with a kill from Amiyah King. A block from Pierson and Holmes kept Big Blue in the lead. Tatum Shipes served an ace trying to keep Auburn in the game. Shipes then tied the game up with a kill for Auburn. Teulia Lolotai with a missed serve puts Auburn in the lead. Two Auburn aces and a kill from Shipes solidified the lead and Auburn took set two 25-17.
SET THREE- An ace from Teuila Lolotai put Big Blue on the board early. Auburn took the lead with attack errors on TSU. Pierson with a kill, and Kiara Hill and Holmes with a combo block, tried to keep the Tigers on the board. A dig from Gina Rivera-Ortiz helped Pierson tie the set up with a kill. Khalia Jordan with her fourth kill took TSU up on scoreboad. Another kill from Pierson kept Tennessee State in the lead despite all of Auburn's strong attemps. Tatum Stipes proved to be an offensive challenge with another kill to pull Auburn ahead. Holmes and Jordan with multiple kills took TSU back to the top. Attack errors gave Auburn a chance, but a block from Williams and Holmes kept TSU ahead. Another kill from Williams and an error on Auburn awarded the Tennessee State Tigers with a win for set three, 25-22.
SET FOUR- Auburn with a tip, kill and a block put AU on the board first. Jordan and TSU fought back with a kill, but Auburn's defense and offense was relentless. An attack error on Auburn tied the game for TSU. With a kill from Williams, TSU took the lead for the first time in the set. Auburn's offsense stayed strong taking back the lead with a kill from Shaina White. With a few kills, the Tigers tried to stay in the game, but Auburn took this set, 25-13.
SET FIVE- Another good match up for set five with points going up on both sides of the net. TSU got back into the game with an attack error on Auburn and a kill from Jordan. This matchup proved to be a great fight between these teams. With an attack error on Auburn, TSU took over the scoreboard. Auburn's Chesney McClellan notched a kill to tie it back up, but TSU did not stop fighting. A kill from Jordan and an ace from Jasmine Fuqua kicked off the winning streak for TSU. TSU defeated Auburn 15-11, winning the match 3-2.
Against Butler ,Lolotai again had 17 assists to help the Tigers offensively. Kariely Santana-Delgado showed what an offensive force she can be with 5 kills this match. Gina Rivera-Ortiz takes the match high with 19 digs.
SET ONE- Started with a kill from Pierson, but Butler fired back with kills. Jordan with a kill helped keep TSU in the game, but Butler pulled ahead on a seven point lead, TSU only staying in the game with errors on Butler. Butler proved to be a difficult match with kill after kill from Shanice Hill and Anna Logan. Tigers put up a fight, but Butler fought harder pulling out a win for set one, 25-22.
SET TWO- With kills from Williams and Jordan, the Tigers fought hard against the Bulldogs. With a kill from Megan Sheridan, an ace from Elizabeth LaBue, Butler kept the lead. Gina Rivera-Ortiz behind the line, the Tigers kept digging allowing Santana-Delgado to get a kill. Pierson tied it up with a kill assist from Teulia Lolotai. Santana-Delgado has proven to be a big assest to the offense with another kill to keep the lead in the Tigers favor. With a block assist from Logan and Brooke Gregory, the Bulldogs took the lead. Kendall Bullock tied it up for Big Blue with a kill, then with another kill for Jordan took the lead. Butler fought back and took the lead with a kill from Logan, winning the set with a kill from Megan Ramseyer. Butler took the second set 25-23.
SET THREE- Butler came out hard taking a five point lead, with kills from Shanice Hill and Brooke Gregory. Tigers stayed fighting to stay in the set, two service errors on Butler and a kill from Santana-Delgado kept TSU in the game. Tigers fought the Bulldogs, but a kill from Melody Davidson kept BU in the lead. Horn kept the lead for Butler with her seventh kill of the match. Tigers fell to Butler 25-17 in the final set.
TSU will close out the War Eagle Invitational, Saturday, Aug. 31 with a match against New Mexico State at 11 a.m.
MARSHALL 3, UT MARTIN 0; SANTA CLARA 3, UT MARTIN 2
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad ran into some tough luck on the first day of the Indiana Invitational, as the Skyhawks fell 3-0 to Marshall (19-25, 20-25, 23-25) and 3-2 in heartbreaking fashion against Santa Clara (25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 9-25, 9-15).
Jessica Reynolds keyed UT Martin offensively today, as the sophomore out of Chandler, Ariz. tallied 29 kills (3.62 per set) in two matches. That includes a career-best 19-kill effort against Santa Clara this afternoon. Kenzie Hinshaw handed out 71 assists (8.88 per set) today while Jamie Rys (32 digs, 4.00 per set), Gintare Mackeviciute (six blocks) and Justine Walker (six blocks) paced the Skyhawks defensively.
UT Martin returns to action on Saturday, Aug. 31 when it takes on Indiana and FIU at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. CST, respectively.
Marshall
The Skyhawks stayed within striking distance of the Thundering Herd throughout but could not break through against the Conference USA opponent.
Mackeviciute collected a pair of early kills in the opening set but UT Martin fell behind by an 11-6 margin. A service ace by Walker closed the Skyhawk gap to four points but Marshall scored five of the next six points and UT Martin wouldn’t get any closer than five points the rest of the set.
Logan Wallick amassed two kills in the early stages of the second set to help the Skyhawks jump out to a 7-5 advantage. The Thundering Herd pieced together a 6-0 run soon thereafter but a Walker kill capped off a 5-1 run and evened the score at 19-all. However, Marshall closed out the set with six of the final seven points.
The third set featured 13 tie scores and eight lead changes but unfortunately UT Martin could not stay alive. Back-to-back kills by Walker and Reynolds provided the Skyhawks with their first lead of the set at 9-8. The Thundering Herd unreeled three consecutive points but UT Martin kept fighting, leading as late as 22-21 behind an assisted block by Wallick and Mackeviciute. Marshall wrapped up the set on a 4-1 run from that point forward.
Santa Clara
The Skyhawks dominated through the first two stanzas but ultimately fell victim to a comeback from their opponent out of the West Coast Conference.
UT Martin faced a 13-10 deficit in the first set before turning things around via a 7-1 run that included two kills and an assisted block by Mackeviciute. The Broncos would get within one point on three separate occasions but the Skyhawks would not fold, as Reynolds provided two big kills down the stretch to help UT Martin race out to a 1-0 lead.
Santa Clara started the second stanza on a 4-1 run but the Skyhawks went on a 4-0 run to claim the lead. UT Martin endured a stretch of three straight points by the Broncos midway through the set, battling back from a 13-10 deficit to soon take an 18-16 lead after a Walker service ace. Reynolds slammed down a kill to stretch the Skyhawk lead out to four points before a Phillips kill on set point gave UT Martin a 2-0 advantage.
The Skyhawks came out on a mission in the third set, leading 6-1 as Walker accumulated a pair of kills and an assisted block in the early going. Santa Clara took its first lead of the set at 16-15 but Addison Conley (service ace) and Hinshaw (kill) kept UT Martin on top late. The Broncos went ahead after a 6-0 run but the Skyhawk fought off set point with four straight points, starting with back-to-back kills off the right hand of Reynolds. A Walker kill pulled UT Martin within one point at 24-23 but Santa Clara scored out of a timeout to force a fourth set.
The Broncos were responsible for the first three and nine of the first 11 points in the fourth stanza. Two kills by Conley momentarily halted Santa Clara’s momentum while the Skyhawks earned back-to-back points behind a Mackeviciute kill and a Rys service ace. However, the Broncos wrapped up the set with eight unanswered points to lead to a decisive fifth set.
An attack error on the opening point gave UT Martin a lead to start the final stanza. Santa Clara answered with a 5-0 run before a Skyhawk timeout led to three straight points, as kills by Reynolds and Walker were sandwiched around a Bronco attack error. After UT Martin trimmed its deficit to one, Santa Clara went on a 4-0 run. Soon thereafter, Mackeviciute came away with a kill to shave the Skyhawk deficit to 12-9 but the Broncos compiled three straight points to complete the comeback.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1; TROY 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Jacksonville State volleyball team dropped its first two matches of the season on Friday in the opening day of the Jax State Invitational.
The Gamecocks (0-2) fell to East Tennessee in its first action of the day, in a match decided by three points or less in each frame. The Gamecocks dropped the first set, 25-23, but bounced back to win the second by the same margin to even the score. In the third, a late rally by JSU came up a little short after trailing 22-15 as Jax State fought back within one before falling. The Bucs managed to close out the contest in the fourth with another narrow victory.
Junior Kaylee Milton finished one kill shy of a career high with 18 to lead JSU's offense. Lena Kindermann (15) and Sadie Anderson (11) also reached double-digit kills, while junior Lexie Libs dished 42 assists. Dani Steele had a team-high 17 digs.
In the night cap, the Gamecocks fell to in-state foe Troy, 3-1. After taking a tight first set, JSU miss an opportunity to take a 2-0 match lead in the second, falling 28-26. The momentum for the second set carried over for Troy in the third as the Trojans pulled away for a 25-19 victory. JSU trailed 23-20 late in the fourth, but battled back with three straight points before Troy eventually sealed the match.
Senior Kaylee Frear paced the Gamecock offense in the second match with 14 kills, while Kindermann added 13. Frear and Anderson were a part of five blocks and redshirt-junior Kennedy Powell got in on three as JSU's defense improved throughout the day. Digs were spread evenly in Friday's finale with Steele once again on top with nine, followed by freshman Erin Carmichael's seven.
Along with making her collegiate debut on Friday, Carmichael spent a brief period as the team's libero. She joined Kylee Quigley and Taylor Pribyl, who moved to the starting lineup against Troy, as three Gamecocks to see their first career action for the Red and White on Friday.
JSU wraps up the weekend slate hosting Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday at 1:30. Admission is free and fans may also stream the match on ESPN+.