Ohio Valley Conference

FRIDAY'S SCORES
Radford 3, UT Martin 2 (22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-12)
UT Martin 3, IUPUI 2 (26-24, 25-17, 22-25, 25-17, 16-14)
Central Arkansas 3, Tennessee Tech 1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-11)
Missouri State 3, Tennessee Tech 1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-10, 25-22)
Saint Louis 3, Little Rock 0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-14)
Little Rock 3, Mississippi Valley State 0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-17)
@Butler 3, Eastern Illinois 1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19)
Eastern Illinois 3, Akron 0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-18)
Lindenwood 3, Canisius 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-23)
Lindenwood 3, Western Illinois 1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-17)
Southeast Missouri 3, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0 (25-12, 25-29, 25-15)
North Dakota State 3, Southeast Missouri 2 (17-25, 25-19, 25-21, 21-25, 15-10)
SIUE 3, Grambling State 0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-12)
SIUE 3, @Southern Illinois 2 (25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-10)
Morehead State 3, Queens (N.C.) 0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-17)
Murray State 3, @Southern Indiana 2 (18-25, 25-18, 34-36, 28-26, 16-14)

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RADFORD 3, UT MARTIN 2; UT MARTIN 3, IUPUI 2 
RICHMOND, Ky. - The first day of the 2022 University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball season featured two marathon matches as the Skyhawks went 1-1 to start the Colonel Classic hosted by Eastern Kentucky.
            
UT Martin began its season with a 3-2 setback (25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 17-25, 12-15) to Radford before rallying for an impressive 3-2 victory (26-24, 25-27, 22-25, 25-17, 16-14) over IUPUI. All in all, the Skyhawks faced 68 tie scores and 35 lead changes over the course of the two matches.
            
Karen Scanlon topped UT Martin with 29 kills and six service aces today while Haeleigh Paulino recorded team-highs in assists (51) and attack percentage (.385). Defensively, Dylan Mott compiled 47 digs (4.70 per set) to lead the way while Angel Baylark swatted away six blocks to guide the Skyhawks.
            
UT Martin closes out its season-opening tournament tomorrow when it squares off against Eastern Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. CST.

Radford
Mott equaled a career-high with 28 digs to go along with a career-best four service aces while Scanlon dialed up her 17th career double-double but the Skyhawks could not halt a furious Radford comeback.
            
The Highlanders accounted for the first three points of the opening set but UT Martin scored seven of the next 10 points to take its first lead of the match, courtesy of a block assist from Baylark and Addy Vaughn. Radford soon took a 12-8 advantage but the Skyhawks fought back with an 8-3 run to go back on top. The lead did not extend past two points for either side until a bad Highlanders set gave UT Martin set point at 24-21. Moments later, Paulino delivered a kill to give the Skyhawks an early 1-0 advantage in the match. Logan Wallick and Kambree Lucas shared the team lead with four kills while Mott scooped up seven digs in the first set.
            
UT Martin carried over that success into the second stanza, hitting .243 with 13 kills and only four errors in 37 swings. Wallick had a pair of early kills as the Skyhawks raced out to a 6-2 lead early on. After Radford closed the gap to 8-6, UT Martin unreeled five unanswered points – two of which came off Mott service aces. Kayla Bryant soon took over as the true freshman out of Louisville, Ky. slammed down four kills in the span of five Skyhawk points to help UT Martin extend its lead out to 22-14. Paulino provided the set-winning point once again with a service ace, resulting in a 2-0 Skyhawk lead in the match. Bryant and Wallick both had four kills while Mott compiled nine digs in the second set.
            
Four different UT Martin players amassed kills as part of the Skyhawks’ first five points of the third set. UT Martin maintained a slim lead before the Highlanders pieced together a 6-1 run to go ahead by a 13-9 margin. The Skyhawks immediately answered right back with a 6-0 run of their own and eventually led 20-18 following three consecutive points out of Bryant (kill and back-to-back service aces). However, Radford was able to score seven of the final 10 points to force a fourth set. Bryant guided UT Martin with four kills and two service aces while Mott’s five digs led the way in the third stanza, which featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes alone.
            
Scanlon provided back-to-back kills during the early portion of the fourth set to keep the Skyhawks close but the Highlanders took a 12-6 lead shortly thereafter. UT Martin claimed eight of the next 10 points – including a pair of Mott service aces and two kills from Wallick – to even the score at 14-14. Wallick rose high for two more rally killers as the score was evened up at 16-all but Radford managed to end the stanza on a 9-1 surge. Wallick was incredibly efficient with five kills on six attempts while Mott posted five digs and two service aces.
            
The Skyhawks led by as many as three points in the decisive fifth set but once again, the Highlanders managed to claw their way out of the deficit. Scanlon and Baylark each had two kills as UT Martin posted an 8-5 lead. Vaughn added a kill and a Radford attack error made the score 10-7 in favor of the Skyhawks but the Highlanders were responsible for eight of the final 10 points. Scanlon chalked up five of UT Martin’s 13 digs in the final set.

IUPUI
The duo of Scanlon (career-highs of 19 kills and six service aces) and Paulino (double-double of 27 assists and 10 digs) helped the Skyhawks power past IUPUI to round out Day 1 of the Colonel Classic.
            
Paulino got things started with back-to-back service aces before a Mia Saenz service ace extended UT Martin’s lead out to 11-7 in the first set. A quick 6-1 run from the Jaguars led to a 13-12 Skyhawk deficit but two Lucas kills helped UT Martin flip its deficit into a 20-17 lead. IUPUI battled back and eventually had set point at 24-22 but the Skyhawks wrapped up the set with four straight points – including a kill and solo block from Bryant. Scanlon had four kills while Paulino divvied out six assists to go along with her aforementioned two service aces in the opening stanza.
            
Kills from Scanlon and Saenz aided UT Martin during an 8-7 start to the second set. Coming out of a Jaguar timeout, IUPUI posted a 9-3 run and eventually led by as many as six points (20-14). The Skyhawks didn’t hang their heads as a Vaughn kill ignited a 6-1 run to get UT Martin right back in the thick of things. Scanlon went off for a trio of kills in the span of four points that evened the score at 24-24. Paulino followed with a kill of her own to keep the score knotted at 25-all but the Jaguars were able to even the match at 1-1 following two straight points. Scanlon (eight kills in 11 swings) and Mott (11 digs) guided the Skyhawks offensively and defensively, respectively.
            
Scanlon had three kills through UT Martin’s first six points of the third stanza before landing a service ace to make the score 8-5 in favor of the Skyhawks. IUPUI followed with nine of the next 10 points but UT Martin soon trimmed its deficit to 17-15 after a Kayla Carrell service ace. The Skyhawks eventually pulled within a single point (22-21) following a Saenz kill and back-to-back Jaguar attack errors but that was ultimately as close as they would get as IUPUI held on to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Bryant and Scanlon each secured three kills apiece to lead UT Martin offensively.
            
Bryant came out swinging in the fourth set, sparking the Skyhawks with four straight kills as part of a 9-3 advantage. Following a Baylark kill that pushed UT Martin’s lead out to 15-9, the Jaguars scored three straight points but the Skyhawks would not allow IUPUI to get any closer than three points the rest of the way. Scanlon had back-to-back service aces while Lucas was responsible for three of UT Martin’s final four points (two kills and a service ace) to cap off a dominant stanza. Bryant had four kills on a .500 hitting percentage while Scanlon registered three service aces in the fourth set.
            
The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair from the start, accumulating eight ties and five lead changes. Scanlon had kills on each of the Skyhawks’ first two points but the Jaguars jumped out to a 4-2 lead. Both teams then swapped 4-0 runs before a Bryant kill gave UT Martin a 9-8 advantage. IUPUI raced back to nab four of the next five points and eventually held a 13-12 lead but the Skyhawks turned up the intensity on the defensive side, concluding the match with three assisted blocks in the final four points. Baylark had a hand in two of the three swats, including teaming up with Scanlon on match point. Baylark had three block assists during the abbreviated fifth set while Scanlon provided three of UT Martin’s six kills. 


SAINT LOUIS 3, LITTLE ROCK 0; LITTLE ROCK 3, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 0
JONESBORO, Ark. -  Nedima Kamberovic put down 10 kills and hit .429 but Little Rock dropped its season opener in a 3-0 loss to Saint Louis in the first match of the A-State Invitational Friday morning.
 
Both teams struggled offensively as Little Rock only hit .112 compared to the Billikens' mark of .176 but Saint Louis (1-0) was able to escape the first two sets by the closest of margins before clinching the match in the final set. Set scores were 25-23, 25-23 and 25-14.
 
Kamberovic led the Trojans (0-1) offensively with her 10 kills and .429 hitting percentage while Laure Jansen recorded six kills. Livia Kimura recorded a career-high 14 digs.
 
The Trojans had a 22-20 lead in the first set before Saint Louis won five of the last six points to clinch the set. In the second set, Little Rock once again had a 22-20 lead before the Billikens would finish the frame with five of the last six points.
 
Serving was the determining factor in the final set. Daria Burrows, a senior transfer from Radford in her first match wearing the Maroon and Silver, served up two aces. That marked the first two aces of her collegiate career. However, Saint Louis would register seven aces in the frame to clinch the match.

Little Rock had nine different players record a kill, eight players combined for 10 service aces and the Trojans recorded the program's first-ever win as members of the Ohio Valley Conference in a 3-0 sweep of Mississippi Valley Friday afternoon.
 
Nedima Kamberovic led the way with a game-high 13 kills and a .409 hitting percentage as Little Rock (1-0) claimed its first win of the season and as of members of the Ohio Valley Conference, which it officially joined on July 1. Set scores were 25-11, 25-19 and 25-17.
 
Aside from the steady and predictable hand of Kamberovic, it was a crop of newcomers that led the Trojans to their first victory of the year. The final frame saw five newcomers join Kamberovic in the starting lineup, along with freshman Rylee McClintock in the libero role. That young squad hit .179, served up four aces and combined for 19 digs as they clinched the match.
 
The new-look lineup came after a lackluster second set where Little Rock was forced to win eight of the last 10 points to rally from behind for the set victory. The Trojans, having never lost a set to the Devilettes in program history, trailed 18-16 before head coach Van Compton called timeout.
 
Little Rock would rattle off five consecutive points following that break to help lead the team to the set win, including two Kamberovic kills, two Zanobia Willis kills and a Gabrielle Spankus ace.
 
In all, Jeila Fullerton registered seven kills, DaeDrianna Cail added six kills, hit .214 and served up a pair of aces while Makaila Harris had five kills and a .231 hitting percentage. McClintock tallied 11 digs, nine of which came in her libero-role in the third set while Spankus collected 18 assists.
 
Little Rock returns to action Saturday when the Trojans will face in-state rival and tournament host Arkansas State at 2 p.m. That match will be broadcasted live on ESPN+ with Cori Keller calling the action.

BUTLER 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1; EASTERN ILLINOIS 3, AKRON 0
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -  Eastern Illinois (0-1, 0-0 OVC) volleyball dropped their opening match against Butler University (1-0, 0-0 Big East) at the Butler Top Dawg Tournament in Hinkle Fieldhouse. EIU would go on to lose by a final score of 3-1 with the following set scores: 22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 19-25.

The Panthers were led by Giovana Larregui Lopez as she collected 16 kills in her first career match at EIU. She also collected 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. Ella Collins also collected her first double-double of the season after she posted 12 kills and 12 digs including six kills in the first set with an impressive .400 hitting percentage in set one.

Middle blocker Kate Dean got her first career start as she finished with two kills and two block assists. Tori Mohesky also started her EIU career with a strong match as she led the team in hitting percentage with a .227. She would finish the match with seven kills and two block assists.

Butler took advantage of Eastern's 36 attack errors while only hitting 21 of their own. EIU also trailed Butler in hitting percentage .046 to .115. The Bulldogs also were able to collect nine blocks on the day compared to the Panthers' three. 

The Bulldogs were led by their returning kills leader Mariah Grunze with 13 kills, seven digs and two block assists. Jenna Splitt also had 20 assists for BU while libero Jaymeson Kinley added 24 digs to help Butler take the match.

Christina Martinez Mundo was able to help the Panther defense by making multiple diving plays to save points. She would finish the match with 23 digs. EIU collected 69 digs compared to Butler's 65. 

The setter duo of Catalina Rochaix and Summerlyn Smith combined for 30 assists including 17 by Rochaix. Rochaix, freshman, previously played beach volleyball for the Panthers before making her indoor debut. She also collected 13 digs.

Eastern Illinois 3 Akron 0
The Panthers (1-1, 0-0 OVC) were able to bounce back during their second match on Friday at the Butler Top Dawg Tournament after defeating Akron (0-1, 0-0 MAC) 3-0. EIU was led by three Panthers with at least nine kills. The final set scores were as followed: 25-20, 27-25, 25-18.

Larregui Lopez continued her impressive debut as a Panther with 14 more kills which marked back-to-back double digit kill matches. She also collected another 13 digs which gave her another double-double for the tournament.

Collins also added another 10 kills to her total giving her her second double digit kill match of the season. Collins was second on the team in hitting percentage during their second match with a .308. Mohesky was able to grab nine kills on a .312 hitting percentage which led the team. In a heated second set, Mohesky was able to grab the set point to secure the set win.

Rochaix led the team in assists for the second straight match with 14 of them. Sylvia Hasz started her first career match at the setter position. She ended the match with 11 after making her debut vs. Butler during the previous match. Smith also added eight coming off the bench.

The Panthers defense was stout during their second match as the Zips only posted a .082 hitting percentage. EIU also forced 21 attacking errors while also blocking seven of their kill attempts. Elisavet Papageorgiou had herself a solid defensive game with five block assists along with five kills. Ireland Hieb also added two kills and six block assists.

Akron was led by Teagan Ochaya with 10 kills and six digs. Faith Johnson also added seven kills and 10 digs for the Zips while Anne Lesure added 13 assists. Akron will play Butler and Oakland tomorrow.

Eastern Illinois will be back tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT to play their last match of the Butler Top Dawg Tournament against Oakland. LiveStats will be made available.

LINDENWOOD 3, CANISIUS 0; LINDENWOOD 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 1
FORT WAYNE, Ind.  - The Lindenwood women's volleyball team started off their Division I campaign with a bang, bringing down Canisius College in three sets then downing Western Illinois in four just  few hours later.

Against Canisius, the Lions outscored the Griffins 25-19 in the first, 25-17 in the second, and a nail-biting 25-23 in the third set. Big numbers were put up by Taylor Gentemann and Nyah Wilson, who led the charge with 11 kills each. Wilson also partnered with Jessie Siedel for the most digs of the match, each recording 12 apiece. Allie Otten contributed 30 set assists to lead the way for the day, playing a key role in the Lions' offense.

Freshman Kennedy Femmer made her collegiate debut and tied Rebecca Janke for the most block assists with four each while also knocking down three kills in her first sets as a Lion.

During the Western Illinois match, Lindenwood fell in a close 25-23 loss, but came back even stronger, winning the next three sets 25-21, 25-23 and 25-17 to come out on top in the end. Wilson and Janke found themselves atop the leaderboard again with 14 kills apiece. Gentemann was close behind with 13 total, while Madelyn Dement was also in double digits with 12 total kills.

Defensive responsibility was well distributed throughout the team, starting with Siedel's impressive 24 total digs. Otten put up 18 total digs, while Wilson recorded 12 digs and led the way with 23 total receptions.Karli Eckert was right on her heels with 22 total receptions, and Siedel tallied 17 receptions on the day. Janke led the way again in the block assists category, tallying six total against the Bulldogs.

Up next, the Lions will round out the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational tomorrow against the hosts themselves, the PFW Mastadons, at 11:00 am EST in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

MOREHEAD STATE 3, QUEENS 0
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Morehead State volleyball team earned a 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-20, 25-17) over the Queens (N.C.) Royals Friday at the Justice Center in the opener of the UNC Asheville Tournament and the 2022 season opener.

The non-conference win improved Morehead State's overall record to 1-0 on the season, while the Royals dropped their Division I debut.

The Eagle offense was paced by Maycie Welborn, who finished with 14 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .423. M.E. Hargan added 13 and Abby Hulsman chipped in with 10 as part of balanced Morehead State attack. Bridget Bessler contributed as well by serving up 45 assists as she became just the seventh Eagle ever to eclipse 3,000 career assists. MSU got a career-best 19 digs from Andrea Grimes along with five blocks from McKenzee Wagener to lead them defensively.

How It Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles cruised to an early lead, handily winning the first set 25-18. Morehead State never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 18-17 in a set that showcased four lead changes before the Eagles took over in the second half of the stanza.

SET 2 | Morehead State took set two 25-20 to quickly grab a 2-0 lead. The Eagles never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 21-20 in a set that showcased two lead changes before the Eagles took over in the second half of the stanza. The Eagles racked up 18 kills over the course of the set.

SET 3 | Morehead State closed the match in a 3-0 sweep after winning set three. The Eagles took the set 25-17, helped by a strong performance on the attacking side. Morehead State registered a .464 attack percentage with 17 kills in the set win. The Eagles ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the stanza.

Morehead State closes the UNCA event on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET versus another new DI foe in Stonehill (Mass.).

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 3, TENNESSEE TECH 1; MISSOURI STATE 3 ,TENNESSEE TECH 1
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Recap coming soon. 

SIUE 3, GRAMBLING STATE 0; SIUE 3, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 2
CARBONDALE, Ill. -  Recap coming soon. 

MURRAY STATE 3,?SOUTHERN INDIANA 2
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Recap coming soon. 

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 0; NORTH DAKOTA STATE 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Recap coming soon.