By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MARTIN, Tenn. – In a match-up between the top two blocking squads in the Ohio Valley Conference, it was UT Martin coming out on top Friday evening, as the Skyhawks defeated the Tennessee Tech volleyball team 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-22).
Despite the brilliant defenses, it was the offenses that carried both squads in the opening set, with the purple and gold hitting a very solid .312 with 15 kills and just five attack errors. The team outdueled the Golden Eagles in the first game, however, totaling 16 kills with only a pair of miscues for a .412 attack percentage.
After taking the first set 25-20, UT Martin followed things up with a 25-18 victory in set two, using its defense to outpace the Tech squad. The Golden Eagles racked up more kills than the Skyhawks, with a 13-12 advantage, but it was the home team's six total blocks that led to its 2-0 lead.
UT Martin also took game three of the night, simply recording more terminations than the purple and gold with a 16-13 lead in the category. The Skyhawks won the match after edging the Golden Eagles, 25-22, in the third and final set.
On the night, middle blocker Taylor Dorsey led the way for the Golden Eagles, hitting a cool .529 with a team-best 11 kills on just two errors. She also tacked on a pair of block assists.
Setter Ashley Hand contributed a match-high 34 assists in the contest, averaging 11.3 per set. The senior also tallied three kills and six digs, along with a block. Libero McKenna Young led the match with 10 digs while Madolyn Isringhausen narrowly missed a double-double with nine digs and seven kills.
Also totaling seven kills for the Golden Eagles were Madeline Furtado and Morgan Gish.
Tech and the Skyhawks will face off in a rematch on Saturday in Martin, Tenn., with first serve scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. CT start.
File photo Jim Dillon