With postseason play not possible for UTM this year, the Skyhawks can enjoy the game of volleyball.

For Chris Rushing's Skyhawks the focus has shifted from defending back-to-back titles, to chasing opportunities and building momentum for next season.

Austin Peay’s women’s volleyball team handed UTM its seventh consecutive loss of the season, sweeping the Skyhawks, 3-0 (30-17, 30-23, 30-21), last Friday night.

UTM found itself overmatched offensively as it was out-killed by Austin Peay, 52-25, and out-hit, .244-.018.

No Skyhawks player reached double figures in kills while two Lady Govs players reached that territory in the short, three-game match.

Senior Jamie Fitzwater led UTM with 10.0 points, including a team-best eight kills. Sophomore Rebecca Palmer led the UTM defense with 16 digs.

Junior Sarah Schramka led the Lady Govs with 15 points on a team-best 13 kills and two service aces. Junior Julie Burkhalter added 13.5 points on 11 kills, two service aces and a block assist.

On Saturday, the Skyhawks lost to Tennessee Tech in a sweep (32-30, 30-21, 30-18).

UTM was led offensively by freshman, Tammy Konitzer with nine kills. Sophomore Rebecca Palmer had 11 digs, tied for the match high, and the team’s only service ace.

Seniors Jamie Fitzwater and Heather Kea made the best of one of the OVC’s better teams, Murray State, Tuesday night in Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

Despite a 3-0 (28-30, 24-30, 23-30) loss to visiting Murray State and their eighth consecutive loss of the season, the Skyhawks turned in an impressive outing.

With the loss to Murray State, the Skyhawks fall to 4-25 on the year and 2-11 in the OVC. Murray State improves to 18-5 overall and 12-1 in the league.

While the Skyhawks have already been eliminated from the postseason tournament, Murray State currently leads the league standings and enjoys a one game lead over Morehead State.

Fitzwater, a 6-0, outside hitter, from Naples, Fla., turned in a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. She hit .292. Kea, a 5-11, outside hitter, from Chesterfield, Mo., hit .296 and collected a dozen kills.

Junior Leigh Reiniche returned to the Skyhawk lineup after missing last week because of the death of her mother. Reiniche also turned in a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs.

“Fitzwater and Kea both hit just under .300 tonight and with the number of swings they both take, our two seniors stepped up in that department tonight,” volleyball coach Chris Rushing said.

“Leigh, also, she didn’t play well at the beginning, but she finished off real strong at the end.

It’s nice to see some of those players back in the lineup tonight, because I thought we played real steady,” Rushing said.

“All we talk about in practice is playing hard and taking advantage of opportunities. With our effort tonight, we want to finish on a positive note.”

Murray State won game one 30-28. Lilli Zhan led the Lady Racers’ effort with eight kills and four digs. She hit .250. The Skyhawks battled throughout the opener and enjoyed a lead for a majority of the game. Murray State tied the game at 22-22 and never trailed again. Zhan sealed the game with a huge kill to give the Lady Racers a 29-26 lead.

The Skyhawks were led by Fitzwater with five kills and a .625 hitting percentage. She also had three digs.

The Skyhawks had three service aces in the game and four team blocks, while hitting .130 as a team.

Murray State won game two 30-24. The Lady Racers upped their hitting percentage to .225 and piled up 14 kills. The Skyhawks also upped their hitting percentage to .171.

Fitzwater continued to lead the Skyhawks with her .389 hitting percentage.

Freshman Krissy Neumann stepped in for the Skyhawks and played the setter position. Neumann, a 5-11 outside hitter from Downers Grove, Ill., moved to the setter position last week when junior Maribeth Hanneman went down with an ankle injury.

“I thought Krissy did a real nice job of stepping in, mixing things up, and she did a nice job of getting the hitters the ball and running the quick,” Rushing said.

Neumann finished the game with 35 assists, a kill and seven digs. She hit .143.

Murray State jumped out to a quick lead in game three and never looked back. The Skyhawks tied the game at 7-7 and stayed close until Murray State rattled off a 7-3 run to win the game 30-23.

The Skyhawks finished up the match hitting .164, while Murray State hit .250. Paige Sun led Murray State’s effort with a double-double, 14 kills and 16 blocks.

The Skyhawks won the blocking game against Murray State, 8-6. Fitzwater had three blocks, while sophomore Rebecca Palmer had four blocks.

The Skyhawks return to action at 2 p.m., tomorrow when they host Tennessee State in Skyhawk Fieldhouse.