The Skyhawk volleyball team opened its Ohio Valley Conference season this weekend with losses to Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State, dropping its record to 2-7 overall and 0-2 in the OVC.

In the first match, UTM faced a strong foe in the Lady Colonels from EKU, who entered play with a record of 9-3. However, the Skyhawks were eager to prove that they were up to the challenge.

The Skyhawks opened up a six-point lead in each of the first two games behind strong serves from junior Heather Grumke and senior Leigh Reiniche. The first game was decided when EKU rallied from six points down to win, 35-33.

In the second game, the Skyhawks came out hot as Reiniche served an ace to start play. At the first timeout, the lead was 13-6 for UTM. Once play resumed, EKU began another rally and won the game, 30-26.

The momentum of EKU’s game two win carried over to game three, which the Lady Colonels opened with a six to one run en route to a 30-24 victory and a sweep of the match.

Next up for the Skyhawks was a Morehead State team which entered the match with a record of 1-9, including an 0-3 mark on the road.

In spite of their record, the Eagles proved to be a worthy opponent. The Skyhawks won the first game, 30-27, thanks to service aces by Heather Grumke and freshman Jamie Hollins, as well as some key service errors by MSU.

In game two, the Skyhawks jumped out in front early before the Eagles were able to even the score at nine. From that point, neither team would lead by more than two points until MSU built a 24-17 cushion.

The Skyhawks made a furious comeback to within four points before falling, 30-24. They followed that with a 30-27 win in game three.

The match then went to the fourth game with the Skyhawks needing one more win to clinch the match.

UTM jumped out to an early 11-6 lead before a Morehead State timeout. That timeout would prove to be the turning point as the Eagles went on to steal the game, 31-29, forcing a decisive fifth game.

Early in game five it looked as though MSU’s momentum would carry them to an easy victory as they charged to a 5-2 lead.

Then, senior Leigh Reiniche shifted the advantage to the Skyhawks with a service ace. The Skyhawks fought back to take the lead at nine to seven. But the Lady Eagles would not be denied a victory as they rallied to win the game, 15-12, and the match, three games to two.

UTM outhit MSU for the game with a percentage of .208, slightly better than the Lady Eagles’ .207 mark. The Skyhawks finished with 53 kills, led by Leigh Reiniche with 15 and freshman Kathryn Sprague with 11.