The UTM volleyball team suffered two OVC volleyball losses last weekend and finds itself in a must-win situation if it wants to claim its fourth consecutive berth in postseason play.

The Skyhawks suffered a 3-0 loss last Friday night to host Southeast Missouri State and a 3-1 loss last Saturday night to host Eastern Illinois.

The Skyhawks have six conference matches to play and must finish among the top six teams in the league to qualify for the conference's postseason tournament.

Southeast Missouri State defeated the Skyhawks 30-26, 30-12 and 30-21. SEMO senior setter Emily Scannell had a match-high 36 assists.

The Skyhawks were led by Tammy Konitzer with a .300 hitting percentage and senior Jamie Fitzwater with nine kills and six digs.

The Skyhawks defeated Eastern Illinois 30-24 in game one Saturday night, but then dropped three straight.

Eastern Illinois’ Erica Gerth nailed a career-high 29 kills to lead EIU to the 3-1 win over the Skyhawks.

UTM was led by junior Leigh Reniche with a .288 hitting percentage and 18 kills and 19 digs.

The volleyball team was also defeated, 3-2, by Belmont Tuesday night.

The Bruins rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the program's first win over UTM. The Skyhawks fall to 4-22.

The Skyhawks are on the road this weekend with two conference games at 7 p.m., tonight at Austin Peay and 2 p.m., tomorrow at Tennessee Tech.

The Skyhawks quickly jumped on the Bruins by winning the first two games (30-21, 30-23) but the Skyhawks effort wasn’t enough to break their four-game losing streak.

Senior Jamie Fitzwater led the Skyhawks offensively and defensively with 22 kills and 23 digs. Tammy Konitzer added 13 kills and Rebecca Palmer had 10 kills and 19 digs.

The Skyhawks return home at 7 p.m., Nov. 4 against Murray State, who was the coaches’ pick to win the OVC this season.