Volleyball team splits OVC matches with EIU, SEMO
- September 26, 2006
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- UTM Sports Information
- Section: Sports
The UTM volleyball team (12-4, 1-1 OVC) evened its Ohio Valley Conference worksheet with a 3-1 victory over host Eastern Illinois (5-8, 0-2 OVC) Saturday afternoon in Charleston.
UTM won the match 30-23, 26-30, 30-26 and 30-21.
The Skyhawks turned in a .217 hitting percentage and junior Jamie Hollins posted a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs.
As a team the Skyhawks recorded 10 service aces and a season-high 16 team blocks.
Eastern Illinois hit .152 in the match, while Mary Welch and Caitlin Balsam turned in double-doubles. Welch had 15 kills and 14 digs, while Balsam 13 kills and 11 digs.
The Skyhawks will return to OVC action Friday night when they travel to Nashville to face host Tennessee State.
The UTM volleyball team saw its eight-match winning streak come to a screeching halt Friday night in Cape Girardeau as Southeast Missouri State blanked the Skyhawks 3-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.
The Skyhawks (11-4, 0-1) struggled throughout the three-game match and never mounted a challenge, losing the first game 19-30, the second 15-30 and the third 22-30.
The 3-0 loss marked the first time this season the Skyhawks have lost in three straight games.
The Skyhawks posted eight team blocks to Southeast Missouri State’s six.
Southeast Missouri State was led by Brenna Schlader who tallied a season-high 18 kills and four blocks.
Above, UTM junior middle Sarah Jett prepares to spike the ball during last Tuesday’s match against Trevecca last Tuesday at the Skyhawk Fieldhouse. Jett had nine kills in the match, second on the team behind Kathryn Sprague (left), who finished with 10. A particularly aggressive kill by Jett during the first game sparked her team’s competitive fire. The team will begin a four-game road trip Friday when they face SEMO at 7 p.m. They will then travel to Eastern Illinois for a 2 p.m. match on Saturday. Next weekend, the trip will resume with a 7 p.m. match on Friday at Tennessee State and a 2 p.m. match on Saturday against Austin Peay. The trip matches the longest of the season for the Skyhawks.