Blue Raiders Drops Five-Set Decision to UT Martin

Wednesday, October 24

Martin, Tenn.

6:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

7-16

UT Martin

12-12

Middle Tennessee

UT Martin

10/24/2018 8:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Brendan English, Athletic Communications Assistant

MARTIN, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee volleyball team (7-16, 2-7) dropped a five-set decision to Ohio Valley Conference competitor UT Martin (12-12, 5-5) on Wednesday evening in the Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

Mason Records her Third Double-Double of the Season
Senior Bailey Mason was the key Blue Raider for Middle Tennessee on Wednesday. The Forsyth, Ill. product paced the teams offense and defense to record her third double-double of the season. Mason picked up 16 kills while recording 14 digs in the contest. Meanwhile, the senior collected a service ace for the team while hitting on a .220 clip.

Other Key Blue Raiders
Likewise, junior Dora Peonia (11) and senior Regan Coughlin (10) contributed a combined 21 kills for the Middle Tennessee offense. Rounding off the Blue Raider attack included freshman Samira Lawson Body (6), freshman Julia Valdez (4), freshman Emma Grever (3), redshirt-senior Vonnie Covington (2) and junior Brienna Tankesley (1).

Despite the loss, the Blue Raiders created a +3 kill margin (57-54) over the Skyhawks while holding the UT Martin offense to a lower attacking percentage (.210) than Middle Tennessee (.212).

From her setter position, junior Taylor Hammill notched 36 helpers in the contest while inking four kills in the five-set match.

Middle Tennessee recorded nine service aces in the contest with Coughlin leading the way with three. Meanwhile, Hammill contributed two while four other Blue Raiders contributed one apiece.

Set By Set
Coughlin opened the first set, notching the first kill of the contest. However, the teams would go back and forth in the set, tying the frame five times (5-5) before the Skyhawks would create a small 3-0 run to take the lead over Middle Tennessee (5-8). However, the team battled back recording three aces from Hammill, Lawson Body and Coughlin to create a 4-1 run over the Skyhawks to regain the lead in the frame (14-9). UT Martin would tie the set again at 15-all but would not come any closer as the Blue Raiders claimed the first set over the Skyhawks, 25-20. Middle Tennessee recorded 14 kills, three aces and a block in its first frame victory over UT Martin.

UT Martin claimed the first two points in the second set before a kill from Mason and three-straight Coughlin service aces created a 5-0 Blue Raider run (5-2). Despite the quick start from the Blue Raiders the team dropped the second frame to UT Martin, 25-18. Likewise, the team fell to Skyhawks in the third frame as well (25-18), giving UT Martin a 2-1 set advantage in the contest.

However, in the fourth frame, the Blue Raiders battled back, creating a +4 kill margin (14-10) over the Skyhawks, while recording two blocks and a service ace to clinch the fourth over UT Martin, 25-22.

In the fifth and final set, the Blue Raiders controlled the set early, jumping out to a 6-3 lead over the Skyhawks. However, UT Martin battled back, creating a pair of 3-0 runs to take the fifth and final set over Middle Tennessee, 15-13.

Up Next
The Blue Raiders will have a few days of rest before returning to action on Sunday. The team will travel to Birmingham, Ala. to take on the UAB Blazers for the second time this season.