The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team began its participation in the Butler Classic with a 3-1 loss to Toledo (27-25, 23-25, 18-25, 26-28) on Friday afternoon followed by a 3-0 loss to host Butler (18-25, 15-25, 17-25) on Friday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Against Toledo, Allie Whimpey’s 12 kills led UTM (6-8), while Emily Keaton was responsible for 10 kills. Amanda Crask piled up a double-double (47 assists, 13 digs) while Lynsey Hazelwood (nine kills, 10 digs) narrowly missed a double-double. Chelsea Bowles accounted for a match-high 20 digs while Whimpey, Shelby Hoskins and Julia Devinney each had four blocks at the net.
Crask tallied her second double-double of the day when she recorded team-highs of 24 assists and 10 digs against Butler. Hazelwood led the team with seven kills while Whimpey and Devinney added six kills apiece.
The Skyhawks started out well, taking the first set against Toledo. UTM jumped out to a 5-2 lead before Toledo took a 7-6 lead. The Skyhawks then reeled off four straight points to reclaim the advantage. A Hazelwood kill pushed UTMs lead out to three (14-11) but Toledo would battle back to go on top by a 17-16 margin. A Bowles service ace tilted the score back in UTM’s favor at 20-18 and neither side could pull away until a Keaton kill and Toledo attack error provided the final 27-25 score.
Keaton and Hazelwood each had four kills to lead UTM while Crask handed out 11 assists in the first set.
The Skyhawks led for a large portion of the second set, racing out to a 4-1 lead. After Toledo scored back-to-back points, UTM went on a 5-0 run to lead 9-3. However, Toledo scored 10 unanswered points to go on top 13-9. UTM then answered back with a 6-0 run of its own to go ahead by a 15-13 margin. After the Skyhawks briefly fell behind, a kill by Keaton gave UTM a 20-19 lead. However, that would be the last lead the Skyhawks would have as Toledo would claim the 25-23 win.
Keaton (four kills), Crask (11 assists) and Bowles (nine digs) paced UTM in the second set.
Toledo pulled away for an 8-3 lead to start the third set but the Skyhawks clawed back to get within three at 13-10 thanks to a Hazelwood service ace. Toledo then scored three unanswered points to go ahead 16-10. UTM would get within five points late but that was as close as it would get the rest of the set.
Whimpey had four kills while Crask provided 11 assists in the third set.
The Skyhawks looked as if they would force a fifth set before a late Toledo rally concluded the match. UTM led 5-2 early but Toledo responded with three consecutive points to even the score. The Skyhawks did not concede the lead though, as back-to-back kills by Crask and Madison Wessling powered UTM to a 12-9 advantage. The Skyhawks would push their lead all the way out to 19-12 until Toledo mounted a comeback. A 7-3 Toledo run made the score 22-19 but UTM was in set point position at 24-22. Toledo then scored three straight points to put the Skyhawks’ backs to the wall but Whimpey answered with a kill to extend the set. However, Toledo then scored three of the next four points to end the match.
Whimpey and Wessling each had four kills while Crask was responsible for 14 assists in the fourth and final set.
Butler began its match on a 6-1 spurt until Crask slammed down a kill. Hazelwood then had two kills soon thereafter to slice UTM’s deficit to 7-5. After Butler took an 11-6 lead, the Skyhawks shaved their deficit to one at 11-10 courtesy of a Michelle McLaughlin service ace. Butler responded with a 4-0 run to take a 15-10 lead and although the Skyhawks would get within two points at 17-15, that was as close as UTM would get for the remainder of the set.
Devinney’s four kills led UTM in the first set, as the Skyhawks had 12 kills compared to Butler’s 11.
Butler once again got off to a quick start in the second set, claiming a 6-1 lead. A McLaughlin kill pulled UTM within four at 8-4 but Butler then scored four unanswered points to go ahead 12-4. Butler would later add a 7-2 run to lead 19-6 but the Skyhawks scored seven of the next 10 points to make the score 24-15. However, UT Martin couldn’t climb out of its early deficit as Butler took a 2-0 lead.
Hazelwood began the third set with a kill and moments later added another kill to make the score 5-4 in Butler’s favor. Another Hazelwood kill helped keep UTM within striking distance at 12-10 but Butler would soon account for four of the next five points to lead 16-11. The Skyhawks would battle back within four points on two more occasions but that would be as close as they would get.
Hazelwood had four kills in the third set while Crask’s 10 assists led the way for UTM.
The Skyhawks wrap up their involvement in the Butler Classic on Saturday with a 3 p.m. match against Wisconsin-Green Bay.
