The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Wisconsin-Green Bay this afternoon in the Butler Classic.
Shelby Hoskins (.500 attack percentage) and Emily Keaton (.333) carried the Skyhawk offense today, recording seven kills each. Amanda Crask handed out 27 assists while Chelsea Bowles had a team-high nine digs for UT Martin (6-9).
The early portion of the first set was tight, as neither side could take a lead of more than three points until midway through the set. The Skyhawks took their first lead at 9-8, thanks to a 5-2 run capped off with a Hoskins kill. In fact, Hoskins accounted for four straight points off kills for UTM at one point. With the score knotted at 11-all, Wisconsin-Green Bay went on a 7-0 run before the Skyhawks came back with a 5-2 run to get within four at 20-16. However, UTM could not get any closer than four points the rest of the way.
Hoskins was a perfect 6-for-6 attacking in the first set, while Crask was responsible for 12 assists to lead an offense that hit .257 (13 kills, four errors, 35 attempts).
After Wisconsin-Green Bay led 6-3 in the second set, Keaton helped the Skyhawks even the score at 6-all with two kills and an assisted block over the next three possessions. However, Wisconsin-Green Bay answered with three unanswered points and would eventually lead 14-11 before the Skyhawks bounced back with a 3-0 run of their own to even the score at 14-all. Wisconsin-Green Bay then went on a 9-2 run to go on top 23-16. UTM would score three straight points to close the gap to four but Wisconsin-Green Bay closed out the set with back-to-back points.
Keaton had five kills on six swings (.833 attack percentage) while Crask had 10 assists in the second set for UTM, who hit .276 (12 kills, four errors, 29 attempts) in the second set.
Wisconsin-Green Bay led 7-2 to begin the third set but a kill by Julia Devinney got UTM back within three points. Wisconsin-Green Bay then scored four straight points to lead 11-4. An assisted block from Crask and Hoskins made the score 13-8, but Wisconsin-Green Bay answered with four unanswered points. Later on in the set, the Skyhawks would go on a 4-0 run of their own to cut their deficit to 21-16 but Wisconsin-Green Bay ended the set with four of the last five points.
UTMrounds out its non-conference schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 24 when it travels to Alabama A&M. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
