Redhawks stumble vs. Tennessee-Martin

The Tennessee-Martin volleyball team came to Houck Field House riding a nine-match losing streak that featured only four games won during the skid.

UTM left Cape Girardeau with its first Ohio Valley Conference victory after Tuesday night's four-game triumph over host Southeast Missouri State.

The Skyhawks started strong and stunned the Redhawks 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18.

UTM improved to 3-13 overall and 1-3 in OVC play as it moved out of the conference basement.

"It's funny. We've had leads in every game [during the losing streak]. We'll fade at the end," UTM coach Darrin McClure said. "I was nervous until the last ball.

"We've talked about making progress. We're just trying to keep plugging away."

Southeast coach Renata Heard was as deflated as McClure was elated after the Redhawks fell to 4-8 overall and 1-2 in the OVC.

"Disappointed. That's about all I can say," Heard said after Southeast closed out a three-match homestand.

Heard didn't think Southeast took the struggling Skyhawks lightly.

"I thought we were more prepared than ever," she said. "We didn't execute our game plan at all."

Senior outside hitter Claire Keaton was the only Southeast player to reach double figures in kills as she powered home 21 with a .295 attack percentage. As a unit, the Redhawks hit just .169.

"I think our only bright spot was Claire Keaton," Heard said.

Keaton had similar thoughts as Heard following the loss.

"Very disappointing," Keaton said. "I don't know if we took them lightly, we just didn't do our jobs."

While Southeast hit .169, UTM hit .281.

"We didn't play defense like we should have," Keaton said.

UTM got a big performance from senior outside hitter Lauren Montague, who matched Keaton with 21 kills and added 12 digs.

Junior setter Jenna Miller also had a double-double for the Skyhawks with 50 assists and 10 digs.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Hogan was another double-double UTM performer with 11 kills and 15 digs.

Southeast got a double-double from freshman setter Julie Shives. She had 39 assists and 18 digs.

Senior libero Kelly Benacka and senior defensive specialist Meagan Webb both had 17 digs for the Redhawks. Sophomore outside hitter Karlee Lursen added 14 digs.

The Skyhawks grabbed a quick 5-1 lead in the first game and never trailed during their 25-18 victory.

UTM also started strong in the second game, leading 7-1, before Southeast rallied to win 25-23.

Once again the Skyhawks jumped out early in Game 3 at 5-1 and 11-5, before Southeast rallied to go ahead 18-17. But a 5-0 UTM run led to the Skyhawks' 25-22 triumph.

Southeast got off to a solid start in Game 4, leading 11-8, but the Redhawks could not hold it.

Trailing 15-14, UTM scored six straight points to take control. Montague hammered a kill on match point to end the game at 25-18.

"Any time you come in here. ... SEMO wants to beat us as much as we want to beat them. It's a big rivalry," McClure said.

The Redhawks now hit the road for two matches, Friday at Austin Peay and Saturday at Tennessee State.