MARTIN, Tenn.- West Georgia Volleyball (4-8) closed out the Skyhawk Classic by falling to the hosts UT-Martin (4-6) three sets to one. This was the second time in two days the clubs would face each other and the third ever meeting between the two clubs. The all-time series now sits at 1-2 after UT-Martin took yesterday's match 3-1, and today's match 3-1.
SET ONE: After trading the first few points back and forth, West Georgia pulled ahead 8-4 thanks to a Georgia Mandotti service ace and a block from Milena Cetkovic and Brooke McCall. Shortly after, a McCall kill would then extend the lead to 9-4, forcing UT-Martin to burn a timeout. Setter Anežka Ouredníková added to the lead with a dump, pulling UWG ahead 11-5. Shortly after, a 3-0 run by the Wolves backed by two Grace Blythe-Cornett kills, raised the score to 15-7 at the media timeout. The Skyhawks would then go on a run of their own, tightening the score to 20-14 and forcing a UWG timeout. The Wolves responded with back-to-back blocks, again from Cetkovic and McCall, making it 24-15 before closing the set 25-15. West Georgia would out hit the Skyhawks this set .290 to -.037.
SET TWO: UT-Martin opened the second set with a 3-0 run behind two Rylee Key kills. UWG answered with a run of their own, evening the score at three-all thanks to two Grace Blythe-Cornett kills. The Skyhawks then pulled ahead 10-5, forcing UWG to use their first timeout. The Wolves were unable to swing the momentum back their way, as UT-Martin pulled further ahead 19-9. West Georgia put together a 5-1 run to narrow the gap to 15-22, but couldn't complete the comeback, dropping the second set 16-25 to the Skyhawks.
SET THREE: The two clubs would trade volleys back-and-forth until UT-Martin took a 5-3 lead thanks to two UWG attack errors. The Skyhawks would extend their lead 12-7 before UWG got back on track behind two more Grace Blythe-Cornett kills. The Wolves would rally a 3-0 run behind back-to-back blocks assists from Maddy Kirmer and a Skyhawk attack error, leading into the media break with a UT-Martin lead 15-11. Out of the media break, UT-Martin would compile a X run pulling ahead 21-11and taking set three by a score of 25-13.
SET FOUR: The Wolves would take an early 4-3 lead over the Skyhawks, and the two clubs would trade points back-and-forth until UT-Martin pulled ahead 8-6 from two UWG errors. The Wolves would then deepen their deficit going down 14-9. UWG managed to cut their deficit to five, down 18-12 to the Skyhawks. UWG would go on and drop the final set 25-16.
Brooke McCall and Valiree Schmus would end their day with ten kills apiece. Maddy Kirmer would record a career high in block, recording seven on the day.
Catch West Georgia Volleyball next as they travel to UT-Arlington Friday (Sept. 24) to face Mavericks to open UAC conference play. This will be the second match ever between UWG and UT-Arlington, previously meeting back in 1974 where the Mavericks took the match. The match will be streamed on ESPN+, and as always LiveStats will be available for fans to follow along.
The next West Georgia home game is Sept. 26 where they are set to host Abeline Christian at The Coliseum. Tickets for upcoming matches can be found here
To stay up to date with Wolves Volleyball, follow their Instagram (@uwgwolvesvb) and X (@UWGWolvesVB) accounts for the latest up-to-date information.
