Box Score CARBONDALE, Ill. – Alabama A&M (0-6, 0-0 SWAC) fell in their final match of the Saluki Bash with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-13) decision to UT-Martin (1-5, 0-0 OVC) in an NCAA Division I women's volleyball match on Saturday, September 3.
Neither team would pull away as they deadlocked 12-12 before the Bulldogs had a 5-0 burst that included a pair of kills from freshman middle hitter
India Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) to take the lead 17-12.
The Skyhawks would respond in force with a massive 12-0 run to stretch to a 24-17 margin, before closing out the set 25-18 two points later.
UT-Martin started the second frame with a 14-5 run that included four kills before AAMU answered with a 4-0 run of their own to close the gap to a five-point margin. Both teams would then trade 2-0 burst that left UT-Martin with a17-11 advantage. They would then go on a 4-0 run that steaked them to an eight-point margin of 21-12.
The Bulldogs would have a pair of kills from freshman middle hitter
Samaurya Mahone (Duncanville, Texas) before the Skyhawks had a 4-0 burst that included three kills to win the set 25-14.
The final frame would begin like the first set as the teams were tied five apiece before UT-Martin had a 6-0 run that gave them an 11-5 lead, which they would soon extend to a 15-7 spread.
Despite AAMU scoring three of the next five points, UT-Martin maintained a 17-10 margin before going on a mini 3-0 burst that extended their lead to 20-10. The Bulldogs would answer with back-to-back points before the Skyhawaks scored the next five of six points to wrap up the set and match with a 25-13 victory.
Rhodes and freshman middle hitter
Ryann Tolbert (Southfield, Mich.) both lead the way with seven kills for the Bulldogs while freshman setter
Tristyn Holmes (Hampton, Ga.) powered the offense with 13 assists as well as rounding things out with a team high 12 digs.
Olivia Saunders had nine kills for UT-Martin while Haeleigh Paulino produced 21 assists and Ballie Kearns and Karen Scanlon lead the defense with eight digs apiece.
The Bulldogs will return to the court on Tuesday, September 7 when they battle Jacksonville State. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. in Jacksonville, Alabama.
