MARTIN, Tenn. (9/3/22) – An unblemished week concluded Saturday for the Arkansas State volleyball team, which ousted host UT Martin in four sets inside Skyhawk Fieldhouse.
The Red Wolves improved to 5-1 for the first time since 2015 with its win over the Skyhawks (4-3). Head Coach Brian Gerwig also became the first A-State head coach to start 5-1 or better in his first season since Justin Ingram (2009 – started 11-1).
Freshman Kyla Wiersema earned Tournament MVP honors, while Macey Putt and Ilayda Dincer joined her on the All-Tournament team. Putt led all players with 18 kills to accompany nine digs and three blocks, while Dincer registered a career-best 14 kills and hit .300 for the day. Wiersema continued her strong rookie year with 14 kills and a .310 clip.
A-State hit .271 as a team, while holding UT Martin to .186. Red Wolves setter Lauren Musante recorded her second double-double of the year with 40 assists and 14 digs while also serving four aces.
Defensively, Sarah Martinez led all players with 16 digs and handed out a career-high eight assists, while Makayla Villarreal recorded a season-best 11 digs.
SET 1 – A-STATE 25, UT MARTIN 17
After a back-and-forth start to the opening set, A-State took an 8-5 lead on a Putt ace and a UT Martin attack error. The Skyhawks reclaimed the lead before the Red Wolves called a timeout down 16-14.
After the break, A-State went on a set-ending 11-1 run culminating in kills by Wiersema and Dincer to give the Scarlet and Black a 1-0 advantage in the match.
SET 2 – A-STATE 27, UT MARTIN 25
A-State overcame an early deficit to take a three-point lead up 14-11 after a Dincer kill, forcing a UT Martin timeout. The Skyhawks responded with seven of the next nine points to reclaim an 18-16 advantage, but two kills by Putt and a Musante ace moved the momentum back to the Red Wolves and made it 21-19.
The sides traded points back-and-forth until the frame went into extra points on an A-State attack error and an ace by Dylan Mott. After a timeout, the Red Wolves took the final three points en route to taking a two-set lead, winning 27-25.
SET 3 – UT MARTIN 25, A-STATE 20
UT Martin opened the third set with a 6-0 run and never trailed in the frame. A-State managed to cut the deficit to 16-14 on a block by Putt and Wiersema, forcing a Skyhawks timeout. The Red Wolves then tied it at 19-all following an ace by Musante and kill by Wiersema, but the hosts closed the stanza on a 6-1 run to extend the match.
SET 4 – A-STATE 25, UT MARTIN 23
After the Skyhawks led early, Arkansas State knotted up the set score at 11-all on a Dincer kill before a 3-0 run made it 14-13 and forced a UT Martin timeout. The Red Wolves would not relinquish their lead, expanding it to 18-14 and forcing another timeout after a Musante ace.
UT Martin cut the deficit to one at 21-20, but A-State matched its opponent point-for-point the rest of the way, ending the match on a kill by Putt.
NEXT UP
Arkansas State returns to the court Friday morning against 2021 MAC champion and NCAA Tournament squad Ball State (9 a.m. CT) in Muncie, Ind. Later in the day on Friday, the Red Wolves will face Green Bay before closing out the weekend Saturday against Alabama.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State Red Wolves Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.
