This season the UTM Volleyball Team is looking to repeat its winning of the OVC Championship.

Last season the Skyhawks went 14-2 in the conference accumulating a 25-8 record to become the Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Champions.

The only failure for the Skyhawks came in the OVC Tournament Championship game where they fell 3-2 in their match against Eastern Illinois to become the OVC Tournament runner-ups for the second season in a row.

For the upcoming season, the Skyhawks have already been predicted to win the OVC Championship by a poll taken by OVC Head Volleyball coaches. UT-Martin led in the poll by 9 votes over Southeast Missouri.

Why are the Skyhawks predicted to win?
Because 3 of their players were given 2002 Pre-Season All-OVC Volleyball Team honors. Middle-hitter Rachel Ahlers, a Senior from Kirkwood, Mo., led the league last year with 3.7 kills a game and was 2nd in the league with 1.21 blocks a game while setter Lindsey Vicknair, Senior from South Haven, Miss., led the OVC with 12.55 assists a game to both make the All-OVC First Team. Outside-hitter Heather Kea, Junior from Chesterfield, Mo., was given Second Team honors for being the second leading scorer for the Skyhawks with 3.39 kills a game.

Combine this and the fact all of the starters are returning for the volleyball team, the Skyhawks look to be in really good shape for the season.

This weekend the Skyhawks are in Berkley, California for the Golden Bear Classic Invitational. It is a clinic for children ages 10-14 featuring the coaches and players of Cal of the Pac-10 Conf., San Jose State of the Western Athletic Conf., North Arizona of the Mountain West/Big Sky Conf., and of course UTM.

The Skyhawks game times are Aug. 30 at noon vs. Cal, Aug. 30 at 5pm vs. San Jose State, and Aug. 31 at 5pm vs. North Arizona.

The Skyhawks first home game is Tuesday, Sept 17 at 7pm against Southeast Missouri. Mark your calendars now to come support the volleyball team as they defend their Championship as they begin their stampede of the OVC.