MARTIN, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team discovered the danger of playing a team with nothing to lose on Friday night, falling 3-0 on the road at UT-Martin.
 
The Skyhawks (9-22, 5-11 Ohio Valley Conference) had its postseason hopes busted earlier in the week with a setback to Southeast Missouri, and had nothing but pride to play for on Friday's Senior Night. JSU (18-18, 6-10 OVC) edged UTM, despite Friday's loss, for the final spot in the OVC Tournament next week.  
 
Sophomore Mackenzie Rombach, JSU's leading candidate for all-conference selection, continued to prove as the Gamecocks' most versatile threat between offense and defense. She was well sjhy of her blocking average with only two, but led the offense with 11 kills as the only player in double-digits. Junior Allyson Zuhlke had nine kills on 19 attacks for a .316 mark. Freshman Shayla Schmidt posted a team-high 16 assists, her fourth-consecutive game with as many.
 
JSU's 41 total digs were spread among 11 different players, after 12 Gamecocks overall saw action. Junior Hannah Kirk's eight was the high mark, followed by Sadie Anderson, Rachel Perucki and Katie Will who each recorded six. Freshman Kaylee Frear was the only Gamecock not to register a dig, but led the team with four blocks.  
 
From the opening serve of the night UTM was energized behind an electric atmosphere on Senior Night. The Skyhawks opened the match with a 4-0 lead, before Zuhlke put away a ball for JSU's first point of the night. JSU would even the game at 8-8, but the Skyhawks pulled back out to a 19-13 advatage forcing a timeout from the Gamecocks. The margin grew to as many as eight, 22-14, before UTM secured the first, 25-18.
 
The second set was the opposite of the first as the team battled point-for-point throughout before the home squad pulled away late. The game featured 11 different ties from 3-3 to 15-15. A 3-0 run for UTM from that point gave enough of a cushion to take the second, 25-20.
 
JSU's chances looked better in the third using a 4-0 run to go ahead early, and building a four-point lead at 15-11. UTM slowly rallied back to come within one at 19-18, and knot the score at 20-20. JSU rallied back from a 22-20 deficit to even the set late, but the home crowd fueled the Skyhawks on to a 25-23 win in its final contest of the season.  
 
JSU now waits to find out where it will travel next week for the conference tournament. As the No. 8 seed they will play the regular season champion and host school on the opening day, but Murray State and SIU-Edwardsville have yet to decide who that will be. The two OVC leaders play Saturday night. Complete seeding and tournament information will be posted on JSUGamecockSports.com immediately following any announcement from the league office.