MARTIN, Tenn. – Cori Harris led a fourth-set comeback Friday, but the SIUE volleyball couldn't finish its comeback against UT Martin in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.

UT Martin won the match 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19.

SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson said the Cougars had to play from behind too much, and to do so on the road didn't make matters better.

"It's a disadvantage playing like that," she said.

SIUE kept much of its hopes alive on defense with 63 digs. Chelsea Colclasure, the OVC Defensive Player of the Week, led all players with 18 digs. Harris finished with 14 digs.

"In general, we were certainly more sound defensively than offensively," Johnson said.

Harris recorded five of her team-leading 13 kills in the fourth set. "Cori was finding ways to score in the match," Johnson said.

The Cougars were down 9-2 early in the set only to pull within two points at 20-18 on a kill by freshman Alicia Streetar. UT Martin, however, converted five of the next six points to take the match.

Johnson said that because the OVC is known as a good defensive conference, a good offense has to evolve.

"We need to get the mindset that we have to put the ball away fast," Johnson added.

SIUE found itself playing from behind early. UT Martin won five straight points in the opening set after SIUE started with a 3-2 lead. SIUE pulled back into a tie at 8-8 with a kill from Streetar and two from Kristen Torre, who led SIUE with four blocks.

The two teams went back and forth in set one before Allie Whimpey got the kills for the set winner.

UT Martin finished with 53 kills for the match, including 15 from Emily Keaton. Whimpey and Shelby Hoskins added 13 and 11 kills, respectively.

The Skyhawks improved to 7-10 overall and 1-0 in the OVC. SIUE dropped to 4-10 and 0-1 in the OVC. The Cougars will look to even up its conference record with the second of three road matches to open the conference season. SIUE plays at Southeast Missouri Saturday with first serve set for 1:30 p.m.