University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Volleyball Tops Western Division Leading Alabama
October 21, 2000 | Volleyball
- Box Score
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer Volleyball team won its second straight match on Friday over the Crimson Tide of Alabama, 15-7, 7-15, 15-8, 15-7. The victory improves the Lady Vols' record to 17-4 overall, 6-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
"Everyone played well tonight," head coach Rob Patrick said. "At times our middle blockers would step up and at others it was the outside hitters who shouldered the offense."
Patrick's squad brought a balanced attack to Alabama's Volleyball Annex Gym, as five Lady Vols had double-digit kill totals. Junior outside hitter Ariana Wilson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) led the way, tallying 20 kills, five digs and seven block assists. Junior setter Erica Lear (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East) had an outstanding all-around match with six kills, two service aces, 65 assists, five block assists and a team-leading 19 digs.
Sophomore outside hitter Kelli Scott (Peoria, Ariz./Centennial) turned in 15 kills and nine digs on the evening as junior outside hitter Jennifer Elliott (Kyle, Texas/Hayes) notched her first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Janelle Hester (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport) and freshman middle blocker Trinia Cuseo (Forestville, Calif./El Molino) contributed 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
In game one the UT charged out to a 5-0 lead behind strong front play from Wilson, Hester and Cuseo. The Orange and White out-blocked the Crimson Tide seven to two and out-hit them .308 to .093 on their way to a 15-7 victory in the first frame.
The Tide would roll back in the second game, to take momentum and tie the match at one game apiece with a 7-15 victory. 'Bama improved their hitting to .316, while UT suffered a setback, dropping to .139 on the second frame.
The Lady Vols rebounded in game three to hit .351 on their way to a 15-8 win to take the lead in the match, two games to one. The Big Orange would not trail again in the match as they pushed a 3-0 lead in game four to six points before the Crimson Tide would score in the final stanza. Patrick's squad took the match with a 15-7 victory in the fourth game.
"We did a good job shutting down Alabama's big hitters in the match," Patrick said. "We may not have stopped when you look at their percentages, but we got the job done at key moments in the match." The Big Orange got the job done with defense, out-digging the Tide 68 to 65 and registering a season-high 14 total team blocks.
Up next, the Lady Vols continue their road-trip in Alabama, as they travel to Auburn. The cross-divisional match is set for 2 p.m. CT on Sunday.
