University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Win Home Opener In Five Game Thriller
September 08, 2000 | Volleyball
- Box Score
KNOXVILLE, TENN. - The University of Tennessee volleyball team edged out the Houston Cougars in five games, 3-2, in their home opener at Stokely Athletic Center on Friday. The match was part of the Toyota of Knoxville Lady Vol Classic.
"I've never been more proud of a team than I am of this one and the fight they put up on the court tonight," said head coach Rob Patrick. "This team just really has a will to win."
The Cougars took game one, 15-6, with a balanced attack, led by Jennifer Wittenburg and Bobbi Stewart who each had five kills. Houston also out hit UT .308 to .185. Junior outside hitter Ariana Wilson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) led the team with three kills.
Houston continued to lead throughout game two, however the Orange and White rallied at the end and came back from 13-9, to win the frame 15-13. Patrick subbed sophomore outside hitter Kelli Scott (Peoria, Ariz./Centennial) half way through the game. The move yielded his team three service aces, two kills and a dig. Scott's play marked a turning point in the match. Wilson continued to swing hard at the ball, tallying three more kills. Sophomore middle blocker Janelle Hester (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport) also had three kills in the second frame.
"A lot of people had a hand in tonight's victory," Patrick said. "We needed people to step up and take the lead and (Kelli) Scott was the player that really did that."
Even at the break between games two and three, Tennessee kept the momentum taking game three, 15-11. Wilson had another strong outing with seven kills. Junior setter Erica Lear (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East) added 15 assists and four digs to the cause. Scott continued to spark the Lady Vols, adding three kills to game three.
In a close game four, Houston, who appeared in every NCAA tournament of the 1990s, edged the Orange and White, 15-13, sending the match in a deciding frame five.
It was the second time in four outings the Lady Vols went the distance to close out an opponent. With rally scoring in effect, the game stayed knotted for most of the game. Then UT took the lead with the serve at 14-13, Houston won the point on a Michelle Frazier kill and the match was tied once again. After a Houston service error, the Orange and White went up 15-14 and had a chance to serve for the match, but the Cougars stood their ground and forced Patrick's squad to win the match off their service. The Lady Vols answered with a side out on a kill by Scott of a Lear assist. Then UT took the match with another kill by Scott.
Wilson led the Big Orange with 23 kills and three blocks while Scott finished with 15 kills and a team-high four service aces. Hester tallied a total of 11 kills while Lear added 48 assists and 15 digs to extend her team's winning streak to four matches. Freshman Megan Arner (Sonoma, Calif./Notre Dame Academy) anchored Tennessee's defense with a career-high 16 digs.
In other action from the Toyota of Knoxville Lady Vol Classic, North Carolina defeated Jacksonville State, 3-0.
The Orange and White return to the checkerboard floor of Stokely Athletic Center as the Toyota of Knoxville Lady Vol Classic continues on Saturday. The day's action kicks-off as UT meets the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State at 10 a.m. The noon match features North Carolina and Houston. Jacksonville State meets Houston at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m. The Lady Vols take on the Tar Heels of North Carolina in the final match of the tourney.
