University of Tennessee Athletics
Volleyball Ends Towson Invite 4-0
August 29, 2015 | Volleyball
TOWSON, Md. -- The Tennessee Volunteers wrapped up an undefeated weekend to start the volleyball season Saturday with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-18) victory over Saint Francis at the Towson Invitational.
The Vols went 4-0 over two days at SECU Arena, recording three straight-set wins and a 3-2 comeback victory over host Towson. It is Tennessee's first 4-0 start since going 6-0 to open the 2010 season.
With two matches on Friday and another two Saturday, Tennessee's depth was tested. Fourteen different players took the court for the Vols.
"I was very excited and pleased that no matter who was playing, our team level of intensity and focus stayed the same," Tennessee head coach Rob Patrick said. "That isn't always the case when you're playing a lot of different people."
Against Saint Francis, senior setter Lexi Dempsey led Tennessee in assists (32), digs (14) and blocks (2), recording her second double-double of the season.
"I was really happy with our efficiency and how we played," Patrick said. "Lexi did a fantastic job running our offense. We hit .300 on the weekend, and that's a huge number."
Junior Bri Holmes paced the Vols with 13 kills, and sophomore Kanisha Jimenez added 10.
"Bri Holmes has been a quiet, effective player for us," Patrick said. "She's someone who takes a lot of swings in that OH 1 position and is hardly making any errors, and that's something that has really helped our team."
Tennessee and Saint Francis exchanged leads until Tennessee won five of six points to take a 9-7 lead. The Vols closed the set strong by winning five of six points to win 25-19.
In the second set, Tennessee jumped out to a 7-2 lead, capped by an ace by freshman Erica Treiber. Like the first set, Saint Francis kept pace until Tennessee pulled away by winning four of the last five points to take the set 25-16 heading into the break.
The Vols also came out strong in the third set, leading 8-2 after the first 10 points. Saint Francis cut the lead to four points at 21-17, but the Vols again won four of the last five points to clinch it. Kayleigh Moody put away a kill to end the match 25-18.
