University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
12-0
College of Charleston
6-5
Volleyball Defeats Charleston 3-1 on Road
September 12, 2015 | Volleyball
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Behind 17 kills by Bri Holmes and a double-double by setter Lexi Dempsey, Tennessee defeated College of Charleston 3-1 (27-25, 25-18, 13-25, 25-20) Saturday night to win the College of Charleston Invitational.
Tennessee (12-0) is now off to its best start of the season in the NCAA era. The team's only better start of the season was 20-0 in 1973 when college volleyball was governed by the AIAW.
It is the third tournament title of the season for the Vols after winning at Towson and their annual home tournament last week. Charleston had entered the weekend with one SEC win under its belt this season, having beaten Alabama.
Holmes was named tournament MVP after averaging 4.0 kills per set over the three matches. Senior setter Lexi Dempsey, who had 48 assists and 17 digs Saturday night, and junior middle blocker Raina Hembry were named to the all-tournament team.
"I'm very excited for this team to be playing at the level that they are and doing it consistently for three weekends to begin the season," Tennessee head coach Rob Patrick said. "I'm very proud of this group, especially after the adversity they've faced the last couple of years. They've earned all the successes that are coming their way."
In the first set, Tennessee trailed by one or two points much of the way. Charleston had two set points, losing one with a serve into the net and a second on a sneak attack deep in the court by Dempsey.
Serving at 25-25, Claudia Coco uncorked an ace to give the Vols set point. Buss and Raina Hembry teamed up for a block to deliver the set 27-25. It was the first set Tennessee has won where the winning score was higher than 25.
The Vols' second set was defined by a 8-0 run early in the set. On an extended service game by Villano, Tennessee moved ahead 14-7 and never looked back. Treiber put away a shot to deliver the second set 25-18.
In the third set, College of Charleston came up with a block to break a 6-6 tie and led the rest of the way. The Cougars hit .371 for the set while holding Tennessee to just .029. Charleston out-dug Tennessee in the set 22 to 12.
The fourth set was back-and-forth from the outset, but a ball handling error by Charleston setter Mackenzie Cooler gave Tennessee a 17-16 lead. The Vols won the next two points to go ahead 19-16, and the Cougars were unable to rally. Hembry put away a winner on the final point to seal the 25-20 win in the final set and clinch the match.
Hembry tied her season best with seven blocks, followed by six from Erica Treiber. As a team, Tennessee had 15 blocks, compared to just six for Charleston.
Tennessee out-dug Charleston 71 to 69. Junior setter Bridgette Villano had 21 to lead the squad, her season best.
