University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
7-2
Xavier
5-5
Vols End WMU Tourney with Xavier Loss
September 10, 2016 | Volleyball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Tennessee Volunteers fell behind by two sets for the first time this season and could not rally in a 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 17-25, 25-21) loss to Xavier on Saturday to conclude the Holiday Inn West Invitational.
The Vols (7-2) rallied to take the third set but could not continue the momentum late into the fourth set against Xavier (5-5) to finish the weekend with a 2-1 record.
Freshman Tessa Grubbs led the Vols with 15 kills, while sophomore Erica Treiber added 11 with a .588 hitting percentage. Senior Bridgette Villano recorded 17 digs, and freshman Sedona Hansen had 32 assists.
Next week, the Vols play at the George Washington Invitational in the final weekend before SEC competition begins.
In the first set, Xavier jumped out to a four-point lead at 19-15, but the Vols chipped away at the lead, tying the match at 22-22 on a bad set by Xavier. The Vols knotted the match again at 23-23 thanks to a kill by Grubbs, but Xavier took the final two points to clinch the opening set.
The Vols tied up the second set at 20-20 with kills by Alyssa Andreno and Raina Hembry, but Xavier went on a tear to close the set, winning five of the last seven points.
Xavier won the first five points of the third set coming out of the break, but the Vols eventually tied up the match 8-8. Tennessee jumped on a 5-0 run midway through the set, taking a 16-12 lead on a Xavier attack error. The Vols hit .407 during the set, securing the set at 25-17 on an ace by Hansen.
In the fourth set, Xavier broke a 10-10 tie with a 3-0 burst and led the rest of the way. The Vols cut the lead to 17-16 on back-to-back kills by Treiber, but Xavier won four of the next five points to retake the momentum up 21-17.
The Vols fought off two match points but Xavier closed out the match 25-21 with a kill by Brooke Betts.
NOTES
- Tennessee starters: Alyssa Andreno, Erica Treiber, Raina Hembry, Sedona Hansen, Bri Holmes, Britney Vallez, Brudgette Villano (L). This is the third time in four matches this lineup has been used.
- Three Vols recorded double-digit kills: Tessa Grubbs (15), Erica Treiber (11) and Bri Holmes (10). It was Grubbs' third match of at least 15 kills this season.
UP NEXT
- Next week marks the final tuneup for the Vols before Southeastern Conference play. Tennessee plays at the George Washington Invitational in Washington, D.C. Opponents include James Madison, Northern Illinois and host GW.
