VOLLEYBALL CENTRAL: Diet Coke Classic

August 31, 2017 | Volleyball

By: By Maurice Williams

Tournament Central | Live Video vs. UTSA | Live Video vs. West Virginia | Live Video vs. Minnesota | Tennessee Notes | Minnesota Notes

Knoxville, Tenn. – The Tennessee volleyball team will travel to Minneapolis this weekend to take part in the Diet Coke Classic hosted by the University of Minnesota at The Sports Pavilion.

The Vols (3-0) will kick off the classic on Friday at 5:30 p.m. eastern time against Texas San Antonio (0-2). On Saturday, Tennessee will face West Virginia at 1 p.m. and then host No. 2 Minnesota at 8 p.m. All times are local times to Knoxville.

Diet Coke Classic

Friday Schedule

Match 1:
Tennessee vs. UTSA - 5:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Match 2:
West Virginia vs. Minnesota - 8 p.m. | Live Stats

Saturday Schedule

Match 3:
UTSA vs. Minnesota - 11 a.m. | Live Stats
Match 4:
Tennessee vs. West Virginia - 1 p.m. | Live Stats
Match 5:
West Virginia vs. UTSA - 5:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Match 6:
Tennessee vs. Minnesota - 8 p.m. | Live Stats

All matches can be seen on BTN2Go platform, which is a PPV/Subscription service.

See below for other news and notes.

MINNESOTA TRIP

The Vols are making just their second trip to Minnesota, playing in the Diet Coke Classic.
Tennessee went 2-1 the last time the Vols were in the Diet Coke Classic in 2000. The Vols lost the opening match to then-No. 9 Minnesota and then defeated Akron and Seton Hall in straight sets.
The Volunteers went 23-10 overall that season.
Looking at the matchups, Tennessee is 2-4 against the field. The Vols have not faced any of the teams in the field since 2009.
In the series, Tennessee leads 1-0 over Texas San Antonio, Minnesota leads the series 4-1 and this will be the first meeting between the Vols and West Virginia.

TENNESSEE CLASSIC

Head Coach Rob Patrick got his 400th career victory when the Vols claimed the Tennessee Classic.
The Vols got three players on the Tennessee Classic All-Tournament Team, as they defeated Western Michigan (3-1), Wofford (3-0) and George Washington (3-0).
Alyssa Andreno, Erica Treiber and Brooke Schumacher all made the All-Tournament Team. Andreno was selected as Tournament MVP behind her .477 hitting percentage and her 1.60 blocks per set. The award was a career first for Andreno.

TOP IN THE SEC

Through the first week of the season, the Vols rank in the top 10 in five different team categories in the SEC.
The Vols are first in opponent hitting percentage (.082).
Tennessee is also first in blocks (3.40). Sophomore Alyssa Andreno leads the team and the SEC with 1.60 blocks per set.
Averaging 2.10 aces per set with is second in the SEC lead by Erica Treiber who finished with 0.70 aces.
Junior Brooke Schumacher is currently second in the SEC in digs per set, averaging 4.90 digs and as a team, UT is seventh.