VOLLEYBALL CENTRAL: Tennessee Classic

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee volleyball team opens the regular season with the annual Tennessee Classic in Thompson-Boling Arena. The Lady Vols, who are led by first-year head coach Eve Rackham, opened up the 2018 season with an exhibition win over in-state Lipscomb University on Saturday.

All three Tennessee games will be aired with the opener against Michigan State University set to air on SEC Network at 8:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday.

Saturday's matches against Belmont University (1:00 p.m. ET) and UT-Chattanooga (7:30 p.m. ET) are available to stream on the WatchESPN.

LET THE EVEOLUTION BEGIN
The Lady Vols will play their first competitive match under the guidance of head coach Eve Rackham. She was hired as the 12th head coach in program history in January after spending the previous 14 seasons as an assistant.

In her most recent stop at North Carolina, the Tar Heels compiled a record of 210-77 including two ACC Championships and two trips to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16.

SERIES HISTORY
Versus Michigan State
Series: Michigan State leads 1-0
-Last: Aug. 30, 2003         L        3-2    College Park, Md. (Maryland Invitational)

Versus Belmont
Series: Tennessee leads 1-0
-Last: Sept. 1, 2007         W        3-0    Knoxville, Tenn. (Lady Vol Classic)

Versus Chattanooga
Series: Tennessee leads 15-3-1
-Last: Sept. 5, 2013         W        3-0    Chattanooga, Tenn. (Chattanooga Invitational)

STANDOUT STAT
The Lady Vols are 16-4 in their last 20 regular season openers. Tennessee has won its last five openers dating back to 2012. Last season, the team defeated Western Michigan in five sets to kick off the Tennessee Classic.

THE SET UP
Tennessee have 98.74 percent of assists returning from the 2017 team. This includes junior Sedona Hansen (522 ast) and sophomore Callie Williams (541 ast). Both players split time at setter last season with the Lady Vols running a 6-2 offense.

Hansen ranks tenth in program history in assists with 1,652 for her career while also ranking eighth in Tennessee history in assists per set with 8.56.

METAL DETECTORS
To enhance patron safety, the University of Tennessee is introducing a new security measure for all events at Thompson-Boling Arena, beginning with UT volleyball matches this weekend.

Walk-through metal detectors are now in place and operational at all arena entrances.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
Tennessee's Clear Bag Policy is still in place, and all bags will be checked before entrants pass through the metal detectors. There will be signage and staff to help direct fans through the process at each entry point.

NEXT UP
The Lady Vols hold serve at home again next weekend as they play host to Winthrop, North Florida and Indiana State in the Rocky Top Invitational.

Tennessee will face Winthrop Friday night at 7:00 p.m. (ET) in Thompson-Boling arena to kick-off the tournament. The game will also air on SEC Network+.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sedona Hansen

Callie Williams

University of Tennessee Athletics