VOLLEYBALL CENTRAL: Rocky Top Invitational

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After a 3-0 start to the season, the University of Tennessee volleyball team holds serve at home again this weekend as it play host to Winthrop, North Florida and Indiana State in the Rocky Top Invitational.

The Lady Vols opened the season with a sweep of the Tennessee Classic. Tennessee only dropped one set en route to claiming the tournament title for the sixth time in program history.

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+. Saturday's matches will air on WatchESPN with the North Florida match scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (ET) and Indiana State later that night at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

ALUMNI WEEKEND
Tennessee volleyball is welcoming back some LVFLs as a part of alumni weekend. There will be former Lady Vol players attending both days of the tournament and they will be honored before the start of the matches.

LAST WEEK
Match 1: Tennessee vs. No. 22 Michigan State (Aug. 24)
Result: W (3-1)

Coach Eve Rackham became the first coach in Tennessee history in any sport to defeat a ranked opponent in its debut. The Vols defeated the Spartans in four sets behind a career-high night from senior Erica Treiber.
- Treiber totaled 19 kills on 37 swings including seven in the opening frame. The middle blocker went on to earn MVP honors in the tournament.

Match 2: Tennessee vs. Belmont (Aug. 25)
Result: W (3-0)

The Lady Vols claimed their first sweep of the season over in-state Belmont behind junior Tessa Grubbs second double-digit kill game of the season. Tennessee capped off the match hitting .483 in the third set.
- Grubbs led the match with 15 kills with 13 of them coming in the first two frames. The outside hitter was one of three Lady Vol players named to the all-tournament team finishing the weekend with a team-high 41 kills.

Match 3: Tennessee vs. Chattanooga (Aug. 25)
Result: W (3-0)

Tennessee completed the weekend sweep with a three set victory over Chattanooga. The match was a coming out party for freshman Lily Felts who tallied a match-high 13 kills while hitting .600 for the match.
- In the first set, Felts killed seven balls on eight swings. She followed that up by serving the first eight points of the second set to help the Lady Vols jump out to a 8-0 lead in the set. She was the third Tennessee player selected to the all-tournament team.

SERIES HISTORY
Versus Winthrop
Series: Tennessee leads 3-2
-Last: Nov. 28, 2003       W        3-0    Rock Hill, S.C.

Versus North Florida
Series: Tennessee leads 1-0
-Last: Sept. 5, 2015         W        3-1    Knoxville, Tenn. (Tennessee Classic)

Versus Indiana State
Series: Tied 0-0-1
-Last: 1977                         T        1-1

STANDOUT STAT
Senior Brooke Schumacher is 14 digs away from entering the top 10 in program history in career digs. With 14 digs, she would tie Kelli Scott (1999-02) and Bridgette Villano (2013-16) at 1,117.

METAL DETECTORS
To enhance patron safety, the University of Tennessee introduced a new security measure for all events at Thompson-Boling Arena, which began with UT volleyball matches last 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
Tennessee is off for two days before traveling to Johnson City for a midweek match against East Tennessee State. The Lady Vols sport a 28-6 record against the Buccaneers and are winners of 18 of the last 19 matchups.