VOLLEYBALL CENTRAL: vs. No. 16 San Diego

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee volleyball team continues its road trip in San Diego, Calif. The Lady Vols start a two game set against No. 16 University of San Diego Friday night when they square off against the Toreros in Jenny Craig Pavilion.

The Lady Vols will look to rebound after a five set loss to East Tennessee State on Tuesday night. It was the first loss for Tennessee and the first time any team has taken them to five sets all season.

This will be just the second time the Tennessee and San Diego have met with the Lady Vols taking the only other meeting as a part of a historic 40-win season in 1980. The Toreros come into the weekend with a 1-3 record after they split the weekend beating No. 12 Baylor in four sets.

The games can be seen on TheW.TV with both Friday and Saturday's matches scheduled for 10:00 p.m. (ET).

CALI CONNECTIONS
For the first time since to 2001 season, Tennessee will play a match in the Golden State. The Lady Vols have two players who grew up in California in junior setter Sedona Hansen (Wrightwood, Calif.) and freshman defensive specialist Giana Pellizzon (San Clemente, Calif.). Hansen attended Serrano high school in Phelan, Calif. while Pellizzon graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic high school in Santa Margarita, Calif.

Head coach Eve Rackham (Sebastopol, Calif.) and volunteer assistant Heather Gearhart (Chula Vista, Calif.) are also originally from California.

LAST TIME
Tennessee vs. East Tennessee State (Sept. 4)

The Lady Vols lost a tightly contested five set match to the reigning SoCon Champion Buccaneers. Tennessee was led by a career-high performance from junior outside hitter Tessa Grubbs. She tallied 25 kills besting her previous mark by two kills.

SERIES HISTORY
Series: Tennessee leads 1-0

Oct. 11, 1980 W 15-9, 15-5, 12-15, 15-12

STANDOUT STAT
The Lady Vols are currently 17th in the nation and first in the SEC in opponent hitting percentage a .120 mark through seven matches.

No. 900
Tennessee will be playing for history this weekend as it looks for the 900th win in program history. The Lady Vols have had seven 30+ wins seasons and 22 seasons with 20+ in their history. It would be the first time since the 2011 the Lady Vols defeated multiple ranked opponents in the same season.

SCOUTING THE TOREROS
San Diego has made 21 appearances in the NCAA Tournament reaching the tournament the last nine seasons. The Toreros have opened the season against three ranked opponents boasting a 1-3 record through two weeks.

Last weekend, they defeated No. 12 Baylor in four sets and lost to No. 10 UCLA in five sets as a part of the San Diego Invitational.

NEXT UP
The Lady Vols are off until Sept. 14 when they travel to Dayton for the Flyer Invitational. The field includes host University of Dayton, Ohio State University and Evansville University.
Tennessee opens the weekend with a Friday night match against the host Flyers at 7:00 p.m. (ET). The game can be seen on ESPN+.