University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, October 13
Knoxville
1:30 PM
University of Tennessee
8-8,3-3SEC
3
vs
0
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Mississippi State
11-7,6-0SEC
1
2
3
F
Mississippi St.
15
15
23
0
Tennessee
25
25
25
3
Lady Vols Sweep Mississippi State for 48th Win in the Series
October 13, 2019 | Volleyball
The Lady Vols finished with double-figure kills as Sedona Hansen tallied her ninth double double of the season
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee volleyball team closed out the weekend with a sweep victory over Mississippi State (25-15, 25-15, 25-23) on Sunday afternoon in Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Lady Vols (9-7, 3-3 SEC) increase their winning streak over the Bulldogs (11-7, 0-5 SEC) to four straight, sweeping them in the last three matches in the series.
For the second time in three matches, Tennessee held its opponent to under a .100 hitting percentage. It also limited Mississippi State to just 30 kills in the match, tying the fewest allowed by the Lady Vols in conference play this season.
They set the defensive tone early in the match, holding the Bulldogs to a -.028 hitting percentage in the first set. It remained negative for much of the second set with Mississippi State hovering at .014 after two sets.
Offensively, Tennessee had three players finish with double-digit kills. Sophomore outside hitter Lily Felts led the way with 11 kill in the match while notching seven digs.
For the 35th time in the last 36 matches, senior Tessa Grubbs ended the match with double-figure kills, tallying 10 on Sunday afternoon. She has accomplished this feat in every match this season.
Senior middle blocker Alyssa Andreno helped close out the match in the final set, recording six of her 10 kills in the final frame. She finished the match with a match-high .588 hitting percentage, ending the match without a hitting error.
For the 55th time in her career, senior setter Sedona Hansen recorded a double double, posting a match-high 22 assists to go along with 10 digs. She was one of two Tennessee players to record double-digit digs as junior libero Madison Coulter ended the game with a match-high 19 digs (6.33 digs per set).
From Coach Rackham:
On regrouping after Friday:
"Our team talked with each other. They figured out a few things. They were able to have a direct conversation about what they needed from each other. I felt like that was obvious today. They came out on the same page."-- Coach Eve Rackham
On having 48 wins all-time vs. Mississippi State:
"That speaks to the history of the program and what people before these girls have been able to do. There is nothing more fitting on our Alumni Weekend to do that in front of all these amazing alums who came back into town and paved the way for the girls who are here now. I'm proud of our program's history and this tradition."-- Coach Rackham
On growing from this weekend:
"We will continue to point at this weekend. Hopefully, it is a turning point for our players after a tough Friday night to be able to bounce back. Our team grew up a little bit this weekend and hopefully going forward we can use this weekend as a reference."-- Coach Rackham
From Tessa Grubbs:
On streak of double-digit kill matches:
"It comes from lots of practice with my setter and getting great balls from our offensive system. It's definitely a huge team thing. The middles are holding the block for me. They're creating opportunities for me and it really it's helping me out." – Senior Tessa Grubbs
On different energy level today:
"We know we need to do. It's all on us. We set and control the tone. We needed to come back out here today and take that over this match. We needed to bring this team back to where we should be." – Senior Tessa Grubbs
Standout Stat
The Lady Vols close out their three-match homestand against No. 16 Kentucky on Wednesday night. Last season, Kentucky won both matches in the series in four sets.
First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) at Thompson-Boling Arena. The match will also air on ESPNU.
The Lady Vols (9-7, 3-3 SEC) increase their winning streak over the Bulldogs (11-7, 0-5 SEC) to four straight, sweeping them in the last three matches in the series.
For the second time in three matches, Tennessee held its opponent to under a .100 hitting percentage. It also limited Mississippi State to just 30 kills in the match, tying the fewest allowed by the Lady Vols in conference play this season.
They set the defensive tone early in the match, holding the Bulldogs to a -.028 hitting percentage in the first set. It remained negative for much of the second set with Mississippi State hovering at .014 after two sets.
Offensively, Tennessee had three players finish with double-digit kills. Sophomore outside hitter Lily Felts led the way with 11 kill in the match while notching seven digs.
For the 35th time in the last 36 matches, senior Tessa Grubbs ended the match with double-figure kills, tallying 10 on Sunday afternoon. She has accomplished this feat in every match this season.
Senior middle blocker Alyssa Andreno helped close out the match in the final set, recording six of her 10 kills in the final frame. She finished the match with a match-high .588 hitting percentage, ending the match without a hitting error.
For the 55th time in her career, senior setter Sedona Hansen recorded a double double, posting a match-high 22 assists to go along with 10 digs. She was one of two Tennessee players to record double-digit digs as junior libero Madison Coulter ended the game with a match-high 19 digs (6.33 digs per set).
From Coach Rackham:
On regrouping after Friday:
"Our team talked with each other. They figured out a few things. They were able to have a direct conversation about what they needed from each other. I felt like that was obvious today. They came out on the same page."-- Coach Eve Rackham
On having 48 wins all-time vs. Mississippi State:
"That speaks to the history of the program and what people before these girls have been able to do. There is nothing more fitting on our Alumni Weekend to do that in front of all these amazing alums who came back into town and paved the way for the girls who are here now. I'm proud of our program's history and this tradition."-- Coach Rackham
On growing from this weekend:
"We will continue to point at this weekend. Hopefully, it is a turning point for our players after a tough Friday night to be able to bounce back. Our team grew up a little bit this weekend and hopefully going forward we can use this weekend as a reference."-- Coach Rackham
From Tessa Grubbs:
On streak of double-digit kill matches:
"It comes from lots of practice with my setter and getting great balls from our offensive system. It's definitely a huge team thing. The middles are holding the block for me. They're creating opportunities for me and it really it's helping me out." – Senior Tessa Grubbs
On different energy level today:
"We know we need to do. It's all on us. We set and control the tone. We needed to come back out here today and take that over this match. We needed to bring this team back to where we should be." – Senior Tessa Grubbs
Standout Stat
- With Tennessee's 48th win in the series, it now improves to 48-12 all-time against Mississippi State. It is tied for the most wins over a single opponent in school history with Georgia.
- Lily Felts notched her fourth double-digit kill match of the season. All four have come in the last five matches.
- Sedona Hansen recorded her ninth double double of the season with a game-high 22 assists to go along with 10 digs.
- Alyssa Andreno became second Lady Vol player to have 10 or more kills without a hitting error. Sophomore Ava Bell accomplished the feat against Houston on Sept. 13.
The Lady Vols close out their three-match homestand against No. 16 Kentucky on Wednesday night. Last season, Kentucky won both matches in the series in four sets.
First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) at Thompson-Boling Arena. The match will also air on ESPNU.
Team Stats
MSU
UT
Kills
30
50
Errors
19
15
Attempts
112
119
Hitting %
.098
.294
Points
36
58
Assists
28
45
Aces
1
1
Blocks
5
7
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
DS/L
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/ VolleyballOH
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S
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