MATCH CENTRAL: Baylor Invitational

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee volleyball travels to Waco, Texas to take part in the Baylor Invitational this weekend.

The Lady Vols come into the weekend riding a two-match winning streak after defeating Miami (OH) and Michigan State at the Spartan Invitational. After trailing by eight points in the fourth set against the Spartans, Tennessee came all the way back to take the set, winning in five on the road.

In the opening match of the tournament, Tennessee is set to face Houston (5-5) on Friday night. After losing their first four matches of the season, the Cougars entered the weekend on a five-match winning streak, sweeping the UTSA Classic while also picking up a win over Lamar on Tuesday.

The streak ended with a four-set loss to Baylor in Waco on Thursday night.

The Lady Vols will close out the weekend against tournament host No. 5 Baylor on Saturday. The Bears (6-0) enter the tournament undefeated and are coming off roads wins over No. 4 Wisconsin and No. 11 Marquette.

Friday's match against Houston is set for at 4 p.m. (ET) with the final match against No. 5 Baylor coming on Saturday at 2 p.m. (ET). The match against the Bears can be streamed on ESPN+.

QUEEN OF KILLS
Over the last two seasons, Tessa Grubbs has averaged 4.16 kills per set inlcuding a 4.00 kills/set though five matches this season.

The Tega Cay, S.C. native has now had double-digit kills in 24 of the last 25 matches including all five matches this season. During that stretch, she has 10 matches with 20-plus kills

LAST TIME
Tennessee at Michigan State (Sept. 7)
Result: W, 3-2

No. 21 University of Tennessee came from behind to defeat the host Michigan State in the final match of the Spartan Invitational. Trailing 22-14 in the fourth set, the Lady Vols went on an 11-1 run to take the set and then defeated the Spartans in five.
- Sophomore Lily Felts helped the Lady Vols go on a 10-0 at the end of the set. Getting a kill to start the run before applying plenty of service pressure on Michigan State.

SERIES HISTORY
Versus Houston
Series: Tennessee trails 4-7
-Last: Sept. 3, 2011 L       3-2    Champaign, Ill.
- The Lady Vols fell to Houston in the final match of the Illinois State Farm Classic in Champaign. That season, Tennessee would go on to win the SEC Championship.

Versus Baylor
Series: Tennessee leads 1-0
-Last: Aug. 26, 2006 W        3-0    Knoxville, Tenn.
-Tennessee defeated Baylor in straight sets as a part of the Lady Vol Classic. It was one of 25 wins for the program that season as the Lady Vols advanced to the Final Four that year.

STANDOUT STAT
Over the last two matches, Tennessee has 21 service aces in eight sets played, which is 2.63 aces per set. Last season, the Lady Vols finished with 1.00 aces per set.
This included 12 in the straight-set victory over Miami (OH), which tied for the third most by the Lady Vols in the rally-scoring era.

AGAINST THE LONE STAR STATE
Tennessee has played against schools from Texas a total of 62 times in the program's history. The last time Tennessee traveled to the Lone Star State it defeated Texas A&M in five sets before sweeping the series with a four-set home win later that season.
The 11 matches against Houston marks the second most against any Texas school, only second to Texas A&M.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Senior setter Sedona Hansen recorded her second double-double of the season with 37 assists and 14 digs in a loss to No. 6 Illinois on September 1. She is tied with Kelsey Robinson (2010-12) for third all-time in program history in career double-doubles with 49 just 13 matches off the all-time program record.

She currently ranks ninth all-time in career assists with 2,697 while ranking 19th in digs with 930. Hansen is just 70 digs away from becoming just the third player in Tennessee history to have 2,500-plus assists and 1,000-plus digs.

NEXT UP
The Lady Vols close out the non-conference slate next week when they return home to Thompson-Boling Arena for the annual Tennessee Classic. This year's field will be comprised of ETSU, Georgia Southern and North Dakota State.

The first match is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET against the East Tennessee State.