University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, October 15
Athens, Ga.
7 PM
University of Tennessee
at
Georgia
Volleyball Preview: Georgia
October 14, 2021 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Continuing its stretch on the road, the 21st-ranked Tennessee volleyball team travels to Athens, Georgia, for a match against the Bulldogs at Stegeman Coliseum Friday, Oct. 15.
First serve Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday's match can be streamed on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Live stats are also available and can be found by visiting the volleyball schedule page on UTsports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Vols opened up the five-match road swing last weekend in Columbia, South Carolina, as they swept their two-match series with the Gamecocks.
IN THE POLLS
In the second NCAA RPI poll released on Monday, UT jumped two spots to No. 5. Tennessee is the highest-ranked SEC team in the RPI. In this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, the Orange & White are 21st.
Five of UT's opponents this season are ranked in the newest AVCA poll. Including the Lady Vols at No. 21, three SEC programs are ranked in the top-25 (No. 5 Kentucky and No. 23 Florida).
PLAYER & SETTER OF THE WEEK
Senior Natalie Hayward was named the SEC Player and Setter of the Week Monday for her performance in UT's series at South Carolina. It is the third time this season Hayward has been named setter of the week and the first time she has been named player of the week.
Hayward ran Tennessee's offense with high-efficiency against South Carolina as she totaled 78 assists over seven sets – averaging 11.14 assists per set. Hayward's setting was key to the Lady Vols hitting an impressive .329 as a team over the two matches.
BLOCK PARTY
With Ava Bell and Danielle Mahaffey in the middle, Tennessee leads the SEC in blocks per set at 2.97. The average is seventh-best in the nation. The duo is ranked in the top-10 in the conference in blocks per set with Mahaffey second in the league (1.45) and Bell ninth (1.16).
WINDICATORS
Tennessee is 10-0 when it hits better than .250 this season. UT is also 14-0 this season when it out-digs its opponent. During Eve Rackham Watt's tenure, UT is 46-3 when it hits .250 or better.
Under Rackham Watt, the Lady Vols are 51-5 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING GEORGIA
2021 Record: 5-11 (1-4 SEC)
Series Record: UT leads, 49-30
Last Meeting: Oct. 29, 2020 – A four-set win for Georgia.
Key Player/Stat: Georgia enters the match having lost six of its last seven, but split its series last weekend at Texas A&M. UGA is led offensively by Kacie Evans and Amber Stivrins who both average over three points per set. Stivrins leads the team in kills with 178, while Evans sits second with 162.
Georgia has run with two setters this season, but Clara Brower has taken the lead role, averaging 8.59 assists per set. Dalaney Hans is the No. 2 setter and averages 5.54 assists per set.
UP NEXT
The Big Orange travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a two-match series Oct. 23 and 24. The matches against the Tigers close out the road trip for the Lady Vols and lead into their showdown at home against Kentucky on Oct. 27.
First serve Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday's match can be streamed on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Live stats are also available and can be found by visiting the volleyball schedule page on UTsports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Vols opened up the five-match road swing last weekend in Columbia, South Carolina, as they swept their two-match series with the Gamecocks.
IN THE POLLS
In the second NCAA RPI poll released on Monday, UT jumped two spots to No. 5. Tennessee is the highest-ranked SEC team in the RPI. In this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, the Orange & White are 21st.
Five of UT's opponents this season are ranked in the newest AVCA poll. Including the Lady Vols at No. 21, three SEC programs are ranked in the top-25 (No. 5 Kentucky and No. 23 Florida).
PLAYER & SETTER OF THE WEEK
Senior Natalie Hayward was named the SEC Player and Setter of the Week Monday for her performance in UT's series at South Carolina. It is the third time this season Hayward has been named setter of the week and the first time she has been named player of the week.
Hayward ran Tennessee's offense with high-efficiency against South Carolina as she totaled 78 assists over seven sets – averaging 11.14 assists per set. Hayward's setting was key to the Lady Vols hitting an impressive .329 as a team over the two matches.
BLOCK PARTY
With Ava Bell and Danielle Mahaffey in the middle, Tennessee leads the SEC in blocks per set at 2.97. The average is seventh-best in the nation. The duo is ranked in the top-10 in the conference in blocks per set with Mahaffey second in the league (1.45) and Bell ninth (1.16).
WINDICATORS
Tennessee is 10-0 when it hits better than .250 this season. UT is also 14-0 this season when it out-digs its opponent. During Eve Rackham Watt's tenure, UT is 46-3 when it hits .250 or better.
Under Rackham Watt, the Lady Vols are 51-5 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING GEORGIA
2021 Record: 5-11 (1-4 SEC)
Series Record: UT leads, 49-30
Last Meeting: Oct. 29, 2020 – A four-set win for Georgia.
Key Player/Stat: Georgia enters the match having lost six of its last seven, but split its series last weekend at Texas A&M. UGA is led offensively by Kacie Evans and Amber Stivrins who both average over three points per set. Stivrins leads the team in kills with 178, while Evans sits second with 162.
Georgia has run with two setters this season, but Clara Brower has taken the lead role, averaging 8.59 assists per set. Dalaney Hans is the No. 2 setter and averages 5.54 assists per set.
UP NEXT
The Big Orange travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a two-match series Oct. 23 and 24. The matches against the Tigers close out the road trip for the Lady Vols and lead into their showdown at home against Kentucky on Oct. 27.
Players Mentioned
Everything Orange S3 | Chelsea Sutton (Volleyball)
Friday, October 03
VB | Eve Rackham Watt Press Conference (9.22.25)
Monday, September 22
VB | Eve Rackham Watt Press Conference (8.25.25)
Monday, August 25
Everything Orange S2 I Volleyball Mashup
Thursday, October 03
