University of Tennessee Athletics
Wednesday, October 27
Knoxville
6 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Kentucky
Volleyball Preview: No. 5 Kentucky
October 26, 2021 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Back home after a five-match road swing, the 21st-ranked Tennessee volleyball team welcomes No. 5 Kentucky to Thompson-Boling Arena Wednesday night. First serve between the Lady Vols and Wildcats is set for 6 p.m. ET.
For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season.
Though not required for entry to Thompson-Boling Arena or movement throughout the seating bowl, facial coverings are encouraged for arena patrons. For a full outline of match-day arena policies, click HERE.
BROADCAST INFO
Wednesday's match will air on ESPNU, with Sam Gore (play-by-play) and Jennifer Hoffman (color) calling the action on the floor. Live stats are provided and can be found by visiting the volleyball schedule page on UTsports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee wrapped up its road trip with a two-match series at LSU. The Lady Vols and Tigers split the series as UT won the opener, but fell the next day in match two.
BACK HOME ON ROCKY TOP
The Lady Vols are back home on Rocky Top following a five-match road trip that took them from Columbia, South Carolina to Athens, Georgia and finally to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
UT finished the road trip 4-1 with a pair of wins over South Carolina, a win over UGA and a series split with LSU.
BOUNCING BACK
The Lady Vols have been a strong bounce-back team this season as they have not lost back-to-back matches all year. The last time UT lost back-to-back was March 14 and 19, 2021, as it fell to Arkansas (March 14) and Alabama (March 19).
CHALLENGING THE BEST
Kentucky will be the fourth of five ranked teams UT plays this season. Tennessee defeated No. 10 Baylor in five sets on Sept. 3 before dropping a five-set heartbreaker to 7th-ranked Pittsburgh on Sept. 5. The Lady Vols then traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana, on Sept. 18 to face No. 9 Purdue. The Boilermakers won the match in three sets.
UT's next opponent is No. 23 Florida.
All five ranked opponents the Big Orange face this season began the year ranked in the AVCA top-10.
WINDICATORS
Tennessee is 12-0 when it hits better than .250 this season. UT is also 15-0 in 2021 when it out-digs its opponent.
Under Eve Rackham Watt, UT is 48-3 when it hits .250 or better and the Lady Vols are 52-5 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
2021 Record: 15-3 (8-0 SEC)
Series Record: Kentucky leads, 53-30
Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2020 – A four-set win for the Wildcats.
Key Player/Stat: The Wildcats come to Knoxville as the defending national champions and sit alone in first-place in the SEC standings this season. UK features a trio of strong attackers in Madi Skinner (3.88 kills/set), Alli Stumler (3.31 kills/set) and Azhani Tealer (2.64 kills/set).
Freshmen Emma Grome and Eleanor Beavin took over at setter and libero for the Wildcats this year and have performed well. Grome averages 11.07 assists per set, while Beavin averages 3.31 digs per set.
UP NEXT
Tennessee goes back on the road next week as it travels to Florida for a Thursday night showdown Nov. 4.
For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season.
Though not required for entry to Thompson-Boling Arena or movement throughout the seating bowl, facial coverings are encouraged for arena patrons. For a full outline of match-day arena policies, click HERE.
BROADCAST INFO
Wednesday's match will air on ESPNU, with Sam Gore (play-by-play) and Jennifer Hoffman (color) calling the action on the floor. Live stats are provided and can be found by visiting the volleyball schedule page on UTsports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee wrapped up its road trip with a two-match series at LSU. The Lady Vols and Tigers split the series as UT won the opener, but fell the next day in match two.
BACK HOME ON ROCKY TOP
The Lady Vols are back home on Rocky Top following a five-match road trip that took them from Columbia, South Carolina to Athens, Georgia and finally to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
UT finished the road trip 4-1 with a pair of wins over South Carolina, a win over UGA and a series split with LSU.
BOUNCING BACK
The Lady Vols have been a strong bounce-back team this season as they have not lost back-to-back matches all year. The last time UT lost back-to-back was March 14 and 19, 2021, as it fell to Arkansas (March 14) and Alabama (March 19).
CHALLENGING THE BEST
Kentucky will be the fourth of five ranked teams UT plays this season. Tennessee defeated No. 10 Baylor in five sets on Sept. 3 before dropping a five-set heartbreaker to 7th-ranked Pittsburgh on Sept. 5. The Lady Vols then traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana, on Sept. 18 to face No. 9 Purdue. The Boilermakers won the match in three sets.
UT's next opponent is No. 23 Florida.
All five ranked opponents the Big Orange face this season began the year ranked in the AVCA top-10.
WINDICATORS
Tennessee is 12-0 when it hits better than .250 this season. UT is also 15-0 in 2021 when it out-digs its opponent.
Under Eve Rackham Watt, UT is 48-3 when it hits .250 or better and the Lady Vols are 52-5 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
2021 Record: 15-3 (8-0 SEC)
Series Record: Kentucky leads, 53-30
Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2020 – A four-set win for the Wildcats.
Key Player/Stat: The Wildcats come to Knoxville as the defending national champions and sit alone in first-place in the SEC standings this season. UK features a trio of strong attackers in Madi Skinner (3.88 kills/set), Alli Stumler (3.31 kills/set) and Azhani Tealer (2.64 kills/set).
Freshmen Emma Grome and Eleanor Beavin took over at setter and libero for the Wildcats this year and have performed well. Grome averages 11.07 assists per set, while Beavin averages 3.31 digs per set.
UP NEXT
Tennessee goes back on the road next week as it travels to Florida for a Thursday night showdown Nov. 4.
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