University of Tennessee Athletics

No. 21 Tennessee Drops Three-Setter Against No. 5 Kentucky
October 27, 2021 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 21st-ranked Tennessee volleyball team suffered a three-set defeat (17-25, 19-25, 19-25) Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena, falling to No. 5 Kentucky.
Tennessee (16-5, 8-3 SEC) hit .208 on the night against Kentucky's (16-3, 9-0 SEC) .407. The Wildcats held the Lady Vols to their second-lowest kill total in a match this season as UT put away 35 kills. UK finished the night with 53.
For the Lady Vols, Breana Runnels led the team with 12 kills, six digs and a pair of blocks. It is Runnels' 15th double-digit kill outing and she leads Tennessee with 249 kills on the year.
Morgahn Fingall closed out her night with 11 kills and a .267 hitting percentage. She also picked up six digs and two blocks.
On the other side of the net, Kentucky saw three players finish in double-digits in kills. Alli Stumler led the Wildcats with 15, while Erin Lamb finished with 12 and Azhani Tealer ended her evening with 11.
All three players hit over .300 as Lamb hit .550, Tealer .429 and Stumler .371.
The Wildcats took control of the opening set early as they jumped out to a 10-3 lead. UT managed to cut into the deficit and make it a five-point set at 14-9, but Kentucky's attack quickly regained its rhythm and finished out the set, winning 25-17.
The second set was a much tighter affair with UT leading at the halfway mark, 15-12. Fingall and Runnels both posted four kills in the second as Fingall hit .375 in the set.
But as it did throughout the night, Kentucky responded and leveled the set at 19-19. From then on, UK took control and won the set, 25-19.
In the third, the Lady Vols grabbed an early lead, but UK's .444 hitting percentage in the set kept them in it. Tealer hit .714 in the third frame and put away five kills as she helped Kentucky to a 25-19 third set win.
RECORD BREAKING
Tennessee fans turned out to support the Lady Vols Wednesday night as the volleyball program set a new all-time attendance record. With a crowd of 3,376, it surpasses the pervious mark of 3,342 set on Aug. 30, 2019 against Illinois.
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Breana Runnels (12)
Assists – Natalie Hayward (29)
Digs – Lily Felts (13)
Blocks – Danielle Mahaffey (3)
UP NEXT
Tennessee next plays on the road at No. 23 Florida. The Lady Vols and Gators square-off on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. ET. The match can be streamed on SECN+.
Tennessee (16-5, 8-3 SEC) hit .208 on the night against Kentucky's (16-3, 9-0 SEC) .407. The Wildcats held the Lady Vols to their second-lowest kill total in a match this season as UT put away 35 kills. UK finished the night with 53.
For the Lady Vols, Breana Runnels led the team with 12 kills, six digs and a pair of blocks. It is Runnels' 15th double-digit kill outing and she leads Tennessee with 249 kills on the year.
Morgahn Fingall closed out her night with 11 kills and a .267 hitting percentage. She also picked up six digs and two blocks.
On the other side of the net, Kentucky saw three players finish in double-digits in kills. Alli Stumler led the Wildcats with 15, while Erin Lamb finished with 12 and Azhani Tealer ended her evening with 11.
All three players hit over .300 as Lamb hit .550, Tealer .429 and Stumler .371.
The Wildcats took control of the opening set early as they jumped out to a 10-3 lead. UT managed to cut into the deficit and make it a five-point set at 14-9, but Kentucky's attack quickly regained its rhythm and finished out the set, winning 25-17.
The second set was a much tighter affair with UT leading at the halfway mark, 15-12. Fingall and Runnels both posted four kills in the second as Fingall hit .375 in the set.
But as it did throughout the night, Kentucky responded and leveled the set at 19-19. From then on, UK took control and won the set, 25-19.
In the third, the Lady Vols grabbed an early lead, but UK's .444 hitting percentage in the set kept them in it. Tealer hit .714 in the third frame and put away five kills as she helped Kentucky to a 25-19 third set win.
RECORD BREAKING
Tennessee fans turned out to support the Lady Vols Wednesday night as the volleyball program set a new all-time attendance record. With a crowd of 3,376, it surpasses the pervious mark of 3,342 set on Aug. 30, 2019 against Illinois.
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Breana Runnels (12)
Assists – Natalie Hayward (29)
Digs – Lily Felts (13)
Blocks – Danielle Mahaffey (3)
UP NEXT
Tennessee next plays on the road at No. 23 Florida. The Lady Vols and Gators square-off on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. ET. The match can be streamed on SECN+.
Team Stats
UK
UT
Kills
53
35
Errors
9
14
Attempts
108
101
Hitting %
.407
.208
Points
62
44
Assists
48
34
Aces
3
4
Blocks
6
5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Players Mentioned
VB | Eve Rackham Watt Press Conference (8.25.25)
Monday, August 25
Everything Orange S2 I Volleyball Mashup
Thursday, October 03
VB | Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky Highlights (12.2.23)
Saturday, December 02
VB | Tennessee Press Conference vs. Western Kentucky (12.2.23)
Saturday, December 02