University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, October 8
Columbia, SC
7 PM
University of Tennessee
at
South Carolina
Volleyball Preview: South Carolina
October 07, 2021 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Going on the road for the first time in conference play, the 22nd-ranked Tennessee volleyball team heads to Columbia, South Carolina, for a two-match series against the Gamecocks.
The series opens Friday with a 7 p.m. first serve from the Carolina Volleyball Center before concluding Saturday at 5 p.m.
BROADCAST INFO
Both matches 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
Tennessee wrapped up its homestand last weekend with a two-match series against Texas A&M. The Lady Vols won the opening match in three sets but fell to the Aggies in a five-setter on Sunday.
ON THE ROAD
This weekend begins a five-match road swing, which sees UT travel to Georgia and LSU following the series in Carolina.
The Lady Vols face UGA for one match on Oct. 15 and close out the road trip in Baton Rouge with a two-match series Oct. 22-23.
IN THE POLLS
In the first RPI poll of the season released Monday, UT came in ranked 7th nationally - the highest-ranked SEC team. In this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, the Orange & White are 22nd.
Five of UT's opponents this season are ranked in this week's AVCA poll, along with three SEC programs (No. 5 Kentucky, No. 20 Florida and No. 22 Tennessee).
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Ava Bell took home SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors Monday after a stellar three-match performance last week.
The Austin, Texas, native put down 23 kills on 35 attacks and committed just one error. Bell hit .629 while averaging 2.30 kills per set. The middle blocker also put up 10 blocks over 10 sets played last week, averaging 1.00 block per set.
ATTACKING LEFT, MIDDLE AND RIGHT
UT has proven its depth on the offensive end of the floor this season as it leads the SEC in kills per set and ranks fifth in the nation. Leading the attack has been Lily Felts, Morgahn Fingall and Breana Runnels who account for 72 percent of the Lady Vols' attacks.
The threesome has totaled 491 of UT's 750 kills.
WINDICATORS
Tennessee is 8-0 this season when it hits .250 or better, and during Eve Rackham Watt's three seasons on Rocky Top, UT is 44-3 when it eclipses the .250 hitting mark. Under Rackham Watt, the Lady Vols are 50-5 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
2021 Record: 11-3 (3-1 SEC)
Series Record: UT leads, 39-32
Last Meeting: Nov. 7, 2020 – A three-set win for South Carolina.
Key Player/Stat: Kyla Manning leads South Carolina on offense with 3.34 kills per set this season. Sophomores Mallory Dixon and Claire Wilson alternate at the setter position with Dixon averaging 5.72 assists per set and Wilson averaging 4.62.
The Gamecocks are strong from the service line as they average 1.58 aces per set. That mark ranks second in the SEC.
UP NEXT
The Big Orange travel to Athens, Georgia, for one match against the Bulldogs on Friday, Oct. 15. First serve is set for 7 p.m. ET from Stegeman Coliseum.
The series opens Friday with a 7 p.m. first serve from the Carolina Volleyball Center before concluding Saturday at 5 p.m.
BROADCAST INFO
Both matches 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
Tennessee wrapped up its homestand last weekend with a two-match series against Texas A&M. The Lady Vols won the opening match in three sets but fell to the Aggies in a five-setter on Sunday.
ON THE ROAD
This weekend begins a five-match road swing, which sees UT travel to Georgia and LSU following the series in Carolina.
The Lady Vols face UGA for one match on Oct. 15 and close out the road trip in Baton Rouge with a two-match series Oct. 22-23.
IN THE POLLS
In the first RPI poll of the season released Monday, UT came in ranked 7th nationally - the highest-ranked SEC team. In this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, the Orange & White are 22nd.
Five of UT's opponents this season are ranked in this week's AVCA poll, along with three SEC programs (No. 5 Kentucky, No. 20 Florida and No. 22 Tennessee).
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Ava Bell took home SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors Monday after a stellar three-match performance last week.
The Austin, Texas, native put down 23 kills on 35 attacks and committed just one error. Bell hit .629 while averaging 2.30 kills per set. The middle blocker also put up 10 blocks over 10 sets played last week, averaging 1.00 block per set.
ATTACKING LEFT, MIDDLE AND RIGHT
UT has proven its depth on the offensive end of the floor this season as it leads the SEC in kills per set and ranks fifth in the nation. Leading the attack has been Lily Felts, Morgahn Fingall and Breana Runnels who account for 72 percent of the Lady Vols' attacks.
The threesome has totaled 491 of UT's 750 kills.
WINDICATORS
Tennessee is 8-0 this season when it hits .250 or better, and during Eve Rackham Watt's three seasons on Rocky Top, UT is 44-3 when it eclipses the .250 hitting mark. Under Rackham Watt, the Lady Vols are 50-5 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
2021 Record: 11-3 (3-1 SEC)
Series Record: UT leads, 39-32
Last Meeting: Nov. 7, 2020 – A three-set win for South Carolina.
Key Player/Stat: Kyla Manning leads South Carolina on offense with 3.34 kills per set this season. Sophomores Mallory Dixon and Claire Wilson alternate at the setter position with Dixon averaging 5.72 assists per set and Wilson averaging 4.62.
The Gamecocks are strong from the service line as they average 1.58 aces per set. That mark ranks second in the SEC.
UP NEXT
The Big Orange travel to Athens, Georgia, for one match against the Bulldogs on Friday, Oct. 15. First serve is set for 7 p.m. ET from Stegeman Coliseum.
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
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