University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Missouri
Volleyball Preview: Missouri
November 23, 2021 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Wrapping up the 2021 regular season, the Tennessee volleyball team travels to Columbia, Missouri, for a Wednesday night showdown at Hearnes Center against Mizzou.
The regular-season finale for UT, the match is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
BROADCAST INFO
Wednesday's match can be seen on SEC Network with Sam Gore (play-by-play) and Jennifer Hoffman (color) describing the action. Live stats will be provided by Missouri with a link available on the volleyball schedule page on UTsports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee began its Thanksgiving feast early as it trounced Alabama last weekend, sweeping all six sets the teams played. The Lady Vols hit a combined .366 over the series and saw four players with 10+ attacks hit over .300. The Tennessee block was also out in force, stuffing The Tide 26 times in two matches.
BLOCKSGIVING
Ava Bell and Danielle Mahaffey have led UT's net-front pressure all season. With Bell and Mahaffey in the middle, Tennessee leads the SEC in blocks/set at 2.96. The average ranks third in the nation. Mahaffey is tied for the league lead in blocks per set, averaging 1.41. Bell is sixth in the SEC, averaging 1.20 blocks per set this season.
FIXINGS AND ALL THE SIDES
Setter Natalie Hayward has a lot of options when it comes to setting up Tennessee's offense. The main course, however, has featured Lily Felts, Morgahn Fingall and Breana Runnels. The threesome has totaled 893 of UT's 1,370 kills. The trio also accounts for 71 percent of the Lady Vols' attacks.
SEARCHING FOR WIN NO. 20
With a win, UT would earn its 24th 20-win season in program history and its first since 2018.
NCAA DREAMIN'
At No. 21 in the latest RPI ranking, Tennessee is positioned well to make its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2018. Aiding the Lady Vols cause is a strong strength of schedule which has seen UT play Pittsburgh (No. 2 RPI), Baylor (No. 3 RPI), Kentucky (No. 7 RPI) and Purdue (No. 8 RPI) this season.
Tennessee defeated No. 9 Baylor at home in five sets on Sept. 3.
WINDICATORS
Tennessee is 15-0 when it hits better than .250 this season. UT is also 17-1 in 2021 when it out-digs its opponent. During Eve Rackham Watt's tenure, UT is 51-3 when it hits .250 or better and is 55-6 when it wins the second set.
SCOUTING MISSOURI
2021 Record: 4-24 (1-14 SEC)
Series Record: Missouri leads, 10-7
Last Meeting: Feb. 13, 2021 – A three-set win for the Lady Vols.
Key Player/Stat: Missouri enters Wednesday's meeting having lost eight straight and is winless this season at home. Anna Dixon leads Mizzou with 339 kills and 3.46 kills per set. The Tigers have run a two-setter system with Nicole Alford and Addison Lyon averaging 6.18 and 5.73 assists per set, respectively.
UP NEXT
Tennessee will await the NCAA selection show on Sunday, Nov. 28, to see where it will go for postseason play.
