CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL: #10 UT vs. #5 Arkansas

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- No. 10 Tennessee is set to appear in its first SEC Championship since 2008 on Sunday, taking on No. 5 Arkansas in a 2 p.m. ET match that will be televised on SEC Network.

Second-seeded UT (17-2-0, 8-2 SEC) played its way into the finals by beating No. 10 seed Florida and No. 3 seed Ole Miss. In their last outing, the Vols defeated the Rebels 3-2 in the semifinals on Thursday.

Top-seeded Arkansas (16-3-0, 9-1 SEC) took wins over No. 9 seed LSU and No. 5 seed Auburn. The Razorbacks are fresh off a 5-1 rout of the Tigers in the semifinals.

This will be the Vols fourth matchup against an opponent ranked in the Top 25 by the United Soccer Coaches this season. Tennessee is undefeated by ranked opponents thus far, claiming wins against No. 11 Auburn (2-1, 2OT), at No. 19 South Carolina (1-0) and against No. 21 Ole Miss (3-2).

The two teams met earlier this season in the SEC opener when UT fell 3-1 on the road. Tennessee leads Arkansas in the all-time series, 13-6-1. This will be the first SEC Tournament meeting between the two programs.

UP NEXT: The Vols will return to Knoxville and await the results of the NCAA DI Soccer Selection Show on Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Tennessee has appeared in five SEC Championships previously, winning in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008, and taking runner-up in 2004.

SEEING DOUBLE: Redshirt-sophomore Jaida Thomas has scored two goals in both SEC Tournament games this season, becoming the only Tennessee player to ever post two braces in SEC Tournament play in a career. There have only been five other occasions when a UT player scored two goals in an SEC Tournament game. The goals bring her total over the last four games to six, and she leads the team with 12 goals on the season.

CRUNCH TIME HUFF: All eight of freshman Taylor Huff's goals have come in the second half, and half of those have come in the 85th minute or later.

WINNING WAYS: Tennessee is just one win shy of tying the program record for wins in a single season (18) and is currently tied for third in the nation in overall win percentage (.895).

TOURNAMENT CHANCES: Through two SEC Tournament games, this squad is outshooting opponents 42-22, has taken 18 shots on goal while holding opponents to nine, and has a 21-7 advantage in corner kicks.

EVERYONE CAN SCORE: With Burdette's first goal of the 2021 campaign against Florida, 15 different Volunteers have now scored at least one goal this season.

BALANCED ATTACK: On the season, four UT players have scored six or more goals - Jaida Thomas (12), Taylor Huff (8), Claudia Dipasupil (7) and Mackenzie George (6).

THOMAS ALWAYS DANGEROUS: Jaida Thomas' 12 goals have been split evenly with six coming in each half. Her fastest goal came 1:39 into the game against FGCU, and she has twice scored in the 89th-minute (Florida and Georgia).

DYNAMIC DUO: Mackenzie George and Jaida Thomas are hitting their stride, having combined for 10 goals over the last five games.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Claudia Dipasupil

Mackenzie George

Taylor Huff

Jaida Thomas

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