University of Tennessee Athletics
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Volleyball Preview: North Carolina (NCAA First Round)
December 02, 2021 | Volleyball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tennessee volleyball begins its postseason journey Friday at 5 p.m. ET against North Carolina as it opens the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.
The Lady Vols are making their 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament after finishing the 2021 regular-season 19-9 overall and 11-7 in SEC play.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday's match is available for streaming on ESPN+ or through the ESPN app. Live stats are provided by Ohio State and links can be found by visiting the volleyball schedule page on UTsports.com.
TENNESSEE NCAA TOURNAMENT QUICK HITS
UT is back in the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in program history and for the second time under head coach Eve Rackham Watt – Tennessee's first trip under Rackham Watt came in 2018. The Lady Vols have the third-most tournament appearances by an SEC school – trailing only Florida (32) and Kentucky (23).
The Orange & White are 10-5 in the first round and have won four of their last five opening-round matches.
COME BACK TO OHIO?
Tennessee is back in Ohio for the postseason for the first time since 1973 when it advanced to the AIAW national tournament.
OLD FRIENDS – NEW FOE
When Tennessee and North Carolina meet on the court Friday night, it will be Rackham Watt's first time facing her alma mater as the head coach of the Lady Vols. Rackham Watt played at UNC from 1999-2002 and then coached in Chapel Hill from 2009-17. She was hired as Tennessee's head coach in January 2018.
In addition to Rackham Watt, middle blocker Ava Bell spent one season at UNC – Bell played for the Tar Heels in 2018 before transferring to Tennessee.
2021 marks the first time UNC has reached the NCAA Tournament since Rackham Watt traded Carolina Blue for Orange & White.
TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
Six Lady Vols have NCAA Tournament experience under their belts, including Lily Felts, Danielle Mahaffey, Giana Pellizzon and Raquel Perinar who were on the 2018 Lady Vol squad. Breana Runnels made four trips to the tournament with Colorado State, while Nicole Shanahan made several deep postseason runs at Wisconsin.
For Rackham Watt, it is her 10th postseason appearance as a coach – second as head coach – with the eight previous trips to the tournament coming as an assistant at North Carolina (7x) and FIU (1x). Rackham Watt also made four postseason trips as a player.
BATTLE-TESTED
Tennessee faced one of the toughest schedules in the country as it played nine teams that reached the NCAA Tournament – including five seeded teams (No. 3 Pittsburgh, No. 5 Baylor, No. 6 Purdue, No. 7 Kentucky and No. 16 Florida).
SWEEPS-VILLE
Fourteen of Tennessee's 19 victories this season have come in three sets. It is the most sweeps in a season by the Lady Vols since recording 18 in 2010.
WINDICATORS
Tennessee is 15-1 when it hits better than .250 this season. UT is also 17-1 in 2021 when it out-digs its opponent. During Rackham Watt's tenure, UT is 51-4 when it hits .250 or better and is 55-7 when it wins the second set.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
2021 Record: 21-8 (10-8 ACC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 9-4
Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2009 – A five-set win for North Carolina.
Key Player/Stat: North Carolina is making its 19th tournament appearance after finishing the 2021 campaign sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Nia Robinson and Mabrey Shaffmaster lead the Tar Heel attack with averages of 3.80 and 3.53 kills per set.
Meghan Neelon runs the offense as she averages 8.62 assists per set this season.
UP NEXT
The winner advances to the second round and will face the winner of the Ohio State/Howard matchup on Saturday at 6 p.m.
