University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, August 20
Knoxville
6 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Appalachian State (Exhibition)
Volleyball Preview: Appalachian State (Exhibition)
August 19, 2021 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee volleyball is set for first serve on its 2021 campaign as it hosts Appalachian State in an exhibition match Friday at Thompson-Boling Arena. First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET.
The Lady Vols follow up Friday's exhibition with their annual Orange & White scrimmage on Saturday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. inside Thompson-Boling Arena.
Admission is free for both matches. For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season.
IT'S BEEN AWHILE
Friday's exhibition will be the first meeting between Tennessee and Appalachian State since 2014. The teams have met 10 times dating to 1974. UT owns an 8-2 record in the all-time series.
PICKED FOURTH IN THE SEC
On Wednesday, the SEC released its annual coaches' poll with the Lady Vols picked to finish fourth in the league. It is the highest preseason prediction for UT since being selected to finish third in 2019.
BACK IN BUSINESS
Tennessee returns all of its starters from the spring, including kills leader Lily Felts. The Knoxville native was named to the All-SEC Team for her play during the 2020-21 season. Middle blockers Ava Bell and Danielle Mahaffey are back in the middle for UT after Bell led the squad in total blocks and blocks per set last season.
Bell also finished fourth in the SEC in blocks per set with 1.08 and seventh in hitting percentage with a .333 mark. The Austin, Texas, native earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region accolades for her play in 2020-21.
Junior Morgahn Fingall is back on the right side for UT after a breakout spring campaign. The Fairfax, Virginia, native finished as Tennessee's kills per set leader at 3.56 and finished 10th in the SEC in the same category.
Natalie Hayward is set at setter and looks to continue to run the offensive attack. Last season, UT was fourth in the conference in hitting percentage and fourth in kills, while Hayward finished fifth in assists per set with 9.53.
Anchoring the backline, Madison Bryant is poised to improve upon her impressive spring at libero. The Anderson, South Carolina, native totaled 3.85 digs per set – the second-highest total in the conference – last season.
Bryant took over at libero for the final two matches of the fall and from that point forward averaged 4.50 digs per set.
NEW FACES
The Lady Vols welcomed seven new faces to the team over the summer, including two graduate transfers and five freshmen. The group consists of four outside hitters and three middle blockers.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Appalachian State is coming off a 1-15 (1-12 Sun Belt) season in 2020-21.
Head coach Matt Ginipro is entering his 14th season at the helm of the Mountaineers as App State returns three starters and its libero from this past season. Appalachian State also lost three starters from the 2020-21 squad, but welcomes six newcomers to the program.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols open up regular season action on Friday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. ET at home against Texas Tech.
The Lady Vols follow up Friday's exhibition with their annual Orange & White scrimmage on Saturday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. inside Thompson-Boling Arena.
Admission is free for both matches. For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season.
IT'S BEEN AWHILE
Friday's exhibition will be the first meeting between Tennessee and Appalachian State since 2014. The teams have met 10 times dating to 1974. UT owns an 8-2 record in the all-time series.
PICKED FOURTH IN THE SEC
On Wednesday, the SEC released its annual coaches' poll with the Lady Vols picked to finish fourth in the league. It is the highest preseason prediction for UT since being selected to finish third in 2019.
BACK IN BUSINESS
Tennessee returns all of its starters from the spring, including kills leader Lily Felts. The Knoxville native was named to the All-SEC Team for her play during the 2020-21 season. Middle blockers Ava Bell and Danielle Mahaffey are back in the middle for UT after Bell led the squad in total blocks and blocks per set last season.
Bell also finished fourth in the SEC in blocks per set with 1.08 and seventh in hitting percentage with a .333 mark. The Austin, Texas, native earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region accolades for her play in 2020-21.
Junior Morgahn Fingall is back on the right side for UT after a breakout spring campaign. The Fairfax, Virginia, native finished as Tennessee's kills per set leader at 3.56 and finished 10th in the SEC in the same category.
Natalie Hayward is set at setter and looks to continue to run the offensive attack. Last season, UT was fourth in the conference in hitting percentage and fourth in kills, while Hayward finished fifth in assists per set with 9.53.
Anchoring the backline, Madison Bryant is poised to improve upon her impressive spring at libero. The Anderson, South Carolina, native totaled 3.85 digs per set – the second-highest total in the conference – last season.
Bryant took over at libero for the final two matches of the fall and from that point forward averaged 4.50 digs per set.
NEW FACES
The Lady Vols welcomed seven new faces to the team over the summer, including two graduate transfers and five freshmen. The group consists of four outside hitters and three middle blockers.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Appalachian State is coming off a 1-15 (1-12 Sun Belt) season in 2020-21.
Head coach Matt Ginipro is entering his 14th season at the helm of the Mountaineers as App State returns three starters and its libero from this past season. Appalachian State also lost three starters from the 2020-21 squad, but welcomes six newcomers to the program.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols open up regular season action on Friday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. ET at home against Texas Tech.
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
RS
/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
MB
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