University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, August 27
Knoxville
7 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Texas Tech
Volleyball Preview: Tennessee Classic
August 26, 2021 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – First serve on the 2021 Tennessee volleyball season goes off Friday at 7 p.m. ET against Texas Tech inside Thompson-Boling Arena as the Lady Vols host the Tennessee Classic to open the campaign.
Joining the Lady Vols and Red Raiders in the early season tournament is NC State and East Tennessee State. The two-day tournament runs Friday and Saturday, featuring three matches on both days. A full tournament schedule is listed below.
For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season.
Though not required for entry to Thompson-Boling Arena or movement throughout the seating bowl, facial coverings are encouraged for arena patrons. For a full outline of match-day arena policies, click HERE.
BROADCAST INFO
All three Lady Vol matches are available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the ESPN App. Friday night's match will feature Michael Wottreng (play-by-play) and Heather Harrington (color) describing the action.
PRESEASON TAKEAWAYS
Tennessee returns all of its starters from the spring 2021 season, including All-SEC Team member Lily Felts and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention Ava Bell.
UT played Appalachian State on Friday, August 20, winning in three sets. Head Coach Eve Rackham Watt showcased Tennessee's depth against App State, and has stated in several interviews during the preseason that the 2021 Lady Vols have the best depth of any team during her tenure on Rocky Top.
PICKED FOURTH IN THE SEC
When the SEC released its annual coaches' poll, the Lady Vols were picked to finish fourth in the league. It is the highest preseason prediction for UT since being selected to finish third in 2019.
UT also enters the season receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll.
ATTACKERS ALL AROUND
In addition to Felts and Bell, Tennessee features an array of attackers with Danielle Mahaffey returning in the middle and spring standout Morgahn Fingall back on the right side.
From February 12-March 13 last season, Fingall recorded seven consecutive double-digit kill outings and finished the season with 11 such performances. The Fairfax, Virginia, native ended the year with Tennessee's highest kills per set average at 3.56, and ranked 10th in the SEC.
Graduate transfer Breana Runnels – a four-time Mountain West All-Conference player at Colorado State – also figures to play a large role in attack for UT this season.
RUNNING THE SHOW
Senior setter Natalie Hayward is charged with running the offense for Tennessee, a task she performed well a year ago. Hayward finished the last volleyball campaign with a 9.53 assists per set mark. Her total led Tennessee and was fifth-highest in the SEC.
In the 25-point rally-scoring era, the setter's 9.53 assists per set was the fifth-best single-season mark by a Lady Vol in program history.
WINDICATORS
Tennessee was 10-1 last season when it hit .250 or better, and during Rackham Watt's three seasons on Rocky Top, UT is 36-3 when it reaches the .250 or better mark. Under Rackham Watt, the Lady Vols are 38-4 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
2020-21 Record: 9-13 Overall, 5-11 Big 12
Series Record: Texas Tech Leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 1991 – A four-set win for the Red Raiders.
Key Player/Stat: Texas Tech played New Mexico State on August 21 in an exhibition match, downing the Aggies in four sets. Reagan Cooper led TTU in the match with 11 kills. Kenna Sauer – a transfer from Missouri – saw her first action for Tech, scoring five kills, five digs and a block.
Alex Kirby led Texas Tech with 28 assists, nine digs and three blocks.
SCOUTING NC STATE
2020-21 Record: 8-9 Overall, 7-9 ACC
Series Record: UT Leads, 7-5
Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2015 – A three-set win for the Wolfpack.
Key Player/Stat: NC State enters its second season under head coach Luke Slabe and returns four-time All-ACC honoree Melissa Evans. Evans finished last season with a team leading 3.97 kills per set, which ranked fifth overall in the ACC.
SCOUTING ETSU
2020-21 Record: 7-9 Overall, 7-9 SoCon
Series Record: UT Leads, 29-7
Last Meeting: Sept. 20, 2019 – A three-set victory for Tennessee.
Key Player/Stat: Head Coach Benavia Jenkins enters her third season at the helm for the Buccaneers. In 2019, ETSU went 25-6 overall and 14-2 in Southern Conference action. In 2020-21, the Bucs started the season with four straight victories, before dropping their next six en route to a 7-9 record overall and in conference play.
FAN EXPERIENCE
New for the 2021 season, fans can download the Tennessee Athletics app and participate in the pregame light show.
In order to participate, download the official University of Tennessee Athletics app. Once in the app, use the drop down menu and select the Coca-Cola GBO Zone to get in on the action.
TENNESSEE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
Friday, August 27
Texas Tech vs. ESTU – 11 a.m.
ETSU vs. NC State – 4 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Texas Tech – 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 28
NC State vs. Texas Tech – 10 a.m.
Tennessee vs. ETSU – 12:30 p.m.
Tennessee vs. NC State – 6:30 p.m.
Joining the Lady Vols and Red Raiders in the early season tournament is NC State and East Tennessee State. The two-day tournament runs Friday and Saturday, featuring three matches on both days. A full tournament schedule is listed below.
For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season.
Though not required for entry to Thompson-Boling Arena or movement throughout the seating bowl, facial coverings are encouraged for arena patrons. For a full outline of match-day arena policies, click HERE.
BROADCAST INFO
All three Lady Vol matches are available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the ESPN App. Friday night's match will feature Michael Wottreng (play-by-play) and Heather Harrington (color) describing the action.
PRESEASON TAKEAWAYS
Tennessee returns all of its starters from the spring 2021 season, including All-SEC Team member Lily Felts and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention Ava Bell.
UT played Appalachian State on Friday, August 20, winning in three sets. Head Coach Eve Rackham Watt showcased Tennessee's depth against App State, and has stated in several interviews during the preseason that the 2021 Lady Vols have the best depth of any team during her tenure on Rocky Top.
PICKED FOURTH IN THE SEC
When the SEC released its annual coaches' poll, the Lady Vols were picked to finish fourth in the league. It is the highest preseason prediction for UT since being selected to finish third in 2019.
UT also enters the season receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll.
ATTACKERS ALL AROUND
In addition to Felts and Bell, Tennessee features an array of attackers with Danielle Mahaffey returning in the middle and spring standout Morgahn Fingall back on the right side.
From February 12-March 13 last season, Fingall recorded seven consecutive double-digit kill outings and finished the season with 11 such performances. The Fairfax, Virginia, native ended the year with Tennessee's highest kills per set average at 3.56, and ranked 10th in the SEC.
Graduate transfer Breana Runnels – a four-time Mountain West All-Conference player at Colorado State – also figures to play a large role in attack for UT this season.
RUNNING THE SHOW
Senior setter Natalie Hayward is charged with running the offense for Tennessee, a task she performed well a year ago. Hayward finished the last volleyball campaign with a 9.53 assists per set mark. Her total led Tennessee and was fifth-highest in the SEC.
In the 25-point rally-scoring era, the setter's 9.53 assists per set was the fifth-best single-season mark by a Lady Vol in program history.
WINDICATORS
Tennessee was 10-1 last season when it hit .250 or better, and during Rackham Watt's three seasons on Rocky Top, UT is 36-3 when it reaches the .250 or better mark. Under Rackham Watt, the Lady Vols are 38-4 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
2020-21 Record: 9-13 Overall, 5-11 Big 12
Series Record: Texas Tech Leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 1991 – A four-set win for the Red Raiders.
Key Player/Stat: Texas Tech played New Mexico State on August 21 in an exhibition match, downing the Aggies in four sets. Reagan Cooper led TTU in the match with 11 kills. Kenna Sauer – a transfer from Missouri – saw her first action for Tech, scoring five kills, five digs and a block.
Alex Kirby led Texas Tech with 28 assists, nine digs and three blocks.
SCOUTING NC STATE
2020-21 Record: 8-9 Overall, 7-9 ACC
Series Record: UT Leads, 7-5
Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2015 – A three-set win for the Wolfpack.
Key Player/Stat: NC State enters its second season under head coach Luke Slabe and returns four-time All-ACC honoree Melissa Evans. Evans finished last season with a team leading 3.97 kills per set, which ranked fifth overall in the ACC.
SCOUTING ETSU
2020-21 Record: 7-9 Overall, 7-9 SoCon
Series Record: UT Leads, 29-7
Last Meeting: Sept. 20, 2019 – A three-set victory for Tennessee.
Key Player/Stat: Head Coach Benavia Jenkins enters her third season at the helm for the Buccaneers. In 2019, ETSU went 25-6 overall and 14-2 in Southern Conference action. In 2020-21, the Bucs started the season with four straight victories, before dropping their next six en route to a 7-9 record overall and in conference play.
FAN EXPERIENCE
New for the 2021 season, fans can download the Tennessee Athletics app and participate in the pregame light show.
In order to participate, download the official University of Tennessee Athletics app. Once in the app, use the drop down menu and select the Coca-Cola GBO Zone to get in on the action.
TENNESSEE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
Friday, August 27
Texas Tech vs. ESTU – 11 a.m.
ETSU vs. NC State – 4 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Texas Tech – 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 28
NC State vs. Texas Tech – 10 a.m.
Tennessee vs. ETSU – 12:30 p.m.
Tennessee vs. NC State – 6:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
RS
/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
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