University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, October 8
Knoxville
4 PM
University of Tennessee
9-8,3-2SEC
3
vs
2
South Carolina
9-7,3-3SEC
1
2
3
4
5
F
South Carolina
27
20
22
25
13
2
Tennessee
25
25
25
21
15
3
Lady Vols Throw Saturday Night Block Party in Five-Set Thriller
October 08, 2022 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Throwing up a season-high 21 blocks Saturday night at Thompson-Boling Arena, the Lady Vols volleyball team took down South Carolina in a five-set thriller (25-27, 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 15-13).
UT's 21 blocks were the most since notching 21 at home against Arkansas last season on Sept. 25, 2021. In the rally-scoring era, it is tied for the fifth-most total blocks by the Lady Vols in a match. Versus South Carolina since 2001, Saturday's 21 blocks are the second-most all-time just behind the 21.5 blocks the Lady Vols posted on Nov. 11, 2007 – also a five-set home win over the Gamecocks.
Tennessee (9-8, 3-2 SEC) received another strong outing from outside hitter Erykah Lovett as she tied her career-high in kills at 21. Lovett finished off the match with 14 digs to earn her sixth double-double of the year.
Right-side attacker Morgahn Fingall notched 15 kills and 15 digs to pick up her third double-double this season. Now at 941 career kills, the Fairfax, Virginia, native is just 59 away from the 1,000-kill milestone.
Junior Jasmine Brooks got the start Saturday following a solid performance against Florida on Wednesday and paid it off with nine kills and four blocks – including the match-clinching solo block in the fifth set.
In the opening set, Lovett powered down six kills to lead UT, but four errors from the service line stifled the offense as South Carolina squeaked out a 27-25 win. Brooks and Fingall tallied four kills, while Klaudia Pawlik posted three of her career-high 10 blocks in the frame.
Tennessee responded with a 25-20 second-set victory thanks to seven total blocks. Pawlik netted four block assists and was joined by setter Natalie Hayward, Fingall and Brooks who all threw up two block assists.
Keondreya Granberry – Pawlik's partner in the middle – also posted two block assists in the second and added one solo stuff as well.
UT's block cooled slightly in the third but was still stout enough to help the Lady Vols take a 25-22 win in the set. Granberry was the leader in the frame with three assisted blocks, followed by Hayward with a pair of block assists. Ashllyn King and Abigail Matoso chipped in on the offensive side with aces, while Lovett scored five kills.
South Carolina (9-7, 3-3 SEC) tied up the match at 2-2 with a 25-21 victory in the fourth set. The Gamecocks managed 11 kills and a pair of service aces to edge the Lady Vols and force a fifth and final set.
In the fifth, Tennessee used six total blocks to overcome South Carolina, 15-13. The biggest block of the night came from Brooks as she put an exclamation point on the final frame. With UT leading 14-13, Brooks leaped up and stuffed South Carolina's Lauren McCutcheon to seal the win for the Lady Vols.
UP NEXT
Tennessee and South Carolina face off again on Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena. The first serve for the series finale is scheduled for noon ET.
UT's 21 blocks were the most since notching 21 at home against Arkansas last season on Sept. 25, 2021. In the rally-scoring era, it is tied for the fifth-most total blocks by the Lady Vols in a match. Versus South Carolina since 2001, Saturday's 21 blocks are the second-most all-time just behind the 21.5 blocks the Lady Vols posted on Nov. 11, 2007 – also a five-set home win over the Gamecocks.
Tennessee (9-8, 3-2 SEC) received another strong outing from outside hitter Erykah Lovett as she tied her career-high in kills at 21. Lovett finished off the match with 14 digs to earn her sixth double-double of the year.
Right-side attacker Morgahn Fingall notched 15 kills and 15 digs to pick up her third double-double this season. Now at 941 career kills, the Fairfax, Virginia, native is just 59 away from the 1,000-kill milestone.
Junior Jasmine Brooks got the start Saturday following a solid performance against Florida on Wednesday and paid it off with nine kills and four blocks – including the match-clinching solo block in the fifth set.
In the opening set, Lovett powered down six kills to lead UT, but four errors from the service line stifled the offense as South Carolina squeaked out a 27-25 win. Brooks and Fingall tallied four kills, while Klaudia Pawlik posted three of her career-high 10 blocks in the frame.
Tennessee responded with a 25-20 second-set victory thanks to seven total blocks. Pawlik netted four block assists and was joined by setter Natalie Hayward, Fingall and Brooks who all threw up two block assists.
Keondreya Granberry – Pawlik's partner in the middle – also posted two block assists in the second and added one solo stuff as well.
UT's block cooled slightly in the third but was still stout enough to help the Lady Vols take a 25-22 win in the set. Granberry was the leader in the frame with three assisted blocks, followed by Hayward with a pair of block assists. Ashllyn King and Abigail Matoso chipped in on the offensive side with aces, while Lovett scored five kills.
South Carolina (9-7, 3-3 SEC) tied up the match at 2-2 with a 25-21 victory in the fourth set. The Gamecocks managed 11 kills and a pair of service aces to edge the Lady Vols and force a fifth and final set.
In the fifth, Tennessee used six total blocks to overcome South Carolina, 15-13. The biggest block of the night came from Brooks as she put an exclamation point on the final frame. With UT leading 14-13, Brooks leaped up and stuffed South Carolina's Lauren McCutcheon to seal the win for the Lady Vols.
UP NEXT
Tennessee and South Carolina face off again on Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena. The first serve for the series finale is scheduled for noon ET.
Team Stats
USC
UT
Kills
63
57
Errors
38
26
Attempts
185
181
Hitting %
.135
.171
Points
79
83
Assists
60
52
Aces
5
5
Blocks
11
21
Game Leaders
Kills
21
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
8
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
5
Aces
1
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballRS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballS
/ Volleyball
OH/RS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
MB
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