University of Tennessee Athletics
Fingall, Hayward & Mahaffey Earn SEC Preseason Honors, Lady Vols Picked Third in the League
July 11, 2022 | Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference released its volleyball preseason All-SEC Team and preseason rankings Monday, as voted on by the league's coaches. The Lady Vols are picked to finish third, while Morgahn Fingall, Natalie Hayward and Danielle Mahaffey were tabbed for the preseason team.
Tennessee earned one first-place vote, while Kentucky – picked to win the league – and Florida claimed 10 and two votes for first-place, respectively. It is the second time in four seasons the Lady Vols have been tabbed to finish third in the SEC, with the last time coming in 2019.
Last season, UT finished with a 20-10 (11-7 SEC) record and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament after placing fourth in the conference. The 20-win season was UT's 24th in program history and the second under head coach Eve Rackham Watt who enters her fifth season on Rocky Top.
Fingall, Hayward and Mahaffey are looking to pick up where they left off last season as all three were named to the preseason All-SEC Team. It is the first time the three players have earned SEC preseason recognition.
Entering her fourth season on Rocky Top, Fingall has played in 249 sets for the Lady Vols, including playing in 105 of UT's 109 sets a season ago. The senior had a breakout 2021 season as she compiled 338 kills, averaged 3.22 kills per set and hit at .250. The Fairfax, Virginia, native ranked second on the squad in both kills and kills per set.
The right-side attacker was also strong on the defensive end as she was third on the team in blocks with 100. Fingall's 2021 campaign helped her earn AVCA Southeast All-Region honors for the first time in her career.
Using her extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of COVID-19, Natalie Hayward is back in the Orange & White for a third season. The setter earned All-SEC and AVCA All-Region accolades last season after dishing out 1,162 assists and averaging 10.66 assists per set in 2021.
Hayward's assist total was a career-high, while she also achieved career-best marks with 105 kills, a hitting percentage of .394, 296 digs and 81 blocks. Her 10.66 assists per set was a career-high and ranked fourth in the SEC and 31st nationally.
Entering her final season at Tennessee, Hayward is 10th in program history with 1,877 assists.
Back for a fifth season, Mahaffey is also using her extra COVID year. Staring at middle blocker, Mahaffey was tabbed an AVCA and VolleyballMag.com All-American after a stellar 2021 campaign. She registered a career-best 139 blocks and averaged 1.38 blocks per set – setting a 25-point rally-scoring era single-season Tennessee record.
Mahaffey's average ranked second in the SEC and eighth in the nation in 2021. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native also set a career-high with a .380 hitting percentage.
The Lady Vols are set to open the 2022 season at home as they play host to Loyola Chicago, Bowling Green and Purdue Friday through Saturday, Aug. 26-27.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee volleyball, follow @Vol_VBall on Twitter and Instagram.
Tennessee earned one first-place vote, while Kentucky – picked to win the league – and Florida claimed 10 and two votes for first-place, respectively. It is the second time in four seasons the Lady Vols have been tabbed to finish third in the SEC, with the last time coming in 2019.
Last season, UT finished with a 20-10 (11-7 SEC) record and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament after placing fourth in the conference. The 20-win season was UT's 24th in program history and the second under head coach Eve Rackham Watt who enters her fifth season on Rocky Top.
Fingall, Hayward and Mahaffey are looking to pick up where they left off last season as all three were named to the preseason All-SEC Team. It is the first time the three players have earned SEC preseason recognition.
Entering her fourth season on Rocky Top, Fingall has played in 249 sets for the Lady Vols, including playing in 105 of UT's 109 sets a season ago. The senior had a breakout 2021 season as she compiled 338 kills, averaged 3.22 kills per set and hit at .250. The Fairfax, Virginia, native ranked second on the squad in both kills and kills per set.
The right-side attacker was also strong on the defensive end as she was third on the team in blocks with 100. Fingall's 2021 campaign helped her earn AVCA Southeast All-Region honors for the first time in her career.
Using her extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of COVID-19, Natalie Hayward is back in the Orange & White for a third season. The setter earned All-SEC and AVCA All-Region accolades last season after dishing out 1,162 assists and averaging 10.66 assists per set in 2021.
Hayward's assist total was a career-high, while she also achieved career-best marks with 105 kills, a hitting percentage of .394, 296 digs and 81 blocks. Her 10.66 assists per set was a career-high and ranked fourth in the SEC and 31st nationally.
Entering her final season at Tennessee, Hayward is 10th in program history with 1,877 assists.
Back for a fifth season, Mahaffey is also using her extra COVID year. Staring at middle blocker, Mahaffey was tabbed an AVCA and VolleyballMag.com All-American after a stellar 2021 campaign. She registered a career-best 139 blocks and averaged 1.38 blocks per set – setting a 25-point rally-scoring era single-season Tennessee record.
Mahaffey's average ranked second in the SEC and eighth in the nation in 2021. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native also set a career-high with a .380 hitting percentage.
The Lady Vols are set to open the 2022 season at home as they play host to Loyola Chicago, Bowling Green and Purdue Friday through Saturday, Aug. 26-27.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee volleyball, follow @Vol_VBall on Twitter and Instagram.
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