University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, August 26
Knoxville
7 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Loyola Chicago
Volleyball Preview: Tennessee Classic
August 25, 2022 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2022 Tennessee volleyball season gets underway this weekend as UT plays host to the Tennessee Classic Friday and Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Lady Vols welcome No. 13 Purdue, Bowling Green and Loyola Chicago to Rocky Top for the season's opening weekend. The Big Orange will play three matches over the two-day tournament, beginning Friday at 7 p.m. ET against Loyola Chicago.
Tennessee plays twice on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. with Bowling Green before closing out the weekend at 6 p.m. against No. 13 Purdue.
For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season.
TICKETING PROCEDURE
Starting this fall, tickets to all Tennessee Athletics events will be digital and can be accessed through a mobile device to improve security and reduce the risk of ticket fraud as well as make the process more convenient for fans.
Fans will gain admission into all venues via a unique QR code which will be scanned directly from a mobile device. For quick and easy entry into Tennessee Athletics venues, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android).
Digital tickets can be managed via a mobile device or desktop web browser, but a mobile device is required for venue access on matchdays.
Your mobile device is the ticket on gameday. All valid digital tickets will display a moving barcode or a hold near reader (tap-and-go) icon. PLEASE NOTE: SCREENSHOTS OF TICKETS WILL NOT SCAN AT THE GATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY!
BROADCAST INFO
All three Lady Vol matches are available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the ESPN App. Andy Brock (play-by-play) will be on the call for all three matches. He will be joined Friday by LVFL Heather Herrington (color) and on Saturday by LVFL Madison Coulter (color).
BIG THREE
Tennessee has its own big three returning this season as Morgahn Fingall, Natalie Hayward and Danielle Mahaffey are back for their senior or super senior seasons.
The trio was named to the preseason All-SEC Team earlier in the summer.
Fingall has played in 249 sets during her career, including playing in 105 of UT's 109 sets a season ago. The senior had a breakout 2021 campaign 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 last season.
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 after earning All-SEC and AVCA All-Region accolades last season. The setter dished out 1,162 assists and averaged 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.
Mahaffey is also using her extra COVID year and is primed for another strong season at middle blocker. She was tabbed an AVCA and VolleyballMag.com All-American after a stellar 2021 campaign. Last season, Mahaffey 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.
PRESEASON TAKEAWAYS
Before the season, Tennessee was picked to finish third in the Southeastern Conference as voted on by the league's coaches. It is the highest preseason prediction for UT since being selected to finish third in 2019.
Last Saturday, UT faced off against Belmont in an exhibition match. The Lady Vols won the match in straight sets. Head coach Eve Rackham Watt used the match as an opportunity to run out different lineups and feature some of Tennessee's newcomers.
FRESH FACES
UT welcomed seven newcomers to the squad over the spring and summer, including three freshmen and four transfers. The freshman are: No. 1 Kadynce Boothe, No. 11 Caroline Kerr and No. 77 Keondreya Granberry.
Transferring into the program: No. 6 Erykah Lovett, No. 9 Abigail Matoso, No. 24 Kylie Robinson and No. 29 Abby Ekeler.
WINDICATORS
In 2021, Tennessee was 16-2 when it hit better than .250. UT was also 18-2 a year ago when it out-dug its opponent. During Eve Rackham Watt's tenure, the Orange & White are 52-5 when they hit .250 or better. Under Rackham Watt, the Lady Vols are 56-8 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING LOYOLA CHICAGO
2021 Record: 22-10 Overall, 14-4 MVC
Series Record: Tennessee Leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 23, 1984 – A three-set win for the Lady Vols.
Key Player/Stat: Loyola Chicago went 22-10 overall and captured the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship a year ago. The Ramblers enter a new era as they begin competition in the Atlantic 10 Conference this season. Under fifth-year head coach Amanda Berkley, the Ramblers are 2-2 in season openers but have won each of their last two campaign lid-lifters.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
2021 Record: 21-9 Overall, 16-2 MAC
Series Record: Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: Aug. 31, 2001 – A five-set win for Bowling Green.
Key Player/Stat: Bowling Green is coming off a 21-win season in 2021 and has won 18 of its last 22 matches. Senior outside hitter Petra Indrova paced the Falcons last year, racking up 458 kills, 292 digs and 85 blocks.
SCOUTING NO. 13 PURDUE
2021 Record: 26-7 Overall, 15-5 BIG TEN
Series Record: Purdue leads, 7-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2021 – A three-set win for Purdue.
Key Player/Stat: Purdue comes to Rocky Top for the first time since 2004 and for just the third time in program history. Overall, the Boilers are 1-1 in Knoxville and suffered a four-set defeat in their last trip to Tennessee. Purdue advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last season and enters 2022 at No. 13 in the AVCA coaches preseason poll.
TENNESSEE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
Friday, August 26
Purdue vs. Bowling Green – 10:30 a.m.
Bowling Green vs. Loyola Chicago – 3 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Loyola Chicago – 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 27
Tennessee vs. Bowling Green – 11 a.m.
Loyola Chicago vs. Purdue – 1 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Purdue – 6 p.m.
The Lady Vols welcome No. 13 Purdue, Bowling Green and Loyola Chicago to Rocky Top for the season's opening weekend. The Big Orange will play three matches over the two-day tournament, beginning Friday at 7 p.m. ET against Loyola Chicago.
Tennessee plays twice on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. with Bowling Green before closing out the weekend at 6 p.m. against No. 13 Purdue.
For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season.
TICKETING PROCEDURE
Starting this fall, tickets to all Tennessee Athletics events will be digital and can be accessed through a mobile device to improve security and reduce the risk of ticket fraud as well as make the process more convenient for fans.
Fans will gain admission into all venues via a unique QR code which will be scanned directly from a mobile device. For quick and easy entry into Tennessee Athletics venues, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android).
Digital tickets can be managed via a mobile device or desktop web browser, but a mobile device is required for venue access on matchdays.
Your mobile device is the ticket on gameday. All valid digital tickets will display a moving barcode or a hold near reader (tap-and-go) icon. PLEASE NOTE: SCREENSHOTS OF TICKETS WILL NOT SCAN AT THE GATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY!
BROADCAST INFO
All three Lady Vol matches are available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the ESPN App. Andy Brock (play-by-play) will be on the call for all three matches. He will be joined Friday by LVFL Heather Herrington (color) and on Saturday by LVFL Madison Coulter (color).
BIG THREE
Tennessee has its own big three returning this season as Morgahn Fingall, Natalie Hayward and Danielle Mahaffey are back for their senior or super senior seasons.
The trio was named to the preseason All-SEC Team earlier in the summer.
Fingall has played in 249 sets during her career, including playing in 105 of UT's 109 sets a season ago. The senior had a breakout 2021 campaign 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 last season.
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 after earning All-SEC and AVCA All-Region accolades last season. The setter dished out 1,162 assists and averaged 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.
Mahaffey is also using her extra COVID year and is primed for another strong season at middle blocker. She was tabbed an AVCA and VolleyballMag.com All-American after a stellar 2021 campaign. Last season, Mahaffey 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.
PRESEASON TAKEAWAYS
Before the season, Tennessee was picked to finish third in the Southeastern Conference as voted on by the league's coaches. It is the highest preseason prediction for UT since being selected to finish third in 2019.
Last Saturday, UT faced off against Belmont in an exhibition match. The Lady Vols won the match in straight sets. Head coach Eve Rackham Watt used the match as an opportunity to run out different lineups and feature some of Tennessee's newcomers.
FRESH FACES
UT welcomed seven newcomers to the squad over the spring and summer, including three freshmen and four transfers. The freshman are: No. 1 Kadynce Boothe, No. 11 Caroline Kerr and No. 77 Keondreya Granberry.
Transferring into the program: No. 6 Erykah Lovett, No. 9 Abigail Matoso, No. 24 Kylie Robinson and No. 29 Abby Ekeler.
WINDICATORS
In 2021, Tennessee was 16-2 when it hit better than .250. UT was also 18-2 a year ago when it out-dug its opponent. During Eve Rackham Watt's tenure, the Orange & White are 52-5 when they hit .250 or better. Under Rackham Watt, the Lady Vols are 56-8 when they win the second set.
SCOUTING LOYOLA CHICAGO
2021 Record: 22-10 Overall, 14-4 MVC
Series Record: Tennessee Leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 23, 1984 – A three-set win for the Lady Vols.
Key Player/Stat: Loyola Chicago went 22-10 overall and captured the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship a year ago. The Ramblers enter a new era as they begin competition in the Atlantic 10 Conference this season. Under fifth-year head coach Amanda Berkley, the Ramblers are 2-2 in season openers but have won each of their last two campaign lid-lifters.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
2021 Record: 21-9 Overall, 16-2 MAC
Series Record: Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: Aug. 31, 2001 – A five-set win for Bowling Green.
Key Player/Stat: Bowling Green is coming off a 21-win season in 2021 and has won 18 of its last 22 matches. Senior outside hitter Petra Indrova paced the Falcons last year, racking up 458 kills, 292 digs and 85 blocks.
SCOUTING NO. 13 PURDUE
2021 Record: 26-7 Overall, 15-5 BIG TEN
Series Record: Purdue leads, 7-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2021 – A three-set win for Purdue.
Key Player/Stat: Purdue comes to Rocky Top for the first time since 2004 and for just the third time in program history. Overall, the Boilers are 1-1 in Knoxville and suffered a four-set defeat in their last trip to Tennessee. Purdue advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last season and enters 2022 at No. 13 in the AVCA coaches preseason poll.
TENNESSEE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
Friday, August 26
Purdue vs. Bowling Green – 10:30 a.m.
Bowling Green vs. Loyola Chicago – 3 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Loyola Chicago – 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 27
Tennessee vs. Bowling Green – 11 a.m.
Loyola Chicago vs. Purdue – 1 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Purdue – 6 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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MB
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