VB Preview: #12 Lady Vols vs. LSU (Campers Day)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 12th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols are back at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Sunday for the first of four straight home matches, beginning with the LSU Tigers.

The match begins at 1 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2. The contest will be our Campers Day. All campers who wear their 2023 Camp t-shirt will receive two general admission tickets for free as well as concessions cash for kids 12 and under. Postgame, there will be a Kids Clinic.

For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear-bag policy will be in effect again this season. All fans should enter through Gate B.

TICKETING PROCEDURE
Tickets to all Tennessee Athletics events are 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!

BIG ORANGE ATTACK AMONG NATION'S ELITE GROUPS
Tennessee's attack has been stellar this season, and it's the primary reason for the Lady Vols opening the year 14-1. UT currently leads the NCAA in kills per set with 14.80 while ranking fourth in hitting percentage (4th/.311) and assists per set (4th/13.56). During the current nine-match win streak, the Lady Vols are averaging 15.55 kills per set and 14.24 assists per set.

FINGALL CLIMBING THE LEADERBOARD
During Tennessee's win at Mississippi State, right side Morgahn Fingall surpassed Sonja Thomas to move into 10th all time on UT's career kills list. Fingall now boasts 1,375 career kills and needs just 19 more to move into ninth.

HIGHEST RANKING SINCE 2006
Tennessee stay at 12th in the AVCA rankings this week. That marks the highest ranking for the Lady Vols since also being No. 12 during the Week 1 poll in 2006.

LADY VOLS IN THE SEC WEEKLY HONORS
Tennessee's play this season hasn't gone unrecognized. With many impressive outings from the Lady Vols, the SEC has honored UT players a combined 12 times in six weeks. In total, the Lady Vols have won three SEC Player of the Week honors, four Freshman of the Week awards, two Offensive Player of the Week recognitions, two Defensive Player of the Week honors and one Setter of the Week award. On Monday, two Tennessee players earned conference honors after victories against Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

BREAK OUT THE BROOMS
So far this year, the Lady Vols boast 11 sweeps in just 15 matches. Over the last three seasons, UT has swept 35 opponents, including 23 at home. The Big Orange has swept seven of its last eight points and went on a streak of 18 straight set wins between Loyola (4th set) and Mississippi State (2nd set). Tennessee has won 25 of its last 26 sets.

SIDEOUT SUCCESS KEY FACTOR FOR UT EACH MATCH
One element of Tennessee's impressive season that hasn't been touched on much has been the Big Orange winning the battle on sideouts. The Lady Vols are scoring 68 percent of the time when opponents serve, while scoring on 49 percent of the time when UT serves. Tennessee has recorded a sideout percentage of 70 percent or better in 27 sets this year, while holding foes to a sideout percentage of less than 50 percent in 21 sets. Against Alabama, UT posted a perfect sideout percentage in the first set.

DON'T LET 'EM GET HOT
Winning the first set is crucial to winning the match, and the Lady Vols are 14-0 when taking the opening frame this year. If you don't get UT in the first set, good luck, because it doesn't get easier. In the second and third sets, respectively, Tennessee is outscoring opponents 373-268 (+105 points) and 364-260 (+104 points). That's compared to 367-280 (+87 points) in the first frame.

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Players Mentioned

Morgahn Fingall

University of Tennessee Athletics