Lady Vols Spike Their Way to Success During Hot Start to Season

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Lady Volunteers have emerged as a force to be reckoned with this season. With just a single narrow loss against the top-ranked Wisconsin, their dominance on the court is undeniable. Several of their players have earned prestigious conference and national awards, and their current No. 15 national ranking marks an 11-year high, signaling a resurgence that has been brewing for years under sixth-year head coach Eve Rackham Watt.

The Lady Vols sit at a record of 7-1 after they commenced their season with a series of high-level, non-conference matches. With several of these teams ending their season in the NCAA tournament, combined with having played mostly on the road, Tennessee has sparked excitement throughout the fan base for what this team can do.

Their strong start can be attributed to the team's well-rounded lineup, a mix of experienced players and talented newcomers, and the guidance of Rackham Watt and her staff. With a clear emphasis on teamwork and fundamentals, the Lady Vols have begun the season with a bang.

"I think we've played really well," Rackham Watt said. "We've tried to challenge ourselves with our schedule in terms of being on the road and playing different styles of opponents. The goal in the non-conference is to learn as much as we can about ourselves. I like what we've seen, we've been really competitive and had some good results."

One of the standout players for the Lady Vols this season has been from graduate student right side Morgahn Fingall. Her powerful attacks have made her a national name on the court.

Just this week, Fingall was named the AVCA National Player of the Week for the second time in her career after averaging 6.57 points per set and 5.71 kills per set—both of which led the SEC for the week—while hitting .421 in wins over Loyola and No. 24 Marquette. She was also recognized as the SEC Player and Offensive Player of the Week.

"What Morgahn has done and the growth that she has had as a person and as a player has been pretty remarkable," Rackham Watt said. "She's a leader on the court for us, and she's a leader off the court for us. She does everything the right way. She's one of the hardest workers on the team. She comes in every day trying to get better."

Helping UT's attackers like Fingall get in a position to succeed has been redshirt freshman setter Caroline Kerr, who is enjoying a breakout season. The duo's chemistry and leadership have been vital in the Lady Vols' success thus far. Kerr was already awarded SEC Freshman of the Week after the team's West Coast road trip and then followed that up with another great stint in her home state of Illinois and was awarded SEC Setter of the Week.

Kerr surpassed the 50-assist mark for a second match in a row, recording 51 assists and seven digs in just four sets against Loyola Chicago. She nearly made it three straight against No. 24 Marquette with 48 assists—an average of 16.0 per set—to help UT sweep the Golden Eagles. She garnered the weekly honor after averaging SEC-leading 14.14 assists per set—2.56 more than the next closest player. She led a dominant attack for UT that hit for .389 during the two contests and averaged 16.86 kills per set.

"I think Caroline can be a lesson for anybody who redshirts just in terms of what she did in her redshirt year," Rackham Watt said. "You would have never known it because she prepared every day like she was the starter. She had a lot of confidence in herself to take over the offense. She's worked really hard, and she is as fierce of a competitor as we have in this program."

The statistics speak volumes about the Lady Vols' prowess this season. Rackham Watt attributes the team's commitment to minimizing errors and maximizing opportunities as being the key factor in their wins. Tennessee is hitting .328 to lead the SEC and rank fourth in Division I. The Orange and White is also leading the conference in kills per set (14.54) and assist per set (13.46). Those numbers are good enough for sixth and eighth in the nation, respectively.

The Big Orange has already had a season's worth of excitement, triumphs and challenges. Their journey so far is a testament to their dedication and teamwork, and it has only just begun. The Lady Vols are primed for a successful season with conference play still ahead of them.

"Winning tends to breed winning," Rackham Watt said. "When people are winning around you there is definitely a feeling of confidence and camaraderie within the athletic department. What we've done here from an administrative standpoint and the support that we've all gotten and the fact that everybody is doing well, somehow breeds itself. Coming into this fall, I don't think we felt a sense of pressure, but more of just pride in upholding our end of things and to do our part to be the best program that we can be."

The 15th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols will look to continue their hot start to the season this weekend, as they host Chicago State and Evansville at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Thursday and Friday.

The Big Orange (7-1) opens with Chicago State, who is currently 6-2 to begin the season, on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. ET. The match can be live streamed on SEC Network+. After the Cougars take on Evansville at 11 a.m. on Friday, Tennessee will face the 5-3 Purple Aces to conclude the weekend at 6:30 p.m. That match will also be streamed on SEC Network+.

University of Tennessee | Official Athletics Site

Lady Vols Spike Their Way to Success During Hot Start to Season

Players Mentioned

Morgahn Fingall

Caroline Kerr

Related Videos