University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Ranked No. 5 in CRCA Preseason Poll
February 11, 2026 | Rowing
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Coming off its second consecutive top five finish at the NCAA Championships, Tennessee will head into the regular season ranked No. 5 in the nation. The CRCA released its preseason poll on Tuesday, where it ranked the Lady Vols in the top five to begin the 2026 campaign.
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This marks the second consecutive season where Tennessee begins the season ranked in the top five in the CRCA poll. The team was ranked third overall in the opening CRCA poll to begin the 2025 season.
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The Lady Vols capped the 2025 season with their second-straight top five finish at the NCAA Championships under head coach Kim Cupini. After placing third at the 2024 NCAA Championships in 2024, Tennessee followed it up by finishing fifth nationally to cap the 2025 campaign. This solidified the most successful two-year stretch in program history. Prior to this two-year run, the highest finish in Tennessee history at the national event was a ninth place finish in 2007.
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Tennessee also earned a second place finish at the Inaugural SEC Championships, highlighted by three gold medals performances by the team. The Lady Vols return two rowers that garnered All-American honors in 2025, with CRCA Athlete of the Year finalist Alex Pidgeon and Second Team All-American Meg Flanagan back with the team in 2026. All-SEC rower Hannah Smith returns for a Tennessee team that looks to continue to compete at the highest level in the sport
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The season for the Lady Vols begins on March 14 at home, hosting Michigan in Knoxville.
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This marks the second consecutive season where Tennessee begins the season ranked in the top five in the CRCA poll. The team was ranked third overall in the opening CRCA poll to begin the 2025 season.
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The Lady Vols capped the 2025 season with their second-straight top five finish at the NCAA Championships under head coach Kim Cupini. After placing third at the 2024 NCAA Championships in 2024, Tennessee followed it up by finishing fifth nationally to cap the 2025 campaign. This solidified the most successful two-year stretch in program history. Prior to this two-year run, the highest finish in Tennessee history at the national event was a ninth place finish in 2007.
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Tennessee also earned a second place finish at the Inaugural SEC Championships, highlighted by three gold medals performances by the team. The Lady Vols return two rowers that garnered All-American honors in 2025, with CRCA Athlete of the Year finalist Alex Pidgeon and Second Team All-American Meg Flanagan back with the team in 2026. All-SEC rower Hannah Smith returns for a Tennessee team that looks to continue to compete at the highest level in the sport
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The season for the Lady Vols begins on March 14 at home, hosting Michigan in Knoxville.
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Players Mentioned
Everything Orange S2 | Alex Pidgeon (Rowing)
Thursday, May 22
ROW | Walk-On Promo
Thursday, August 15
Everything Orange | Kim Cupini (Rowing)
Thursday, February 01
Rowing | 2023 Senior Video
Monday, May 22
