University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee to Take on Pitt in the Showdown at the Net
April 23, 2026 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --Â The 2026 schedule for the Lady Vols is beginning to take shape, with another high-profile match slated to the upcoming season. Tennessee volleyball will once again take part in the Showdown at the Net, this time at a neutral site. Tennessee will head to the Sunshine State to face the Pitt Panthers at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
"We are excited for the Showdown at the Net in Kissimmee and anticipate a world-class event", said head coach Eve Rackham Watt. It's the perfect early season test to showcase our program and gauge where we stand, while learning a great deal about our potential moving forward."
Â
The match between the two programs is scheduled for Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The contest is a part of the dual conference event in its second year of existence. Last season Tennessee hosted Georgia Tech in the event, winning in four sets
Â
The two programs have met on 19 occasions, with Pitt holding the slight advantage in the series with a 10-9 record. The two teams last played back on Sept. 16 Pittsburgh, Pa., with the Panthers getting the win in the contest.
Â
Pitt posted a 30-5 record a season ago and reached the national semifinal, its fifth consecutive national semifinal appearance, while also winning the ACC for the fourth year in a row. The Panthers return multiple starters to this year's team, including two-time AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock.
Â
This is the third non-conference contest that has been announced for the Lady Vols. Tennessee will feature in the inaugural SEC/Big Ten challenge on Sept. 1 with match against Illinois. The Big Orange will also head back to Nashville for the Broadway Block Party. At this year's event, Tennessee will take on another Big Ten foe in Indiana on Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. ET. The bout will also be televised nationally as it is slated to air on ESPN2.
Â
Tennessee returns three-time All-American setter Caroline Kerr for the 2026 season. The rising redshirt senior played an integral role in for an offense that ranked top 15 in Division I in both hitting percentage (.292) and kills per set (14.97), the second time in the last three seasons that the Lady Vols ranked in the top 15 in both categories. One of the best setters to ever wear the Orange & White, Kerr currently sits sixth in program history in both career assists (3,259) and assists per set (10.65).
Â
Tennessee also returns experienced players in middle blocker Chelsea Sutton and outside hitter Mackenzie Plante. Sutton was the team leader in blocks a season ago with 116, while finishing the campaign second on the team in kills with 215. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. native also led the team in hitting percentage at .362, a mark that ranked in the top five in the SEC. Plante had a career year in 2025, reaching career-high totals in all major categories. The rising senior was fourth on the team with 182 kills and played a vital role in the team's floor defense with 175 digs. Plante tallied five matches with double-digit kills, including a career high of 14 against both Texas and Alabama.
Â
Four transfer additions will make their Big Orange debuts in 2026. Coastal Carolina transfer Jalyn Stout is the NCAA's all-time leader in career triple-doubles with 46. Stout finished her three years with the Chanticleers with 1,112 kills, 1,545 assists, and 1,041 digs. Kennedi Rogers joins the Lady Vols after earning ACC All-Freshman Team honors at SMU. In her lone season with the Mustangs, Rogers logged 175 kills and a .272 hitting percentage. Nia Hall brings SEC experience to Rocky Top after spending one season at South Carolina where she led the team in both kills (273) and kills per set (3.07). Marta Lazzarin garnered Sun Belt Libero of the Year honors in her freshman season at Georgia State in 2025. In her first collegiate season, the Venice Italy native tallied 535 digs and 5.25 digs per set.
Â
In addition to these transfers, five freshmen joined the program this spring. The quintet of first-year players includes middle blockers Jolene Oddo, Camille Perry, and Anni Tang, as well as opposite hitter Jade Williams and outside hitter Morgan Williams.
Â
"We are excited for the Showdown at the Net in Kissimmee and anticipate a world-class event", said head coach Eve Rackham Watt. It's the perfect early season test to showcase our program and gauge where we stand, while learning a great deal about our potential moving forward."
Â
The match between the two programs is scheduled for Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The contest is a part of the dual conference event in its second year of existence. Last season Tennessee hosted Georgia Tech in the event, winning in four sets
Â
The two programs have met on 19 occasions, with Pitt holding the slight advantage in the series with a 10-9 record. The two teams last played back on Sept. 16 Pittsburgh, Pa., with the Panthers getting the win in the contest.
Â
Pitt posted a 30-5 record a season ago and reached the national semifinal, its fifth consecutive national semifinal appearance, while also winning the ACC for the fourth year in a row. The Panthers return multiple starters to this year's team, including two-time AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock.
Â
This is the third non-conference contest that has been announced for the Lady Vols. Tennessee will feature in the inaugural SEC/Big Ten challenge on Sept. 1 with match against Illinois. The Big Orange will also head back to Nashville for the Broadway Block Party. At this year's event, Tennessee will take on another Big Ten foe in Indiana on Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. ET. The bout will also be televised nationally as it is slated to air on ESPN2.
Â
Tennessee returns three-time All-American setter Caroline Kerr for the 2026 season. The rising redshirt senior played an integral role in for an offense that ranked top 15 in Division I in both hitting percentage (.292) and kills per set (14.97), the second time in the last three seasons that the Lady Vols ranked in the top 15 in both categories. One of the best setters to ever wear the Orange & White, Kerr currently sits sixth in program history in both career assists (3,259) and assists per set (10.65).
Â
Tennessee also returns experienced players in middle blocker Chelsea Sutton and outside hitter Mackenzie Plante. Sutton was the team leader in blocks a season ago with 116, while finishing the campaign second on the team in kills with 215. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. native also led the team in hitting percentage at .362, a mark that ranked in the top five in the SEC. Plante had a career year in 2025, reaching career-high totals in all major categories. The rising senior was fourth on the team with 182 kills and played a vital role in the team's floor defense with 175 digs. Plante tallied five matches with double-digit kills, including a career high of 14 against both Texas and Alabama.
Â
Four transfer additions will make their Big Orange debuts in 2026. Coastal Carolina transfer Jalyn Stout is the NCAA's all-time leader in career triple-doubles with 46. Stout finished her three years with the Chanticleers with 1,112 kills, 1,545 assists, and 1,041 digs. Kennedi Rogers joins the Lady Vols after earning ACC All-Freshman Team honors at SMU. In her lone season with the Mustangs, Rogers logged 175 kills and a .272 hitting percentage. Nia Hall brings SEC experience to Rocky Top after spending one season at South Carolina where she led the team in both kills (273) and kills per set (3.07). Marta Lazzarin garnered Sun Belt Libero of the Year honors in her freshman season at Georgia State in 2025. In her first collegiate season, the Venice Italy native tallied 535 digs and 5.25 digs per set.
Â
In addition to these transfers, five freshmen joined the program this spring. The quintet of first-year players includes middle blockers Jolene Oddo, Camille Perry, and Anni Tang, as well as opposite hitter Jade Williams and outside hitter Morgan Williams.
Â
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S/OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballEverything Orange S3 | Hayden Kubik (Volleyball)
Friday, December 05
VB | Eve Rackham Watt Media Availability (12.2.25)
Tuesday, December 02
VB | Hayden Kubik Media Availability (12.2.25)
Tuesday, December 02
VB | Caroline Kerr Media Availability (12.2.25)
Tuesday, December 02
