#22 Lady Vols Continue Hot Start with Sweep over Illinois

Tuesday, September 1

Knoxville, Tenn.

7 p.m. ET

University of Tennessee

4-0,0-0SEC

Illinois

1-2,0-0Big Ten

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Illinois	19	17	11	0
Tennessee	25	25	25	3

Caroline Kerr and Kennedi Rogers Celebrate During Match Against Illinois

#22 Lady Vols Continue Hot Start with Sweep over Illinois

September 01, 2026 | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The No. 22 Tennessee volleyball team kept its early-season momentum going, sweeping Illinois, (25-19, 25-17, 25-11), on Tuesday night as part of the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge.

It was another record-setting night, as 8,212 fans packed Food City Center. The attendance mark surpassed the previous record of 7,924 set just four days ago in the season opener against Colgate on Aug. 28.

The Lady Vols (4-0) put on an offensive display throughout, finishing the match with 48 kills on a .422 hitting percentage. Kennedi Rogers led the effort once again, posting 14 kills in the victory. Maggie Dostic and Jalyn Stout each recorded double-figure kills, with Dostic finishing with 11 and Stout with 10. Stout recorded her first double-double at Tennessee and the 72nd of her career, adding 11 digs on the night. Caroline Kerr supported the Tennessee attack throughout, logging 38 assists.

Tennessee played stingy defense throughout the match, holding Illinois (1-2) to just 28 kills and a .102 hitting percentage. Rogers had seven digs, followed by Kerr and Raegan Burns with six apiece. Kerr led Tennessee at the net with three blocks, while Jolene Oddo continued her strong start defensively, adding two blocks.

It was a back-and-forth start to the first set. After Tennessee took an early advantage, Illinois battled back to pull within one point. The Lady Vols withstood the Illinois push, using a late 5-1 run to create the separation needed to win the set. Rogers and Stout each had five kills in the first, while Kerr tallied 14 assists. Oddo led the defensive effort at the net with two blocks in the opening frame.

Illinois took an early lead in the second set, but Tennessee once again battled back to retake control. The Lady Vols scored six unanswered points to close out the set, with Chelsea Sutton delivering the kill that gave the home team a 2-0 set lead. Rogers again led the offensive effort with five kills. Illinois was held to seven kills on -.071 hitting, with Kerr leading the defensive charge with a pair of blocks.

The Big Orange had total control in the third frame, dominating from the opening point. Smooth hitting and strong defense closed out the match and secured the victory. Tennessee put together a 20-kill effort to put the match away, with Dostic leading the charge with five. The floor defense was key in the final-set triumph, as the Lady Vols recorded 19 digs to stifle the Illini attack.

Up next, the Lady Vols return to action Sunday, Sept. 6, when they head to Nashville for the Broadway Block Party and face No. 21 Indiana. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, with the match televised nationally on ESPN2.