NCAA Womens Volleyball

VB Weekend Preview: #18 Lady Vols Cap Midwest Tour with Road Matches at Loyola Chicago, #24 Marquette

VB Weekend Preview: #18 Lady Vols Cap Midwest Tour with Road Matches at Loyola Chicago, #24 Marquette


The 18th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols cap off their tour of the Midwest this weekend, as the Big Orange takes on Loyola Chicago and No. 24 Marquette on the road.
 
The Lady Vols open with Loyola on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ before facing the Golden Eagles on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. That match will be live streamed on FloSports ($). Both opponents made the NCAA Tournament last season, and this weekend comes on the heels of Tennessee’s tough slate last weekend against No. 1 Wisconsin, San Diego and Boston College.
 
After breaking into the rankings for the first time since November 2021 last week, Tennessee moved up to 18th in the AVCA rankings earlier this week. That marks the highest ranking for the Lady Vols since being No. 17 during the Week 3 poll in 2012.
 
FINGALL BACK FOR FINAL YEAR: Morgahn Fingall will look to follow up on her All-America campaign in 2022, when she was one of the nation’s top attackers. She was named to the preseason All-SEC Team heading into the year. Against No. 1 Wisconsin, she went for a season-best 22 kills to pace the Lady Vols, and she’s the top attacker in Tennessee’s high-powered offensive front with 75 kills on the season.
 
KERR TABBED SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: After a strong effort at the USD Invitational and against No. 1 Wisconsin, setter Caroline Kerr was recognized by the league for her performances. On Sunday’s match versus the Badgers, she recorded her first-career double-double with personal bests in assists (55) and digs (11). See page 5 for full note.
 
SPREAD THE ATTACK: Boasting one of the best attacking groups in the country, the Big Orange has a balanced front that can get a point for the Lady Vols. Five different players are currently averaging more than two kills per set, including two individuals who are averaging more than three. 
 
LADY VOLS START 5-0: Tennessee won its first five matches to begin the year, marking the second time the team achieved this feat under the direction of head coach Eve Rackham Watt. The previous time was in her first season on Rocky Top in 2018, when the Lady Vols went 26-6 for the year. Prior to that, UT only started 5-0 three times between 2005-17.
 
BIG ORANGE DEFENSE SHINES: Tennessee has held opposing teams to 15 points or less in a 25-point set nine times this season, which is 45 percent of the sets played. So far, UT boasts four sweeps on the year.
 
West Coast Trip & Wisconsin Recap

  • On the second weekend of the season, the Lady Vols…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Tennessee Athletics…