NCAA Womens Volleyball

Erykah Lovett’s Career-High Helps Lead Lady Vols to SEC Opening Win Over Missouri

Erykah Lovett’s Career-High Helps Lead Lady Vols to SEC Opening Win Over Missouri


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore attacker Erykah Lovett hit a career-high .667 in Tennessee’s sweep (25-14, 25-21, 25-20) of Missouri Wednesday night inside Thompson-Boling Arena.
 
Lovett took 21 swings in the match, scoring 15 kills and committing just one error in attack. The Newnan, Georgia, native is tied with Ole Miss’ Anna Blair for the highest hit percentage by an SEC player this season with a minimum of 20 attempts.
 
In the rally-scoring era, her mark is tied with Erica Treiber and Kelsey Fautsch for the fifth-highest single-match hit percentage in program history – among players with 20-plus attempts.
 
Sophomore Ashllyn King made her first-career start as the Lady Vols’ libero Wednesday night after appearing in the libero jersey in the final set against Ohio State on Sept. 17. She finished with a perfect reception percentage on 10 chances and added seven digs and three assists to her final stat line.
 
Right-side attacker Morgahn Fingall notched 12 kills and hit .333 on the night, while also picking up a service ace and three blocks.
 
Setter Natalie Hayward did a little bit of everything as she dished out 35 assists, scored seven kills, earned eight digs and fired home two aces.
 
Tennessee (7-6, 1-0 SEC) got rolling early as it defeated Mizzou 25-14 in the opening set. Lovett hit .875 in the first frame with seven kills on eight attempts. Hayward and Fingall each added four.
 
The Lady Vols were excellent in sideout situations, finishing the first set with an 80 percent termination rate. UT continued its strong serve receive play in the second set, going 16-of-21 at 76 percent.
 
Through the opening two frames, UT was 28-of-36 – 78 percent – in sideout situations.
 

Fingall led the attack in the second as she hit .500 with five kills, while Lovett scored three kills on a .750 attack percentage. As a team, the Orange & White hit .400 in the set.
 
Missouri (7-4, 0-1 SEC) played UT tighter in the second, with Kaylee Cox scoring five kills to lead the Tigers. Mizzou also hit well at .300 but lost the set to Tennessee, 25-21.
 
Middle blockers Keondreya Granberry and Klaudia Pawlik stepped up for UT in the third, helping guide the Lady Vols to a 25-20 matching-clinching victory. Pawlik made her net-front presence felt with four blocks, while Granberry put down four kills on four attempts.
 
Lovett tallied a team-leading five kills in the third, hitting .444 in the final frame.
 
For the match, UT scored…

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