LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Lady Vols volleyball team dropped a heartbreaker to No. 8-seeded Purdue Friday night at L&N Arena in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, falling in five sets (25-14, 14-25, 25-22, 22-25, 11-15).
Tennessee (17-14) was led on the night by senior Morgahn Fingall who scored 25 of UT’s 62 kills. Sophomore Erykah Lovett added 10 with 12 digs to notch a double-double – her 14th of the year.
The Lady Vols hit .222 as a team and posted 12 blocks on the night. Freshman Keondreya Granberry and senior Natalie Hayward each recorded six blocks – six assisted for Granberry and two solo and four assisted by Hayward.
Hayward dished out 48 assists and picked up seven digs and two kills to round out her night.
Purdue (21-10) finished with 61 kills as a team – led by Eva Hudson with 23. She finished with a double-double, notching 14 digs. Madeline Koch was second on the squad with 10 kills.
The Boilermakers kept pace with the Lady Vols in blocks, finishing with 11. Raven Colvin posted four solo blocks and three assisted blocks to lead her team.
Tennessee cruised past Purdue in the opening set, winning 25-14. UT hit .432 in the frame and scored 17 kills with just one attack error. Hayward chipped in a pair of aces and two block assists to help secure the set, while Fingall powered home seven kills.
The score was flipped in the second as Purdue bounced back to take the set, 25-14. The Boilermakers tallied 16 kills on a .577 hit percentage and picked up two aces and three blocks to tie the match.
In a scrappy third set, UT emerged victorious with a 25-22 win. Neither team hit for a high percentage as both squads posted four total blocks. Granberry led the Orange & White with four assisted, followed by junior Jasmine Brooks with a pair. Hayward and sophomore Ashllyn King recorded one ace apiece en route to Tennessee’s third set-win.
Continuing the trend of score reversals, Purdue again tied up the match as it claimed the fourth set, 25-22. The Boilermakers used 15 kills and a .343 hit percentage to edge out UT at .257 and 16 kills. The teams were even in total blocks with each posting two, while Purdue managed one ace on the Lady Vols.
In the fifth, Tennessee out-hit Purdue .286 to .278 but struggled in sideout situations, allowing the Boilers to sustain runs. Fingall scored five of UT’s six kills in the frame. For Purdue, Hudson led the way with seven of its 10 kills.
The Boilermakers…
Tennessee (17-14) was led on the night by senior Morgahn Fingall who scored 25 of UT’s 62 kills. Sophomore Erykah Lovett added 10 with 12 digs to notch a double-double – her 14th of the year.
The Lady Vols hit .222 as a team and posted 12 blocks on the night. Freshman Keondreya Granberry and senior Natalie Hayward each recorded six blocks – six assisted for Granberry and two solo and four assisted by Hayward.
Hayward dished out 48 assists and picked up seven digs and two kills to round out her night.
Purdue (21-10) finished with 61 kills as a team – led by Eva Hudson with 23. She finished with a double-double, notching 14 digs. Madeline Koch was second on the squad with 10 kills.
The Boilermakers kept pace with the Lady Vols in blocks, finishing with 11. Raven Colvin posted four solo blocks and three assisted blocks to lead her team.
Tennessee cruised past Purdue in the opening set, winning 25-14. UT hit .432 in the frame and scored 17 kills with just one attack error. Hayward chipped in a pair of aces and two block assists to help secure the set, while Fingall powered home seven kills.
The score was flipped in the second as Purdue bounced back to take the set, 25-14. The Boilermakers tallied 16 kills on a .577 hit percentage and picked up two aces and three blocks to tie the match.
In a scrappy third set, UT emerged victorious with a 25-22 win. Neither team hit for a high percentage as both squads posted four total blocks. Granberry led the Orange & White with four assisted, followed by junior Jasmine Brooks with a pair. Hayward and sophomore Ashllyn King recorded one ace apiece en route to Tennessee’s third set-win.
Continuing the trend of score reversals, Purdue again tied up the match as it claimed the fourth set, 25-22. The Boilermakers used 15 kills and a .343 hit percentage to edge out UT at .257 and 16 kills. The teams were even in total blocks with each posting two, while Purdue managed one ace on the Lady Vols.
In the fifth, Tennessee out-hit Purdue .286 to .278 but struggled in sideout situations, allowing the Boilers to sustain runs. Fingall scored five of UT’s six kills in the frame. For Purdue, Hudson led the way with seven of its 10 kills.
The Boilermakers…
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