AUSTIN, Texas – Tennessee rounded out its regular season with a loss (25-20, 25-14, 25-20) to No. 14 Texas on Wednesday night at Gregory Gym.
The Longhorns (17-6, 12-3 SEC) had the hot hand offensively, tallying 47 kills on .554 hitting, as Tennessee’s defense struggled to get in a groove with just 19 digs and no blocks. The Lady Vols (15-11, 8-8 SEC) finished the night with 37 kills on .244 hitting, 35 assists and four aces on offense.
Graduate student outside hitter Nina Cajic led the way for the Big Orange, posting 13 kills on .500 hitting, one ace and a dig. With her ace, she now ranks third in the Lady Vol record books for single-season aces during the 25-point rally-scoring era with 39 for the year. Redshirt sophomore setter Caroline had 23 assists, five digs and a kill in the contest.
Tennessee’s offense came out firing, recording 16 kills on .333 hitting in the first set. Redshirt junior middle blocker Emily Beeker, Cajic and junior middle blocker Keondreya Granberry all had four kills in the frame to spread out the attack. However, Texas hit for .636 and had 10 digs compared to the Lady Vols’ four to gain the early momentum.
The second stanza was all Texas. The Longhorns never trailed in the set thanks to 17 kills on .727 hitting compared to Tennessee’s nine kills on .227 hitting. The Lady Vols battled in the third period, but Texas completed the sweep behind 14 kills.
Up next, Tennessee will learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, when the bracket is revealed live on ESPN.
The Longhorns (17-6, 12-3 SEC) had the hot hand offensively, tallying 47 kills on .554 hitting, as Tennessee’s defense struggled to get in a groove with just 19 digs and no blocks. The Lady Vols (15-11, 8-8 SEC) finished the night with 37 kills on .244 hitting, 35 assists and four aces on offense.
Graduate student outside hitter Nina Cajic led the way for the Big Orange, posting 13 kills on .500 hitting, one ace and a dig. With her ace, she now ranks third in the Lady Vol record books for single-season aces during the 25-point rally-scoring era with 39 for the year. Redshirt sophomore setter Caroline had 23 assists, five digs and a kill in the contest.
Tennessee’s offense came out firing, recording 16 kills on .333 hitting in the first set. Redshirt junior middle blocker Emily Beeker, Cajic and junior middle blocker Keondreya Granberry all had four kills in the frame to spread out the attack. However, Texas hit for .636 and had 10 digs compared to the Lady Vols’ four to gain the early momentum.
The second stanza was all Texas. The Longhorns never trailed in the set thanks to 17 kills on .727 hitting compared to Tennessee’s nine kills on .227 hitting. The Lady Vols battled in the third period, but Texas completed the sweep behind 14 kills.
Up next, Tennessee will learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, when the bracket is revealed live on ESPN.
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