KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Lady Volunteers have emerged as a force to be reckoned with this season. With just a single narrow loss against the top-ranked Wisconsin, their dominance on the court is undeniable. Several of their players have earned prestigious conference and national awards, and their current No. 15 national ranking marks an 11-year high, signaling a resurgence that has been brewing for years under sixth-year head coach Eve Rackham Watt.
The Lady Vols sit at a record of 7-1 after they commenced their season with a series of high-level, non-conference matches. With several of these teams ending their season in the NCAA tournament, combined with having played mostly on the road, Tennessee has sparked excitement throughout the fan base for what this team can do.
Their strong start can be attributed to the team’s well-rounded lineup, a mix of experienced players and talented newcomers, and the guidance of Rackham Watt and her staff. With a clear emphasis on teamwork and fundamentals, the Lady Vols have begun the season with a bang.
“I think we’ve played really well,” Rackham Watt said. “We’ve tried to challenge ourselves with our schedule in terms of being on the road and playing different styles of opponents. The goal in the non-conference is to learn as much as we can about ourselves. I like what we’ve seen, we’ve been really competitive and had some good results.”
One of the standout players for the Lady Vols this season has been from graduate student right side Morgahn Fingall. Her powerful attacks have made her a national name on the court.
Just this week, Fingall was named the AVCA National Player of the Week for the second time in her career after averaging 6.57 points per set and 5.71 kills per set—both of which led the SEC for the week—while hitting .421 in wins over Loyola and No. 24 Marquette. She was also recognized as the SEC Player and Offensive Player of the Week.
“What Morgahn has done and the growth that she has had as a person and as a player has been pretty remarkable,” Rackham Watt said. “She’s a leader on the court for us, and she’s a leader off the court for us. She does everything the right way. She’s one of the hardest workers on the team. She comes in every day trying to get better.”
Helping UT’s attackers like Fingall get in a position to succeed has been redshirt freshman setter Caroline Kerr, who is enjoying a breakout season. The duo’s chemistry and leadership…
The Lady Vols sit at a record of 7-1 after they commenced their season with a series of high-level, non-conference matches. With several of these teams ending their season in the NCAA tournament, combined with having played mostly on the road, Tennessee has sparked excitement throughout the fan base for what this team can do.
Their strong start can be attributed to the team’s well-rounded lineup, a mix of experienced players and talented newcomers, and the guidance of Rackham Watt and her staff. With a clear emphasis on teamwork and fundamentals, the Lady Vols have begun the season with a bang.
“I think we’ve played really well,” Rackham Watt said. “We’ve tried to challenge ourselves with our schedule in terms of being on the road and playing different styles of opponents. The goal in the non-conference is to learn as much as we can about ourselves. I like what we’ve seen, we’ve been really competitive and had some good results.”
One of the standout players for the Lady Vols this season has been from graduate student right side Morgahn Fingall. Her powerful attacks have made her a national name on the court.
Just this week, Fingall was named the AVCA National Player of the Week for the second time in her career after averaging 6.57 points per set and 5.71 kills per set—both of which led the SEC for the week—while hitting .421 in wins over Loyola and No. 24 Marquette. She was also recognized as the SEC Player and Offensive Player of the Week.
“What Morgahn has done and the growth that she has had as a person and as a player has been pretty remarkable,” Rackham Watt said. “She’s a leader on the court for us, and she’s a leader off the court for us. She does everything the right way. She’s one of the hardest workers on the team. She comes in every day trying to get better.”
Helping UT’s attackers like Fingall get in a position to succeed has been redshirt freshman setter Caroline Kerr, who is enjoying a breakout season. The duo’s chemistry and leadership…
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