KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the fifth time this season, the Tennessee Lady Vols earned a sweep, topping the LSU Tigers (25-22, 25-23, 25-18) on Friday night at Food City Center.
The Big Orange (12-9, 5-6 SEC) finished the match with 44 kills on .306 hitting, 40 assists and two aces on offense, while the defense tallied 37 digs, five blocks and held the Tigers (13-9, 5-6 SEC) to just .189 hitting. There were 12 lead changes and 25 tied scores throughout the game.
Tennessee benefited from a balanced attack, as six different Lady Vols recorded at least five kills in the contest. Graduate outside hitter Nina Cajic enjoyed an all-around performance with nine kills, seven digs, two blocks and an assist. Freshman right side Paityn Chapman also finished with nine kills on .467 hitting.
Juniors Keondreya Granberry and Hayden Kubik each tallied eight kills on the night. Granberry added a team-high three blocks and two digs, while Kubik had three digs, one assist and one block. Freshman middle blocker Chelsea Sutton finished with five kills on .429 hitting and a block.
Guiding the offense, redshirt sophomore setter Caroline Kerr posted 32 assists, five kills, three digs, one ace and one block. On the back row, sophomore defensive specialist Mackenzie Plante had a team-best nine digs, while sophomore libero Katie Barrier added eight digs and an ace.
The opening frame was a battle, but the Big Orange rallied behind an early 8-2 run to take an insurmountable lead. Chapman had the hot hand for Tennessee, recording seven kills on a perfect 1.000 hitting.
Six lead changes and 12 tied scores highlighted the second stanza, but after LSU took a 20-18 lead, the Lady Vols responded with a 7-3 run to win the set. UT’s defense had 12 digs and three blocks in the frame while holding the Tigers to .097 hitting. Offensively, Cajic and Granberry both had four kills.
The Lady Vols finished strong in the third and final set. LSU took a 14-10 lead, but the Big Orange ended the match on 15-4 swing to secure the sweep. Tennessee is back at home Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET contest against Texas A&M. The match will be nationally televised on ESPN.
The Big Orange (12-9, 5-6 SEC) finished the match with 44 kills on .306 hitting, 40 assists and two aces on offense, while the defense tallied 37 digs, five blocks and held the Tigers (13-9, 5-6 SEC) to just .189 hitting. There were 12 lead changes and 25 tied scores throughout the game.
Tennessee benefited from a balanced attack, as six different Lady Vols recorded at least five kills in the contest. Graduate outside hitter Nina Cajic enjoyed an all-around performance with nine kills, seven digs, two blocks and an assist. Freshman right side Paityn Chapman also finished with nine kills on .467 hitting.
Juniors Keondreya Granberry and Hayden Kubik each tallied eight kills on the night. Granberry added a team-high three blocks and two digs, while Kubik had three digs, one assist and one block. Freshman middle blocker Chelsea Sutton finished with five kills on .429 hitting and a block.
Guiding the offense, redshirt sophomore setter Caroline Kerr posted 32 assists, five kills, three digs, one ace and one block. On the back row, sophomore defensive specialist Mackenzie Plante had a team-best nine digs, while sophomore libero Katie Barrier added eight digs and an ace.
The opening frame was a battle, but the Big Orange rallied behind an early 8-2 run to take an insurmountable lead. Chapman had the hot hand for Tennessee, recording seven kills on a perfect 1.000 hitting.
Six lead changes and 12 tied scores highlighted the second stanza, but after LSU took a 20-18 lead, the Lady Vols responded with a 7-3 run to win the set. UT’s defense had 12 digs and three blocks in the frame while holding the Tigers to .097 hitting. Offensively, Cajic and Granberry both had four kills.
The Lady Vols finished strong in the third and final set. LSU took a 14-10 lead, but the Big Orange ended the match on 15-4 swing to secure the sweep. Tennessee is back at home Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET contest against Texas A&M. The match will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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