Lady Vols Soccer ⚽️ Tennessee @ Virginia Tech 11/15 Friday 7PM Blacksburg VA ⚽️ NCAA TOURNAMENT First Round

[jeebie]

I agree completely. Nelson made a weak, half-hearted kick right at the goal-keeper. Runyon will knock you down with it.

That misstep by Coach Kirk was a decisive error on his part. Runyon would probably have put the ball in the net, Tennessee would have won the game and picked up three very important points. Instead they have to settle for another tie.

 

[Knoxvol14]

Crazy tidbit. We are tied for 2nd in the SEC.

 

[VolBalls33]

I only notice because that may or not be my name, but his name isn't Kirk. With so many injuries I am shocked UT hasnt been getting blown out some of these SEC games. Bravo on the tie.

 

[MAD]

Tennessee Draws With #18 Kentucky, 1-1​

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Lady Vols played an undefeated Kentucky squad ranked No. 18 to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 1,096 in Regal Stadium on Thursday.

Graduate Nayeli Diaz put Tennessee (6-2-4, 1-1-3 SEC) on the board in the 69th minute, tallying her first goal on Rocky Top. Redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz made the start in goal, and redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara took over in the second half, logging a season-high-tying four saves on the night.

Úlfa Úlfarsdóttir was the goal-scorer for the Wildcats (7-0-5, 1-0-4 SEC). Marz Josephson was in goal for UK, making six saves.

"They (Kentucky) have always been organized all year. They average five shots-against a game. They are really disciplined," said Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt.

"You see their commitment to numbers behind the ball and obviously, the game opened up a little bit in the second half. We stretched them out in our possession which allowed us to continue playing around them… (resilience) has been one of our strengths all year and continues to be - effort and fight and competitiveness. Our players leave it all out there, and I'm certainly proud of our team for their fight and their effort on both sides of the ball tonight."

Kentucky had the momentum early, ripping off four shots before UT put a shot on the score sheet, but by halftime, the Lady Vols had leveled the shot count with four of their own, one of which was on frame.

Tennessee went on to outshoot Kentucky 12-5 in the second half and on the night, took nine corner kicks to the Wildcats' three.

UK was first to score, finding the net in the 60th minute when Jordyn Rhodes played a curving ball into the box that Úlfarsdóttir ran onto and blasted near post from 12 yards out.

Nine minutes later, junior Jordan Fusco ripped a shot on a free kick from just outside the box that Josephson couldn't handle, and sophomore Ally Brown ran onto the rebound and played a short pass back to Diaz who buried the ball near post from close range.

The Lady Vols finished the game with 10 players after Fusco was issued a second yellow in the 69th minute, and UT had a chance to take the lead when Taya Hjorth was carded for a handball in the box with just over 10 minutes left in the match. Reshirt-senior Maria Nelson put the ball on frame with good pace, but Josephson was able to knock it wide, and the final score stood at 1-1.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will travel to LSU for a 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT) matchup with the Tigers on Sunday. The game will be televised by SEC Network.

SECOND HALF TEAM: The Lady Vols have netted five goals over the last three contest, all of which have come in the second half. On the season, 16 of Tennessee's 26 goals have been scored in the final 45 minutes of the game.

 

[Vol67]

Kirt has to go

 

[jeebie]

I only notice because that may or not be my name, but his name isn't Kirk. With so many injuries I am shocked UT hasnt been getting blown out some of these SEC games. Bravo on the tie.

Sorry about the spelling error, his name is Kirt. I was following the previous post.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Tennessee Draws With #18 Kentucky, 1-1​

View attachment 584865


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Lady Vols played an undefeated Kentucky squad ranked No. 18 to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 1,096 in Regal Stadium on Thursday.

Graduate Nayeli Diaz put Tennessee (6-2-4, 1-1-3 SEC) on the board in the 69th minute, tallying her first goal on Rocky Top. Redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz made the start in goal, and redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara took over in the second half, logging a season-high-tying four saves on the night.

Úlfa Úlfarsdóttir was the goal-scorer for the Wildcats (7-0-5, 1-0-4 SEC). Marz Josephson was in goal for UK, making six saves.

"They (Kentucky) have always been organized all year. They average five shots-against a game. They are really disciplined," said Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt.

"You see their commitment to numbers behind the ball and obviously, the game opened up a little bit in the second half. We stretched them out in our possession which allowed us to continue playing around them… (resilience) has been one of our strengths all year and continues to be - effort and fight and competitiveness. Our players leave it all out there, and I'm certainly proud of our team for their fight and their effort on both sides of the ball tonight."

Kentucky had the momentum early, ripping off four shots before UT put a shot on the score sheet, but by halftime, the Lady Vols had leveled the shot count with four of their own, one of which was on frame.

Tennessee went on to outshoot Kentucky 12-5 in the second half and on the night, took nine corner kicks to the Wildcats' three.

UK was first to score, finding the net in the 60th minute when Jordyn Rhodes played a curving ball into the box that Úlfarsdóttir ran onto and blasted near post from 12 yards out.

Nine minutes later, junior Jordan Fusco ripped a shot on a free kick from just outside the box that Josephson couldn't handle, and sophomore Ally Brown ran onto the rebound and played a short pass back to Diaz who buried the ball near post from close range.

The Lady Vols finished the game with 10 players after Fusco was issued a second yellow in the 69th minute, and UT had a chance to take the lead when Taya Hjorth was carded for a handball in the box with just over 10 minutes left in the match. Reshirt-senior Maria Nelson put the ball on frame with good pace, but Josephson was able to knock it wide, and the final score stood at 1-1.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will travel to LSU for a 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT) matchup with the Tigers on Sunday. The game will be televised by SEC Network.

SECOND HALF TEAM: The Lady Vols have netted five goals over the last three contest, all of which have come in the second half. On the season, 16 of Tennessee's 26 goals have been scored in the final 45 minutes of the game.

I ain’t happy…where didja find a player happy about a draw?

 

[MAD]

Don't know why Fusco was playing underhandedly tonight. Both of her cards were merited. She was close to tears when she was ejected. I guess she'll have to set out the first half of the next game too. Isn't that the way a red card works in soccer?

Players Receiving Two Yellow Cards in a Game. Referees, coaches, and administrators must know how to administer and report a second caution (yellow card). On the field, the referee is expected to show a yellow card for the caution, followed immediately by the red card for the ejection. Statistically, a player or coach who receives two yellow cards and thus a red card in the same game is considered to have accumulated one (1) yellow card and one (1) red card. For example, if a player enters the game with three (3) yellow cards and proceeds to receive two (2) cautions/yellow cards in the same game, the player will be suspended one (1) game for receiving a red card and that player will have a season total of four (4) yellow cards and one (1) red card. In this scenario, the player would then sit another game for yellow card accumulation when they receive their next caution during the regular season.

 

[turbovol]

Players Receiving Two Yellow Cards in a Game. Referees, coaches, and administrators must know how to administer and report a second caution (yellow card). On the field, the referee is expected to show a yellow card for the caution, followed immediately by the red card for the ejection. Statistically, a player or coach who receives two yellow cards and thus a red card in the same game is considered to have accumulated one (1) yellow card and one (1) red card. For example, if a player enters the game with three (3) yellow cards and proceeds to receive two (2) cautions/yellow cards in the same game, the player will be suspended one (1) game for receiving a red card and that player will have a season total of four (4) yellow cards and one (1) red card. In this scenario, the player would then sit another game for yellow card accumulation when they receive their next caution during the regular season.

And I don't understand this....Very convoluted explanation by the rules writer. Can she play the next game or not?

 

[turbovol]

We should have won the game. You gotta make the PK--period. Stayart would have been a better choice to take it, IMO. You have to hit the ball hard and high upper 90 or hard and low near a post. Instead, Nelson hits a rather weak shot shoulder high and easy to save once the Kentucky keeper guessed the right way to move.

We were bright in the last 20 minutes of the first half---played good soccer--and after the JF red. We just don't have enough cutting edge. We had another chance to win the match at 13' mark: Runyon had an open shot and missed the net. Fusco had a good first half chance--missed. Kentucky's centerbacks were good.

Agresti was good in this match--more active than she's been all year, positioned well, made some nice plays--including the sliding interception of the ball that led to the shot and our PK opportunity.

Michel is a good player but she makes big mistakes too often--and she made two tonight. One--her whiff on the ball near midfield--resulted in Kentucky's goal. And her other mistake--not finding and marking Kentucky's big goal scorer, which she absolutely had to do when she saw that cross coming--should have been a goal, but Rhodes headed it straight to Zazzara. We were lucky there.

Kirt should have chosen a starting keeper by now. Communication between our defenders and our two different keepers does not seem terribly good, and that's a problem that the coach should have recognized by now. For me Zazzara has been our best keeper.

Simmonds was a bit of a disappointment. She at least twice failed to pass the ball to open Vols cutting to the basket--including Fusco in the first half, who might have been in on goal. You have to see the field, see cutters, and make the pass. Also, her first touch needs to be better. She also failed to bring down an excellent pass to her, left side of box, in the second half. She was late trying to bring the ball down--and attempted to do so, late, with her right foot--which was the wrong foot. When you're on the left, you use your left foot to bring down the ball. Might have had a scoring chance if she'd controlled the ball--but didn't.

Lawton should be playing more than 44 minutes--that was dumb. She's been our best player.

Our tendency to make big mistakes in the back and lack of cutting edge up front is proving costly.

 

[MAD]

 

[MAD]

Lady Vols battle back against Kentucky, draw third straight game​

Tennessee soccer tied the Kentucky Wildcats 1-1 in a thrilling affair Thursday night at Regal stadium.

The Lady Vols (6-2-4, 1-1-3 SEC) were impressive as the surging No. 18 Wildcats (7-0-4, 1-0-4) came to town riding high after registering a top 10 win over SEC rival Alabama.

Both teams will take positives away from the game, although it’s likely Tennessee that will feel that they had more to gain from the match.


“We just got to continue to dial in the details of it, if we can do that then we are going to be alright, but the effort has been great,” head coach Joe Kirt said. “They are responsible in what they are doing, it's just starting to be consistent for 90 minutes.”

The first half ended the way it started, 0-0, after a largely defensive Kentucky unit sat back and soaked up the Tennessee attack.

The Lady Vols were largely the aggressor, but had trouble breaking down the Kentucky defense. With limited space available, Tennessee utilized the flanks to try to find the opening goal.

The Lady Vols weren’t able to fashion many clear cut chances, but were able to earn an impressive 6 corners. The Wildcat defense was resolute however, and Tennessee was unable to find the back of the net.

Kentucky looked to counter at times, mostly off the press. When the Lady Vols were forced to build up out of the back, the Wildcats triggered their press and looked for chances to turn Tennessee over.

At times Kentucky was successful, but was unable to create many major opportunities.

Kentucky’s best chance was in the 16th minute from a corner which was cleared just in front of the goal line by the Tennessee defenders.

After early Kentucky resistance, the Lady Vols began to take over.

Tennessee stayed high up the field and dictated play against the sturdy Kentucky defense.

Tennessee’s first major opportunity came around 30 minutes into the game, after beautiful play between Sizzy Lawton and Jordan Fusco led to a Nayeli Diaz shot/cross that trickled just wide.

The substitute Diaz was impressive throughout and created havoc for the Wildcats backline.

Diaz was involved once again as she combined with Kameron Simmonds, who’s delicate touch round the corner played Diaz in behind before winning a corner.

Equally impressive was sophomore midfielder Macaira Midgley, who was energetic throughout.

Midgely’s high workrate was key for the Lady Vols in the first half, as she transitioned the play from defense to attack.

The first half ended with Tennessee searching, but unable to find the breakthrough.

Offensive second half

The second half was certainly more lively, with both teams intent to attack.


It was more of the same for the Lady Vols, as the trio of Fusco, Kate Runyon, and Simmonds combined early in the second half.

However, it was Kentucky who nearly opened the scoring, after an Ulfa Ulfarsdottir cross found Jordyn Rhodes in the 56th minute.

Rhodes made solid contact, but her header was saved by second half substitute goalkeeper Ally Zazzara.

It was the Wildcats who eventually found the opener, as the duo of Ulfarsdottir and Rhodes combined again in the 61st minute.

A lightning fast Kentucky attack started after a ball played out of the back found Rhodes who broke into acres of space.

A delicate ball rolled across the 18 yard box found Ulfarsdottir who slotted home coolly.

The Lady Vols once again showed their resolve as they were able to find the equalizer just eight minutes after Ulfarsdottir’s opener.

Ally Brown was fouled just outside the box and the ensuing Fusco free kick was not cleared properly by the Wildcats.

It was Diaz for Tennessee who fired the ball into the back of the net, a perfect reward for an impressive appearance off the bench.

“It was my first goal, I mean I was happy to get it,” Diaz said. “I think it was a relief for everyone and hopefully it is a gateway to many more.”

The Lady Vols were in full flow, momentum on their side, when a second yellow for Fusco meant Tennessee was reduced to ten women.

However, despite the numbers disadvantage, the Lady Vols looked to be the more impressive outfit.

The 10 women Tennessee side earned a penalty in the 80th minute.

A cross found Maria Nelson, but her shot was well saved by Wildcats goalkeeper Marzia Josephson. The rebound then fell to sophomore Jenna Stayart, who’s shot connected with a Kentucky hand.

The penalty was given and Nelson stepped up to take the shot. Her penalty was well placed, but a diving stop from Josephson denied the Lady Vols a deserved lead.

Tennessee showed no signs of quitting and continued to search for a winner.

Runyon, in particular, was active and looked to find space in behind the Kentucky back line.

However, the game ended 1-1 as neither side was able to capitalize on an open final 15 minutes.

The Lady Vols will continue their SEC journey at LSU on Sunday.

 

[turbovol]

Kirt has consistently over-estimated the abilities of Nelson and G. Washington and under-valued Lawton and Diaz, among others. Diaz has been bright in recent games: She is more athletic and faster than Nelson--and pace everything with wing forwards. She should be playing more, Nelson, less. Lawton should be playing 70 minutes and not 44. If you can't objectively assess your own talent, you have problems. If you can't see that Lawton has been your best player and should be playing more than 44 minutes, you don't deserve to win soccer games.

Washington worked hard at CB last night and is an upgrade over Rain, and credit to her for stepping in to position I don't think she'd played at all until a week or so ago. But like Rain, she doesn't run well enough--she doesn't have the quicks and the recovery speed and alertness that good centerbacks have. Kentucky had a blonde CB who was all over the field--made a ton of good defense plays.

We were markedly better last night with Brown and Michel back in the lineup. Brown is a solid soccer player--it is thanks to her excellent effort to get to that ball and center it back to Diaz that we scored last night---but like all of our defenders except Michel, she doesn't have the speed you want in an outside back. Hofmann has the same issue--good soccer player, knows the game, makes the right passes, but she struggles to keep pace with quick opponents defensively. Hennessey--same problem: not enough pace. Renie and Nelson also have pace issues: They are both long-legged and have a loping running style; it takes them a while to get going---and that's not ideal in soccer. It is what it is--it's who we have.

We are more talented and better--or should be--than Miss. State and Kentucky. But we've made too many careless mistakes on defense this season--we've given up 14/15 goals compared to Kentucky's 5/6. Telling. Also, and we see this a ton in collegiate women's soccer, you need to have to polish and precision and talent to put the ball in the net. That's a common problem, and a problem for us. Simmonds and Runyon are physically gifted but still raw soccer players---their games need more polish. They want to dribble around and through defenders and 95 percent of the time, that doesn't work at this level. They spend too much time out of the box--up high, helping with possession--when we need them spending more timore time in the box. They hold onto the ball too long and miss passing opportunities. We really need to put an emphasis on being faster and better in transition---that is the best way to score goals. It's precisely how Kentucky scored last night. You win the ball and break forward when your opponent only has, say, a couple of defenders back. Fewer people in front of goal, more room to shoot. If you dither and your opponent gets four, five or more defenders back, the area in front of the goal is clogged, your chances of scoring plunge. This is why Nelson's lack of pace is an issue: wingers are supposed to take advantage of transition moments and beat defenders down the field and she can't do that. I'm not sure we caught out Kentucky in transitiion at all last night--maybe once?

 

[turbovol]

Chris Henderson just reported (via X) that our NCAA RPI ranking is number 10. Ten! Imagine what it might be if we were actually good enough to win games! There isn't a chance in hell that we could beat any of the teams above us in RPI (UCLA is no. 9), but it's a nice ranking. Very misleading, but nice. For example, Massey--a good computer ranking site--has us as the 34th best team in the country. It dropped us 9 spots after our tie last night.

 

[MAD]

Sunday’s match @ LSU will be on the SEC Network at 5 PM EST

 

[kregman]

Chris Henderson just reported (via X) that our NCAA RPI ranking is number 10. Ten! Imagine what it might be if we were actually good enough to win games! There isn't a chance in hell that we could beat any of the teams above us in RPI (UCLA is no. 9), but it's a nice ranking. Very misleading, but nice. For example, Massey--a good computer ranking site--has us as the 34th best team in the country. It dropped us 9 spots after our tie last night.

Hopefully that holds for the NCAA. I'm not sure we win in tournament games but we are not that far off. Good personal decisions would help. We could really use Jaida because the one thing she can do is finish around the net. It was frustrating for the team and fans last night cause fouls called on us (Fusco probably deserved hers) were not being called against Kentucky. A couple could have easily been called in the box and I'm sure Kentucky would have been given penalty shots.

 

[StrangeVol]

Officiating was very unfair and obviously favored KY.

 

[turbovol]

The one play on Runyon in the box that the Tennessee color commentator thought was a foul was in fact a good defensive play: The Kentucky defender clearly toe-poked the ball away before knocking into Runyon. At the end of the day we got a PK call and had a chance to win it, and blew it.

We are lacking chemistry between our forwards--who are raw and don't pass the ball very well--and our mids and outside backs. Also, we have only one mid--Fusco--who is a real attacking player and gets shots. Where is Midgley? Has she taken even 5 shots all year? She needs to be closer to the box and available to shoot herself. Agresti, as our defensive mid, tends to hang back a bit so we're not caught out if we lose the ball. Sometimes I think she is too cautious, but she did get forward and involved in the last 15 minutes of the game. Lawton and Fusco are our two most polished attacking players---meaning they are athletic and talented enough to make plays and they play good soccer--meaning see and make the right pass, generally make good decisions. Fusco has had issues with her shooting, Lawton only played half the game last night. She should be playing 70+ minutes and minutes taken away from Simmonds and/or Runyon--who are strong and athletic but aren't really good, polished soccer players, IMO. Sometimes they make the right pass--but often they don't. When they come out away from the box to take a pass, they should be one-touching it off to a mid or outside back immediately and then getting back closer to goal, where we need them. Instead, they want to try and dribble through defenders or take too long to pass, and we lose the ball.

That said, we played some good soccer in the last 15 minutes of the first half and the last 15 minutes of the game, when we had some urgency to our play. We created some good chances late in the game--one of which led to the PK----and all or most of it playing with only 10.

As for our RPI: Last year Harvard ended the season with a gaudy, very high RPI and many of us on another soccer site couldn't understand why. They won the Ivy Leauge, I believe, had a solid team, but didn't really have any noteworthy wins out of conference that would suggest a super team. But the Crimson had like a 5 RPI or somesuch--it was top 10, for sure. Usually a top 10 RPI translates into a high seed in the NCAA, which in turn translates into at least one or two home NCAA games---but in the end the selection committee did not buy Harvard's RPI as representing a truly top team and did not give it a seed. And, as I recall, it had to play its first NCAA game on the road. Right now we seem like last year's Harvard--our RPI is something of an anomaly: it's better than we are as a team. But that's RPI: in a lot of ways it corresponds with team record/strength, and if you look at the top 10, the other 9 are all having very good seasons and many are big dogs. But RPI is also can also have quirky outcomes--and we seem one of them at the moment. That said, I hope we can keep it high. As mentioned previously, 40 percent of RPI is the record of the teams you've played, and that is always changing

 

[MAD]

 

[MAD]

LVFL Hannah Tillett Scored Both Goals in the win.​

​

​

The American stepped forward for the SDFF​

October 7, 2023 5:33 p.m
The competitors won and put pressure on SDFF - then Hannah Tillett stepped forward.
With his first two goals for the team and a dominant effort, the American showed the way to victory against Gamla Upsala.
- Finally it came off, says Tillett.





New acquisition during the summer, Hannah Tillett, stepped forward as a real match winner in today's match against GUSK. With a delicate left foot, she scored 1-0 from a position just outside the penalty area, she also came close to copying the goal with an almost identical position a little later in the match. GUSK, who is in fifth place in the series, created a good pressure and everyone really had to fight with everything the fabric held. Sometimes we were still able to get up in the field and combine forward, Nora, Blerta and Hannah have achieved a good cooperation both offensively and defensively. Vesterlund/Hagelberg in the middle lock in front of Lisen uses all tricks to save the goal. It was a battle where the close game was really tough.

In a play position for GUSK, Hannah grabs the ball and drives towards the goal and in the step she very coolly shoots in her second goal of the day with her left, what else!

A bit sad that we can't really hold on before the break, so GUSK has to reduce a bit too easily and it gets a bit nervous about which time in the order. The second half will be a battle with capital letters and with both luck and skill we will take another three scorer with us from the match. If you continue to work this hard for each other, there can be more points to collect and hope is very much alive.

 

[turbovol]

Lsu is sure to be another tough match for us, especially because the tigers are coming off 2 straight losses and they, like us, badly
need a win. It's a team that is very unpredictable. Lsu has some impressive wins--over texas and georgia--and tied a good Pepperdine team.
But it has also lost to a mediocre Ole Miss and got waxed at home, 0-4, by middling florida. On Thursday it lost to South Carolina, away, by 0-1. The tigers looked pretty lackluster in the first half, picked things up a bit in the 2nd half, but only had 1 shot on goal against an always stingy South Carolilna side.

Our first priority, as it basically is for every team in every game, is to play sound and solid defensively. We've had more than a few careless mistakes and poor defensive play that has resulted in balls in our net. We just can't keep doing that. We were lucky to only give up 1 goal to a Kentucky team that is not very talented, or good, offensively. LSU has more attacking talent than Kentucky. While we badly need a win, and certainly could get it (who would have though florida would beat lsu by four goals in Baton Rouge?), I'd honestly be happy with another tie. It's much better than a loss, and all the more reason that we need to play good defense.

I'm not sure what is up with Renie but I was very surprised that she wasn't in the lineup last game. I saw her standing on the sideline at one point, and she was being animated about some play. I thought she'd cut her head---but a cut should heal in two weeks, no?

 

[MAD]

MATCH CENTRAL: Tennessee at LSU​

The Lady Vols will continue SEC play on the road, traveling to LSU for a 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT) matchup on Sunday.

In their last outing, the Lady Vols (6-2-4, 1-1-3 SEC) played an undefeated Kentucky squad ranked No. 18 to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 1,096 in Regal Stadium on Thursday. Graduate Nayeli Diaz put Tennessee (6-2-4, 1-1-3 SEC) on the board in the 69th minute, tallying her first goal on Rocky Top. Redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz made the start in goal, and redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara took over in the second half, logging a season-high-tying four saves on the night.

The Tigers (7-5-1, 2-3-0 SEC) are coming off a 1-0 loss at No. 13 South Carolina on Thursday.

THE LAST TIME WE MET: LSU and Tennessee faced off last season on Oct. 14, playing to a 0-0 draw in Regal Stadium.

VS THE TIGERS: Tennessee's all-time record against LSU is 14-4-5. The Lady Vols have not lost to the Tigers since a 2-0 defeat in Baton Rouge in 2011. UT is 5-3-1 when playing at LSU.

SCOUTING LSU: LSU was picked to finish eighth in the SEC as voted on by the league's coaches. The Tigers returned eight starters from the 2022 squad that finished 10-4-7 and added six newcomers. Sophomore midfielder Ida Hermannsdottir currently leads the team with four goals and 10 points.

VS RANKED TEAMS: The Lady Vols are 0-1-2 against ranked opponents this season, falling to No. 11 Arkansas (3-1) at home and drawing at No. 7 South Carolina (1-1) and against No. 18 Kentucky (1-1).

SECOND HALF TEAM: The Lady Vols have netted five goals over the last three contests, all of which have come in the second half. On the season, 16 of Tennessee's 26 goals have been scored in the second half, with nine of those coming in the final 20 minutes of the match.

THOMAS IN THE RECORD BOOK: Before suffering a season-ending injury, redshirt-senior Jaida Thomas moved her career total to 39 goals to trail UT's leading career scorer, Kylie Rossi, by just four goals. Thomas amassed her 39 goals in just 59 games for a goals-per-game average of .66 to rank third all-time at Tennessee behind only Bunny Shaw (0.77) and Allison Campbell (0.70).

IN THEIR OFFENSIVE THIRD: On the season, UT has taken more than twice as many shots as it has allowed, outshooting opponents 214-104, and taking 105 corner kicks while limiting the opposition to just 30. Tennessee currently ranks third in Division I in corner kicks per game (8.67) and 18th in shots per game (17.83).

EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: UT's 26 goals thus far have been scored by 11 different players. Freshmen Sarah Greiner, Kate Runyon (3) and Keaton Mitchell, sophomore Kameron Simmonds (6), juniors Jordan Fusco (3) and Nolyn Bartholomew, redshirt-seniors Maria Nelson (2) and Jaida Thomas, senior Lawson Renie and graduates Sizzy Lawton (4) and Nayeli Diaz have all found the back of the net for the Big Orange. Own goals by ETSU and MSU rounds out the total.

FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTING: All four of UT's active freshmen have recorded at least one goal or assist on the season. Forward Kate Runyon has made seven starts, logging three goals and an assist. Fellow rookies Keaton Mitchell and Sarah Greiner have both tallied goals, and Linette Hofmann has started 10 contests, recording an assist in the season opener against Cal.

NEW FACES: Tennessee added 10 newcomers in its 2023 signing class. All 10 are versatile field players with six enrolling as freshmen and four arriving as transfers with multiple years of collegiate experience.

BACK AGAIN: The Lady Vols return five starters and 20 letterwinners from the 2022 team that clinched an SEC East Division title for the third straight season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Redshirt senior Jaida Thomas, senior Lawson Renie, juniors Sheridan Michel and Jordan Fusco, and sophomore Kameron Simmonds were all named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will return home for a 7 p.m. ET matchup with Georgia on Friday.

 

[MAD]

 

[turbovol]

UT volleyball coach Rackham has given 3 press conferences to talk about her team in the last 3 and half weeks.
And she's pretty candid.

Press conferences by Kirt in the last month: Zero, I believe. Has he had one since the season started?

I hate to rail on the guy all the time, but he should be doing pressers.

 

[MAD]

UT volleyball coach Rackham has given 3 press conferences to talk about her team in the last 3 and half weeks.
And she's pretty candid.

Press conferences by Kirt in the last month: Zero, I believe. Has he had one since the season started?

I hate to rail on the guy all the time, but he should be doing pressers.

I thought they were required, apparently not.