Tennessee Lady Vols Volleyball 2023

[Putbacks]

Texas won that so fast and easily that there is enough TV time left to broadcast their final exams!

 

[Jr_Vol#]

WOW! And during the Nebraska vs Pitt game the broadcast was talking about how Texas was the underdog of the final four even though they won last years championship. Guess they miss judged . Tennessee gave Texas almost more than they could handle. That darn fourth set should've been the Lady Vols but they let it slip away.

 

[Eric Viesturs]

Texas wins again, handily.

 

[Putbacks]

Lady Vols Cap Off Incredible 2023 Campaign with No. 9 Final Ranking - University of Tennessee Athletics

For the third time in program history and first since 2005, the Tennessee Lady Vols ended the season ranked inside the top 10 of the AVCA Polls, finishing in ninth

utsports.com

 

[chuckiepoo]

Texas wins again, handily.

….errrr, the end of the fourth set is the stuff 30 for 30s are made of. BS.

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

If you can't beat 'em...join 'em.

The story of a Nebraska volleyball star who stepped away from the game for a year after the death of her dad. When she decided to return....

Texas will make the SEC a powerhouse in volleyball.

Former Nebraska volleyball star Whitney Lauenstein will join Texas Longhorns volleyball

The outside hitter, who sat out the 2023 season in order to grieve with her family after the death of her father, gives Texas another proven OH.

www.statesman.com

 

[Wilk5]

Gonna be a tough rebuild for eve. Losing all 3 starting pin hitters to graduation / portal. Hope to see some “BOOMs” in the portal like with janasia Moore last year

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

Texas is getting the band back together and they will be difficult to beat.

Madisen Skinner, an outside hitter chosen most outstanding player (MOP) of the NCAA volleyball final four, while on her way to winning her third National championship will be joined in Austin next year by Reagan Rutherford. Rutherford an outside hitter for Kentucky the last four years was instrumental (with Skinner) in bringing Kentucky their first volleyball NCAA championship in 2020.

Kentucky's Reagan Rutherford, Baylor's Averi Carlson to transfer to Texas volleyball team

Kentucky's Reagan Rutherford, Baylor's Averi Carlson to transfer to Texas volleyball team

www.statesman.com

Skinner's unbelievable backrow hitting ability was the obstacle Tennessee could not get over in the reginal semifinals. With precision strikes from the backrow, Skinner found gaps in our defense that had not been exposed before. Best backrow hitter I have seen.

Nebraska did not have a senior on their team and may be favored to win the 2024 national championship. But Texas will be a juggernaut in the SEC.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Texas is getting the band back together and they will be difficult to beat.

Madisen Skinner, an outside hitter chosen most outstanding player (MOP) of the NCAA volleyball final four, while on her way to winning her third National championship will be joined in Austin next year by Reagan Rutherford. Rutherford an outside hitter for Kentucky the last four years was instrumental (with Skinner) in bringing Kentucky their first volleyball NCAA championship in 2020.

Kentucky's Reagan Rutherford, Baylor's Averi Carlson to transfer to Texas volleyball team

Kentucky's Reagan Rutherford, Baylor's Averi Carlson to transfer to Texas volleyball team

www.statesman.com

Skinner's unbelievable backrow hitting ability was the obstacle Tennessee could not get over in the reginal semifinals. With precision strikes from the backrow, Skinner found gaps in our defense that had not been exposed before. Best backrow hitter I have seen.

Nebraska did not have a senior on their team and may be favored to win the 2024 national championship. But Texas will be a juggernaut in the SEC.

And Texas wins the Natty 3 Zip.

 

[Putbacks]

More player accolades and our staff getting some recognition….

Lady Vol Trio Earns All-America Recognition, Members of UT Staff Tabbed to Coaches Hotshots List by VolleyballMag.com - University of Tennessee Athletics

Three more Lady Vols received All-America recognition, while three members of the Tennessee coaching staff were tabbed to VolleyballMag.com's College Coaches Hotshots

utsports.com

 

[orange beard]

Waiting for some new updates on new recruits and transfers to volley ball !!

 

[Memvol44]

Waiting for some new updates on new recruits and transfers to volley ball !!

Waiting for news on Eve's raise......don't pesky us please....

 

[Volfan1017]

Hayden Kubik from Nebraska is a great pick up. Plante and Kubik on the outside should be solid. We have no true RS/Opp on the roster. I wonder if we are still looking the portal or if we will have someone playing out of their natural position next season.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Rackham Watt’s Contract Extended After Volleyball’s Historic Season - University of Tennessee Athletics

After leading Tennessee volleyball to one of the best seasons in program history, head coach Eve Rackham Watt agreed to a contract extension through January of 2029,

utsports.com

Whoop! …there it is!

 

[Putbacks]

Hayden Kubik from Nebraska is a great pick up. Plante and Kubik on the outside should be solid. We have no true RS/Opp on the roster. I wonder if we are still looking the portal or if we will have someone playing out of their natural position next season.

Hope she is as good for us as Kelsey Robinson and Mary Pollmiller were for them….

Former Nebraska outside hitter Hayden Kubik transfers to Tennessee

The sophomore from Des Moines, Iowa, played in nine games with the Huskers last season, finishing with three kills and six digs.

www.klkntv.com

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

Hayden Kubik was the 18th rated recruit in the class of 2022 according to prepvolleyball.com. She was selected to the Iowa All State team all four years while in high school. Also her club team was ranked #1 in the nation in 2019.

From what I have been able to find, it appears she is looking for more playing time. It's good to get a player from the Nebraska roster as they were ranked #1 several weeks last season and have won five national championships.

Nebraska is also one of the 90 plus schools that has a beach volleyball program which allows year round play and financial opportunities after graduation.

Hayden Kubik - Volleyball 2023

Hayden Kubik - Volleyball 2023

huskers.com

 

[Putbacks]

And another one….

Rackham Watt Announces the Signing of Nina Cajic - University of Tennessee Athletics

Outside hitter Nina Cajic, the 2023 CAA Player of the Year from Towson, signed with Tennessee volleyball, head coach Eve Rackham Watt announced Monday.

utsports.com

 

[jeebie]

And another one….

Rackham Watt Announces the Signing of Nina Cajic - University of Tennessee Athletics

Outside hitter Nina Cajic, the 2023 CAA Player of the Year from Towson, signed with Tennessee volleyball, head coach Eve Rackham Watt announced Monday.

utsports.com

Need to update the year of this thread to 2024 but besides that, I attended the Lady Vols Orange and White scrimmage last night at the Joan Cronan Volleyball Center. I don't see much drop-off between last year's team and the upcoming season's (2024) team.
I was much impressed with several returning players in addition to several newcomers (early enrolee-freshmen and transfers). And that doesn't even include the players that will arrive for the summer and fall semesters.
Mackenzie Plante, the Tennessee star of last December's Regional looked again in fine form. And this time she was playing her natural outside hitter position, not as a defensive specialist. Cate Schnell, a redshirt freshman who chose to sit out last season, was impressive as an outside hitter and is a player to keep an eye out for. Caroline Kerr is unquestionably a great setter but she may have some competition from freshman Camdyn Stucky. Stucky is 6 feet 3 in. so she can also spike at the net. We may possibly see the two playing together in the front and back row. Stucky's defensive skills are outstanding as are Plante's and Schnell's. All three are six-rotation players. All three of these young ladies are stellar athletes and it's going to be a pleasure to watch them play together.
I was also impressed with several of the new taller players who are middle blockers and spikers. Their names are the Italian player Ajack Malaul and Chelsea Sutton. Judging by what I saw, I think the future of Lady Vols volleyball is bright thanks to Coach Eve Rackham Watt and her assistants.

 

[Orange.]

Lady Vol volleyball's Abby Ekeler reels in a big fish with dad and football coach Mike Ekeler. Aced it!


Hat tip to the incomparable @SweetasSoda