The win is UT’s first over a top 10 opponent since defeating No. 9 Baylor on Sept. 9, 2021, and its first top 10 win on the road since besting No. 6 Florida back on Sept. 25, 2011.
Kennedi Rogers put together another brilliant offensive outing for the Lady Vols (9-1), tying her career-high with 21 kills, and adding 10 digs for her second double-double of the year. Caroline Kerr followed up her double-double performance from yesterday’s game with a 42 assist, 13 dig match in the victory. For Kerr, it is her 27th double-double of her career, tying her with Mary Pollmiller (2011-12) for eighth in program history. Jalyn Stout and Maggie Dostic joined in the offensive action, with 12 and 11 kills each as the Lady Vols buried 55 kills in the match.
The Lady Vols were able to hold the Nittany Lions (8-2) to a .218 hitting percentage and a force Penn State into 22 attack errors. Senior libero Raegan Burns was crucial in the Tennessee defensive effort, posting a team-high 14 digs. The Big Orange block helped stifle the Penn State attack, finishing with 11 total blocks. The duo of Kerr and Chelsea Sutton led Tennessee with five each, followed by Anni Tang with four.
It was a tight contest throughout, featuring 20 ties and 10 lead changes. Tennessee won the battle behind the service line, outserving Penn State by a total of five aces to two.
The first set featured a pair of runs that gave the Lady Vols the distance they needed to take an early lead. A kill by Rogers and an ace by Mackenzie Plante secured the early advantage for the Big Orange. Stout came out of the gates hot, leading the team with six kills in the first set on .556 hitting. Tennessee assisted 16 of its 17 kills in the first, with Kerr recording 14 to begin the match. UT had 15 digs in the first frame, with Dostic posting five.
It was a back and forth battle in the second set, which featured 11 ties and five lead changes. Tennessee would battle back from a 21-16 deficit, with a 5-1 run to get within one. Penn State could not withstand the Lady Vol comeback, as another 4-0 run would give Tennessee a two-set lead. Stout once again led the offense with five kills. Kerr put up another nine assists in the second stanza, while tying Burns with six digs each. The Tennessee block was crucial in the second set comeback with six. Four players had two or more blocks in the frame, with Kerr and Sutton combining with three apiece.
The Lady Vols attempted to come back in the third after Penn State would create an early lead. The comeback attempt would come up just short in the third, as Penn State would win the set and send the match to the fourth. Penn State would outhit Tennessee 14-9 in the third stanza to win its first set of the afternoon.
Penn State would once again get out to a hot start in the fourth, building a five-point lead. But like in the second, the Lady Vols would fight back, using a 7-1 run to take an 11-10 lead. Another 7-0 run midway through the set helped Tennessee pull away and secure the top-10 victory. Kennedi Rogers had it going in the fourth, as she would lead the team with nine kills to spur the Big Orange to the win.
Up next, the Lady Vols return to Food City Center to get conference play started as they take on No. 7 Texas on Friday, Sept. 25. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and the match will be televised on SEC Network.
