AUSTIN, Texas — The #17 Tennessee volleyball team went on the road and battled with #2 Texas back and forth all evening, but came up just short in five sets (22-25, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23, 7-15). The loss snapped the team’s 11-game winning streak which dated back to Sept. 4.
The Lady Vols finished the match with 58 kills on .262 hitting. Hayden Kubik led the team once again with 15 kills, adding 15 digs for her second consecutive double-double, and third of conference play. She was joined in the double-digit kill club by the duo of Mackenzie Plante and Paityn Chapman who had 14 and 13 respectively. Caroline Kerr joined Kubik in double-double land, notching 36 assists and 10 digs for her fourth double-double to begin SEC action. One defense, the Lady Vols had 56 digs, led by Gülce Güçtekin with 16. The defense at the net also was strong on the evening, with Zoë Humphrey leading the way with seven total blocks for the team’s 12.5.
It was a tight affair in the first, with neither holding more than a three-point lead. After falling behind early in the set, Tennessee battled back to make it a 22-22 score late. Three consecutive Texas kills ended the Lady Vol threat, as they came up just short in the frame. Tennessee got started with 13 kills on a .273 hitting percentage, while adding 13 digs. Kubik led the way with seven kills in the first, and was joined by Chapman and Plante with three each. Kerr got her night started strong in the first, leading the team with 10 assists.
The Lady Vols battled back in the second, with a total team effort to even the match at a set apiece. A big start offensively in the second helped the team build a five-point advantage, and they would use that start to take the set. Kubik and Chapman were joined by Chelsea Sutton for the team lead in kills in the second, with the trio all finishing with three. Kerr copied her strong start with another 10-assist performance in the second. Güçtekin led the way with six digs, while Chapman and Humphrey each had three blocks. The Lady Vol defense did a phenomenal job in the second set, holding the Longhorn offense to just 14 kills and a .154 hitting percentage.
Tennessee fought hard in the third, but couldn’t overcome an early deficit as they fell in the set. Three straight points for Texas late ended all hopes for a Lady Vol comeback. Chapman and Sydney Jones tied for the team lead in kills in the third with each netting three kills. Kubik led the defensive effort, with the senior picking up five digs.
In a must-have fourth set, Tennessee battled back from and early five-point hole to take the frame and send the match to the fifth. Texas attempted comebacks, coming within one point on multiple occasions in the fourth. A Plante kill quelled the Texas threat to secure the fourth for the Big Orange. Plante was the big offensive performer in the fourth, leading the Tennessee offense with an impressive six kills. She was joined once again by Kubik, who added to her night with four more herself. Izzy Mogridge and Kerr paired to help fuel the Tennessee attack in the set, with Mogridge picking up eight assists and Kerr with six.The offense hit with fury in the set, netting 17 kills total while hitting for a robust .441 hitting percentage. The floor defense did its part in the set, with 14 digs total led by Kerr with five.
The Lady Vol could not take the momentum into the fifth, as Texas took a commanding five-point lead early. Tennessee could not find their rhythm in the final frame, with Texas finishing off the match for the victory. Tennessee struggled to get going in the fifth, picking up just four kills total, falling just short of picking up their first win against a top five opponent since 2005. Plante finished off her night strong, as the junior finished with a .667 hitting percentage.
Up next the Lady Vols complete their three-game road swing on Sunday against Ole Miss at the Gillom Athletics Performance Center. First serve is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed on SEC Network+.
