KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 24 Tennessee soccer team recorded their second consecutive win to open the 2026 season on Sunday afternoon, a 2-0 victory over South Alabama at Regal Soccer Stadium.
A pair of first-career goals by Ayva Jordan and Devin Davis were enough to get the job done as the Lady Vols (2-0-0) earned their first clean sheet of the season.
After missing a quality chance just minutes into the match, Jordan found redemption with a glancing header in the 27th minute to give Tennessee a 1-0 lead. Kylee Simmons provided the cross on the play after an incisive ball from midfielder Bella Smith, both of whom were credited with assists on the goal.
A freshman in her second match with Tennessee, head coach Joe Kirt wasn’t surprised to see Jordan write her name on the scoresheet. “Ayva can create chances out of nothing; I’m excited for her to get her first goal,” he said after the match. “She can be dangerous from six yards out or 60. She’s worked really hard over the spring to get herself in a good place physically and tactically, now she is taking advantage of it.”
Jordan wasn’t the only Lady Vol to collect her first collegiate goal on Sunday, as Davis represented an unlikely source of insurance for Tennessee. The defender found herself in the opposing box on a Tennessee corner kick in the 79th minute, making no mistake with a headed goal on a perfect service from Smith, who tallied her second assist of the match.
Davis’ first goal for Tennessee gave the Lady Vols a 2-0 advantage that they would not relinquish, as the defense closed out the first shutout of the 2026 season. Cayden Norris earned her 13th career clean sheet, after amassing 12 between the sticks for Tennessee in 2025.
“A really good performance,” coach Kirt said after the match. “Credit it to Ayva (Jordan) and to Devin (Davis) for their first college goals. Two really good goals, great balls in from Bella (Smith) allowed us to find a way to break through in the end. Our backs did a really great job of limiting opportunities, except for a couple of circumstances. Good performance at home.”
Tennessee will return to action on Thursday, Aug. 20, with a third consecutive home match to open the season. The Lady Vols will welcome 2025 Horizon League champions Milwaukee to Regal Soccer Stadium for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff.
