KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two of the top teams in the country meet Wednesday night at Food City Center, where ninth-ranked Tennessee volleyball takes on No. 4 Kentucky. The match starts at 7 p.m. Eastern with television coverage on SEC Network.
The Lady Vols come home riding a five-match winning streak after sweeping Oklahoma on the road. That was their 12th sweep of the season and their fourth in Southeastern Conference play. Kentucky arrives at 15-3 after beating Oklahoma and Arkansas last week.
History favors the Wildcats lately. This is the 91st meeting between the programs, and Kentucky won both matchups a year ago, including a four-set victory in the league tournament semifinals.
Expect plenty of offense. No team in the country averages more kills per set than Tennessee at 14.73, and the Lady Vols are sixth nationally in hitting at .297. Kentucky is right behind at 14.55 kills per set, second in the country, with setter Kassie O’Brien running the attack. She tops the nation with 11.80 assists per set and leads the SEC with 755 assists.
Brooklyn DeLeye and Morgan Gaerte carry the Kentucky attack with 284 and 217 kills. DeLeye ranks ninth nationally in points per set at 5.23 and 12th in kills per set at 4.44. On defense, the Lady Vols have held opponents to a .182 hitting percentage, and their 2.52 blocks per set are fourth best in the league.
Kentucky coach Craig Skinner agreed this week to a contract extension through 2031. In 22 seasons he has led the Wildcats to the 2020 national title, nine straight SEC championships and an NCAA Tournament berth every year.
The home crowd could be a factor. Tennessee has broken its attendance record three times this season, topped by 9,226 fans against Texas. Wednesday is an Orange Out, with the first 250 fans getting a free T-shirt. Fans can park free in the G-5/G-30 garage, and the clear bag policy applies.
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