University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, October 9
Knoxville, Tenn.
6:30 p.m. ET
University of Tennessee
vs
Ole Miss
Weekend Preview: #10 Lady Vols Return Home to Face Ole Miss & LSU
October 08, 2026 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Conference play continues this weekend for the No. 10 Lady Vols as they host Ole Miss and LSU at Food City Center. The action gets started on Friday against Ole Miss at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by a Sunday afternoon contest versus LSU at 2 p.m. ET. Both matches will be streamed on SEC Network +.
Friday will be Tennessee's Dark Mode match, with the team sporting black jerseys. The first 500 fans in attendance will also receive a Dark Mode t-shirt. Sunday will be the Camper's Reunion Kids' Day Out. All campers in their 2026 camp t-shirt will receive a complimentary ticket at the gates. Following the conclusion of the match, there will also be a post-match clinic available to all children in attendance 12 or younger.
Fans planning to attend the match should follow Tennessee's clear bag policy. Parking is available free of charge to fans in the G-5/G-30 garage. Gates B and E will be the entrance for all general fans and player guests, while students will be directed to Gate A. Any additional items to know before coming out for any of the matches can be found on the Volleyball Gameday Page.
This marks the 64th meeting all-time between the Lady Vols and the Rebels. The two teams met last year in Oxford, Mississippi, with the Lady Vols pulling out a three-set victory. LSU and Tennessee have played 73 matches all-time. Last year, the two programs played in a five-set thriller in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with Tennessee earning the win.
Tennessee enters the weekend coming off its first SEC win in a three-set triumph over Auburn on the road. Kennedi Rogers and Caroline Kerr led the Lady Vols, both posting double-doubles in the win. Rogers recorded her 10th double-digit kill outing of the year with 15, and added 11 digs, while Kerr logged 34 assists and 13 digs in the win. Chelsea Sutton and Anni Tang combined for 14 kills in the match, with Sutton pacing the team with seven blocks. Raegan Burns had another strong performance in the back row, tying Kerr for a team-high 13 digs.
Ole Miss enters play after falling in a home match against Vanderbilt. Leading the Rebels' offense is Jorda Crook and Shayla Meyer, with 176 and 169 kills respectively. Supporting the Ole Miss attack is Vivianna Samaniego with 392 assists and is second on the team with 93 digs. Cameron Bradley has recorded a team-leading 255 digs and 5.00 dig per set. Bradley's 5.00 digs per set average leads the SEC and is ninth-best mark in Division I, while her 255 digs are the second-most in the conference. Crook also leads the team at the net with 46 blocks.
LSU picked up a five set victory at home against Missouri in its last match. One of the top attackers in the country, Jurnee Robinson ranks top ten nationally in multiple categories including kills per set (5.06, second), points per set (5.73, second), kills (273, fifth) and points (309.5, fifth). Two players lead the team in assists, with Lauren Brooker (290 assists) and Takyla Brown (242 assists) pacing the Tigers' offense. Sanaa Donaie leads the team with 54 blocks and comes into the weekend at 1.35 blocks per set which is third-best in the SEC. Kiley Brooks leads the LSU floor defense, with the sixth-most digs in the conference at 201. One of the top block defenses in the SEC, LSU ranks third with 133.5 blocks. Three players have recorded 40 or more blocks this season, with the aforementioned Donaie joined by Jessica Jones (47 blocks) and Robinson (42 blocks).
A trio of Lady Vols were recently named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List. Caroline Kerr, Kennedi Rogers, and Jalyn Stout were among the 16 players added to the watch list that features 46 of the nation's top players. This marks Kerr's third consecutive year on the watch list in her career. Semifinalists for the award will be announced in November, with finalists determined in December. The AVCA will announce its Player of the Year on Dec. 18.
The Big Orange offense has continued its trend of being one of the top units in the country under the guidance of head coach Eve Rackham Watt. Tennessee leads all of Division I with a 14.57 kills per set average this season. The unit also ranks 11th in the nation in hitting percentage at .289. In its previous eight seasons under Rackham Watt, UT has ranked in the top 20 nationally in either kills per set or hitting percentage in five seasons. Last season, Tennessee finished top 15 in both hitting percentage (.292, 10th) and kills per set (14.27, 11th).
The Big Orange defense has been key to the team's success in 2026. Tennessee is holding opposing offenses to a .177 hitting percentage. The team is averaging 13.67 digs per set and 2.65 blocks per set. That block per set total is the second-best in the SEC. Seven players have ten or more blocks, led by Chelsea Sutton with 46. Sutton enters play at 1.39 blocks per set, ranking second in the conference and top 30 nationally. The junior middle blocker has logged five or more blocks in six matches, including four of the last five. Raegan Burns leads the Lady Vols with 129 digs and 3.07 digs per set. Burns has led the team in digs in nine contests, reaching double figures eight times.
Friday will be Tennessee's Dark Mode match, with the team sporting black jerseys. The first 500 fans in attendance will also receive a Dark Mode t-shirt. Sunday will be the Camper's Reunion Kids' Day Out. All campers in their 2026 camp t-shirt will receive a complimentary ticket at the gates. Following the conclusion of the match, there will also be a post-match clinic available to all children in attendance 12 or younger.
Fans planning to attend the match should follow Tennessee's clear bag policy. Parking is available free of charge to fans in the G-5/G-30 garage. Gates B and E will be the entrance for all general fans and player guests, while students will be directed to Gate A. Any additional items to know before coming out for any of the matches can be found on the Volleyball Gameday Page.
This marks the 64th meeting all-time between the Lady Vols and the Rebels. The two teams met last year in Oxford, Mississippi, with the Lady Vols pulling out a three-set victory. LSU and Tennessee have played 73 matches all-time. Last year, the two programs played in a five-set thriller in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with Tennessee earning the win.
Tennessee enters the weekend coming off its first SEC win in a three-set triumph over Auburn on the road. Kennedi Rogers and Caroline Kerr led the Lady Vols, both posting double-doubles in the win. Rogers recorded her 10th double-digit kill outing of the year with 15, and added 11 digs, while Kerr logged 34 assists and 13 digs in the win. Chelsea Sutton and Anni Tang combined for 14 kills in the match, with Sutton pacing the team with seven blocks. Raegan Burns had another strong performance in the back row, tying Kerr for a team-high 13 digs.
Ole Miss enters play after falling in a home match against Vanderbilt. Leading the Rebels' offense is Jorda Crook and Shayla Meyer, with 176 and 169 kills respectively. Supporting the Ole Miss attack is Vivianna Samaniego with 392 assists and is second on the team with 93 digs. Cameron Bradley has recorded a team-leading 255 digs and 5.00 dig per set. Bradley's 5.00 digs per set average leads the SEC and is ninth-best mark in Division I, while her 255 digs are the second-most in the conference. Crook also leads the team at the net with 46 blocks.
LSU picked up a five set victory at home against Missouri in its last match. One of the top attackers in the country, Jurnee Robinson ranks top ten nationally in multiple categories including kills per set (5.06, second), points per set (5.73, second), kills (273, fifth) and points (309.5, fifth). Two players lead the team in assists, with Lauren Brooker (290 assists) and Takyla Brown (242 assists) pacing the Tigers' offense. Sanaa Donaie leads the team with 54 blocks and comes into the weekend at 1.35 blocks per set which is third-best in the SEC. Kiley Brooks leads the LSU floor defense, with the sixth-most digs in the conference at 201. One of the top block defenses in the SEC, LSU ranks third with 133.5 blocks. Three players have recorded 40 or more blocks this season, with the aforementioned Donaie joined by Jessica Jones (47 blocks) and Robinson (42 blocks).
A trio of Lady Vols were recently named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List. Caroline Kerr, Kennedi Rogers, and Jalyn Stout were among the 16 players added to the watch list that features 46 of the nation's top players. This marks Kerr's third consecutive year on the watch list in her career. Semifinalists for the award will be announced in November, with finalists determined in December. The AVCA will announce its Player of the Year on Dec. 18.
The Big Orange offense has continued its trend of being one of the top units in the country under the guidance of head coach Eve Rackham Watt. Tennessee leads all of Division I with a 14.57 kills per set average this season. The unit also ranks 11th in the nation in hitting percentage at .289. In its previous eight seasons under Rackham Watt, UT has ranked in the top 20 nationally in either kills per set or hitting percentage in five seasons. Last season, Tennessee finished top 15 in both hitting percentage (.292, 10th) and kills per set (14.27, 11th).
The Big Orange defense has been key to the team's success in 2026. Tennessee is holding opposing offenses to a .177 hitting percentage. The team is averaging 13.67 digs per set and 2.65 blocks per set. That block per set total is the second-best in the SEC. Seven players have ten or more blocks, led by Chelsea Sutton with 46. Sutton enters play at 1.39 blocks per set, ranking second in the conference and top 30 nationally. The junior middle blocker has logged five or more blocks in six matches, including four of the last five. Raegan Burns leads the Lady Vols with 129 digs and 3.07 digs per set. Burns has led the team in digs in nine contests, reaching double figures eight times.
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S/OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
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