University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Volleyball Scheduled for Eight Televised Matched in 2026
August 05, 2026 | Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Tennessee volleyball is slated to compete in eight televised matches during the 2026 season, as ESPN and the SEC Network announced their television schedule Wednesday.
The Lady Vols will feature on ESPN2 three times this upcoming season, including their Sept. 6 return to the Broadway Block Party against Indiana. Three days later, UT will be back on ESPN2 as it travels to Kissimmee, Florida, for a neutral-site matchup with Pitt as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge. Tennessee will return to ESPN2 on Nov. 1, going on the road to the Show-Me State to take on Missouri.
Four Tennessee contests will be televised on SEC Network throughout the year, highlighted by its home match against Illinois as part of the inaugural SEC/Big Ten Challenge. Three other home competitions can be found on SEC Network during the season, including matches against Texas (Sept. 25), Kentucky (Oct. 21) and Vanderbilt (Oct. 25).
On Monday, the Big Ten Network announced its upcoming television lineup for the 2026 campaign, with Tennessee's Sept. 20 contest at Penn State slated to be carried on the network.
Three-time All-American setter Caroline Kerr returns to the team in 2026. The fifth-year standout was instrumental to the Tennessee offense last season, finishing the season with 945 assists and a 9.84 assists per set average. Kerr helped the Lady Vols average 14.17 kills per set while hitting .292 as a team, both figures ranking among the top 15 nationally in 2025. The Champaign, Illinois, native, enters her fourth season as the Lady Vols' starting setter and ranks sixth in program history with 3,259 career assists.
Tennessee also returns experienced players in middle blocker Chelsea Sutton and outside hitter Mackenzie Plante. Sutton was the team leader in blocks a season ago with 116, while finishing the year second on the team with 215 kills. The Ponte Vedra, Florida, native, also led the team in hitting percentage, a mark that ranked in the top five in the SEC. Plante had a career year in 2025, setting personal bests in every major statistical category. The senior was fourth on the team in kills with 182, while also playing a vital role defensively with 175 digs.
Five transfer additions make their debuts on Rocky Top in 2026. Coastal Carolina transfer Jalyn Stout enters the season as the NCAA's all-time leader in career triple-doubles with 46. Stout finished her three years with the Chanticleers with 1,112 kills, 1,545 assists and 1,041 digs. Kennedi Rogers comes to Tennessee after earning ACC All-Freshman honors at SMU, where she totaled 175 kills on a .272 hitting percentage. Nia Hall brings SEC experience to Rocky Top after spending last season at South Carolina. The senior led the Gamecocks in both kills (273) and kills per set (3.07) last season. Raegan Burns joins the Lady Vols after three seasons at Kansas. Across her three seasons there, Burns posted 756 digs, 246 assists and 31 aces. Setter Mallory Matheny comes over from Indiana. Matheny was one of the top-ranked prep setters in the nation, placing No. 22 overall according to Prep Volleyball.
With the 2026 season just around the corner, fans can now purchase single-match tickets by visiting AllVols.com. Season tickets are also still available, with general prices starting at $60 (plus taxes & fees). For more information on tickets, fans are encouraged to call the Tennessee Athletics Ticket Office at 865-656-1200.
The Lady Vols will feature on ESPN2 three times this upcoming season, including their Sept. 6 return to the Broadway Block Party against Indiana. Three days later, UT will be back on ESPN2 as it travels to Kissimmee, Florida, for a neutral-site matchup with Pitt as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge. Tennessee will return to ESPN2 on Nov. 1, going on the road to the Show-Me State to take on Missouri.
Four Tennessee contests will be televised on SEC Network throughout the year, highlighted by its home match against Illinois as part of the inaugural SEC/Big Ten Challenge. Three other home competitions can be found on SEC Network during the season, including matches against Texas (Sept. 25), Kentucky (Oct. 21) and Vanderbilt (Oct. 25).
On Monday, the Big Ten Network announced its upcoming television lineup for the 2026 campaign, with Tennessee's Sept. 20 contest at Penn State slated to be carried on the network.
Three-time All-American setter Caroline Kerr returns to the team in 2026. The fifth-year standout was instrumental to the Tennessee offense last season, finishing the season with 945 assists and a 9.84 assists per set average. Kerr helped the Lady Vols average 14.17 kills per set while hitting .292 as a team, both figures ranking among the top 15 nationally in 2025. The Champaign, Illinois, native, enters her fourth season as the Lady Vols' starting setter and ranks sixth in program history with 3,259 career assists.
Tennessee also returns experienced players in middle blocker Chelsea Sutton and outside hitter Mackenzie Plante. Sutton was the team leader in blocks a season ago with 116, while finishing the year second on the team with 215 kills. The Ponte Vedra, Florida, native, also led the team in hitting percentage, a mark that ranked in the top five in the SEC. Plante had a career year in 2025, setting personal bests in every major statistical category. The senior was fourth on the team in kills with 182, while also playing a vital role defensively with 175 digs.
Five transfer additions make their debuts on Rocky Top in 2026. Coastal Carolina transfer Jalyn Stout enters the season as the NCAA's all-time leader in career triple-doubles with 46. Stout finished her three years with the Chanticleers with 1,112 kills, 1,545 assists and 1,041 digs. Kennedi Rogers comes to Tennessee after earning ACC All-Freshman honors at SMU, where she totaled 175 kills on a .272 hitting percentage. Nia Hall brings SEC experience to Rocky Top after spending last season at South Carolina. The senior led the Gamecocks in both kills (273) and kills per set (3.07) last season. Raegan Burns joins the Lady Vols after three seasons at Kansas. Across her three seasons there, Burns posted 756 digs, 246 assists and 31 aces. Setter Mallory Matheny comes over from Indiana. Matheny was one of the top-ranked prep setters in the nation, placing No. 22 overall according to Prep Volleyball.
With the 2026 season just around the corner, fans can now purchase single-match tickets by visiting AllVols.com. Season tickets are also still available, with general prices starting at $60 (plus taxes & fees). For more information on tickets, fans are encouraged to call the Tennessee Athletics Ticket Office at 865-656-1200.
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