Women's College Volleyball Game Information Week 7: TENNESSEE WELCOMES GEORGIA, AUBURN TO ROCKY TOP THIS WEEKEND
UT-UGA Showdown to be Shown Live on SportsSouth at 7 p.m. on Friday
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee volleyball team (10-5, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) will return to Rocky Top this weekend for league contests against Georgia (11-5, 2-3) and Auburn (11-5, 3-2). The Lady Volunteers will open the weekend with a showdown against the Bulldogs on SportsSouth at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, before hosting the Tigers two days later at 1:30 p.m. Sunday’s match is UT’s designated “Dig for the Cure” event as the squad helps to promote breast cancer awareness.
The Big Orange finished off a grueling, three-match road trip last week, staging impressive comebacks at both Louisville and South Carolina before suffering a 3-0 setback at No. 5 Florida. On Wednesday, the Lady Vols looked to be well on their way to defeat after dropping the first two frames to Louisville. They were able to right the ship, however, using impressive efforts from junior Nikki Fowler, sophomore Kayla Jeter and senior Chloe Goldman to post their first win after losing the first two sets of a match since it accomplished the feat against No. 7 Notre Dame on Nov. 26, 2005 in South Bend, Ind. It was also the first triumph claimed by a visiting team in the UT-Louisville series since it became an annual tradition in 2004. Fowler and Jeter combined for 41 of the team’s 67 kills, with totals of 21 and 20, respectively, while Goldman tallied her second-highest dig output of the season with 26 scoops.
Just two days later, the Big Orange got off to a slow start again, dropping the opening set to South Carolina in Columbia. This time, it would get back on track almost immediately, cruising to wins in each of the next three frames behind the strength of 12 kills by Jeter and 10 each from freshman Leslie Cikra and senior Farren Powe. For the second straight match, Goldman added 26 digs, while Fowler was just behind her with 18 of her own. Another slow start on Sunday at No. 5 Florida proved to the Orange and White’s downfall, as they fell in three sets to the Gators, despite a nine-kill, eight-dig effort by Fowler. Goldman matched her in the digs category as well, while Jeter added six putaways, an ace and a block in the loss.
For her efforts, Goldman became the second Lady Vol athlete in as many weeks to claim a weekly award from the SEC, taking home conference defensive player of the week honors. She finished the weekend with a remarkable average of 5.00 digs per set, while passing at a .962 clip with just four reception errors in 104 attempts. The Monterey, Calif., native is now only 39 digs away from becoming UT’s all-time leader in that category as well, with a career total of 1,436.
Following Sunday’s match against the Tigers, Tennessee will hit the road once again, traveling to Alabama and Mississippi State next weekend. The Orange and White will square off with the Crimson Tide at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 16 before making the trek to Starkville for a 1:30 p.m. showdown with the Bulldogs two days later.
LADY VOLS TO “DIG FOR THE CURE” AGAINST AUBURN ON SUNDAY
For the second consecutive season, the Lady Vols will host a “Dig for the Cure” event as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, doing so on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1:30 p.m. when they take on Auburn.
The Lindsay Young Downtown YMCA will loan a pink treadmill, which will be set up courtside, to help promote breast cancer awareness and research. The YMCA will donate 10 cents for each mile that is walked or ran during the event. The Knoxville affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority will also be collecting donations at the match, which will support breast cancer research.
From the time the gates open at 12:30 p.m., fans will have the chance to participate in the “Pink Ribbon Run” by running or walking on the treadmill for up to three minutes. Those who do will receive a pink volleyball. Once the match starts, either a cheerleader, Smokey or a member of the UT staff will walk on the treadmill. For every $10 donation, the speed will be bumped up a notch. The money donated during this time will go to the local chapter of the Susan G. Komen foundation and everyone that donates time will receive a pink prize.
All fans in pink will receive free admission and kids 12-and-under will receive a free hot dog and drink.
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