• In the SEC preseason poll Tennessee is projected to finish 9th according to the league coaches. Texas A&M is the favorite to repeat as conference champion, followed by Florida, Kentucky, and Missouri. This marks just the third time since 1994 that Florida has not been the coaches first choice, and the first time in that timeframe that someone other than Florida or Tennessee was the top pick.
• Tennessee continues to post player profile videos. Since last time they’ve added Breana Jeter and Courtney Mueller.
• The stat pages are up-to-date. Check out the new page for UT All-Americans and the updated instate players page which now goes all the way back to the 1970s!
• ESPN has a dedicated page for volleyball now, and two pieces about the coming season. First is their annual five questions article which features a query about the SEC; then their top 12 players to watch, which includes two that Tennessee will face off against.
• ESPN has also announced their expanded coverage of NCAA volleyball this season along with their lineup of commentators — many of whom have an SEC connection: Courtney Lyle – “previously called games on SEC Network + for the University of Tennessee”; Laura Bush – “former Auburn head coach and Minnesota associate head coach”; Jenny Hazlewood – “former Mississippi State head coach”; Maria Taylor – “three-time All-SEC at Georgia”; Missy Whittemore – “three-time Academic All-American at Florida”.
• The newly launched online only Volleyball Magazine has a preview of the SEC season.
• Volleyball Magazine has also started a new poll for schools outside the Power Five conferences. UT opponent Xavier comes in at #24 in the inaugural ranking.