The second half of the split 2020 SEC volleyball season continues for Tennessee this week as the Lady Vols hit the road to take on Texas A&M on Friday and Saturday. I’ll have notes up later this week for that matchup, but until then here are some other news items from the last few weeks.

Single match tickets are now available for every UT home volleyball gave this spring. Like the fall season, I assume attendance will be limited, so grab them while you can!

Due to players opting-out and injuries, Auburn has decided not to compete in the spring portion of the 2020 season.

Last, but definitely not least, Tennessee has announced several players who will be joining the Lady Vols during 2021:

Julie Wittekind, a DS/L from Cincinnati, joined the team in Janury to begin training, but will not be eligible to play until fall. Coach Rackham said, “We are so excited to welcome Julie to Rocky Top… Julie brings great ball control and exciting defense, which will add to the depth of our backrow. She is a player who loves to train, is a great teammate and someone our staff has a lot of belief in. I am looking forward to watching Julie develop in our system.”

Emily Beeker, a middle blocker from Hendersonville NC. Coach Rackham: “Emily Beeker will provide depth for us in the middle blocker position. She is on the newer side to the sport, so we plan to redshirt her first season. What excites us most about Emily is her willingness to learn, compete and believe in herself. Her long term potential is really high and it will be fun to watch her develop. At 6-5, she is built to be a true middle blocker and with hard work, she has the potential to be great.”

Izzy Durnell an outside hitter from Suwanee GA. Coach Rackham: “Izzy Durnell is a player we are really excited about. She is extremely versatile and a lefty, which adds an additional level to her all-around game. She had a tremendous senior year, garnering multiple awards and leading her team deep into the state tournament. What we love about Izzy is her ability to play any position. She will find a way to compete throughout her career.”

Ashllyn King, an outside hitter from Murfreesboro TN. Coach Rackham: “Ashllyn King is a great in-state player, which is important to our staff. Another versatile athlete with a high motor, Ashllyn has the ability to play multiple positions. We are excited to have her in our gym every day. Her positive attitude, vocal personality and high energy will make her a great teammate.”

Ava Moes, an outside hitter from Prior Lake MN. Coach Rackham: Ava Moes will come in right away and improve the level of our gym. She is a natural blocker, with great vision and a terminating attacker with a high contact point. Ava has trained at a very high level her entire prep career and also has the ability to play anywhere along the front row. She is a great athlete with a really high IQ and we are excited to see her grow in our system.”