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Saturday, September 25, 2021

UT wins SEC opener vs Arkansas

The Lady Vols got the “W” in their conference opener, defeating the Razorbacks in four (31-33, 25-19, 25-21, 25-14). More tonight.

UPDATE: Breana Runnels had a team-leading 15 kills. Ava Bell followed with 11 while hitting .688. Natalie Hayward had 9 kills, 38 assists, 6 blocks, and 19 digs, while hitting .750. Danielle Mahaffey and Morgahn Fingall had career highs in blocks with 12 and 9 respectively. Madison Bryant’s 22 digs were just 4 off her best.

Tennessee lost a set to an unranked team for the first time this season.

The Lady Vols put down 26 block assists and 8 block solos, for a total of 21 total team blocks. That’s good for the 5th most in the rally-scoring era.

UT won the match while hitting .195, just the 45th time in the rally-scoring era they’ve earned a win while hitting under .200.

Natalie Hayward was one stat away from two rarities on Rocky Top. The first: she was one kill from a triple double. It’s only happened here twice since 2001, and possibly just once in the side-out scoring era. The second: she was one dig away from a 20/20, with 38 assists and 19 digs. Only seven Lady Vols since 2001 have ever earned 20+ in two different double-double stats.