The Lady Vols travel to Cincinnati this weekend to take part in the Xavier Invitational. Joining them are Michigan, Notre Dame, and hosts Xavier.

• Two of Tennessee’s opponents this weekend upset a top five team in sweeps last weekend. Michigan knocked off #3 Nebraska, while Notre Dame took down #5 Stanford.

• Michigan is the #7 team in the country this week according to the AVCA poll — the highest ranking in school history.

• In its two wins so far this season Michigan has used the same starting lineup without sending in a substitution during either match.

• Two assistant coaches at the tournament will be facing the teams they were working with just two seasons ago. Gregg Whitis left Michigan after the 2007 season to join Tennessee. And Amanda Ault left Xavier after the 2007 season to join Michigan.

• Like Tennessee, this past April Notre Dame had a successful visit to Siesta Key in Florida. Lady Vols Kylie Marshall and Nikki Fowler won the Gold Division title of the SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships. Held in tandem with that event was the Collegiate Beach Volleyball Challenge where Notre Dame won the Team Cup.

• The 2004 Lady Vols went 32-3 (a school best record), losing only to #7 Ohio State, #8 Florida, and unranked Michigan. The 2005 Lady Vols defeated Xavier and #7 Notre Dame on their way to the Final Four (the schools highest appearance in the NCAA Tournament).

• Three Lady Vols will be heading back to their home state of Ohio this weekend: Leslie Cikra of Chagrin Falls, Kayla Jeter from Solon, and head coach Rob Patrick who’s originally from Cleveland and went to college at Miami University.

#7 Michigan (2-0)
Michigan leads the all time series 1-2
Tennessee lost the last meeting in 2004 3-1 (30-27, 19-30, 30-23, 30-20).
Game time is Friday, September 4th at 4:00pm ET
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Michigan match notes (PDF)

Notre Dame (2-1)
The all time series is tied 1-1
Tennessee lost the last meeting in 2007 3-1 (30-21, 30-20, 23-30, 30-19).
Game time is Saturday, September 5th at 2:30pm ET
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Notre Dame match notes (PDF)

Xavier (1-2)
Tennessee leads the all time series 1-0
Tennessee won the last meeting in 2005 3-1 (30-26, 30-12, 22-30, 30-22).
Game time is Saturday, September 6th at 3:00pm ET
Follow the match with Gametracker or free live video

UPDATE: Tennessee match notes here.