KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —  Tennessee, which is receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls, hits the road to face No. 16/14 Notre Dame at Purcell Pavilion in the Joyce Center on Monday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.

The Lady Vols enter the game with a 2-0 record after winning their home opener and head coach Kellie Harper‘s first regular-season game at Thompson-Boling Arena vs. Central Arkansas on Thursday night, 63-36. UT opened the Harper era on the road last Tuesday evening with a hard-fought 72-68 victory over ETSU at sold-out Freedom Hall in Johnson City.

Notre Dame also comes into the match-up with a 2-0 mark after beating Loyola Maryland Friday night, 84-60. The Irish also opened the season on the road last Tuesday night, holding off Fordham, 60-55.

This is the 30th meeting in the series and the 10th straight year these teams have met. Though this is the fourth time UT and ND have played in November, it’s the first time since 1996 they’ve met in the 11th month and even earlier than that season’s contest on the 19th day of November.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• Monday night’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 with Adam Amin (PxP), Rebecca Lobo (Analyst) and Andy Landers (Analyst) on the call.
• The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone calling the action for the 21st season.
• A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol schedule on UTSports.com.
• For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click on the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on Vol Network Affiliates in the black bar at the top of the page.
• Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
• SECN+ games are online broadcasts and are available only on WatchESPN via computers, smartphones and tablets.
• All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) and the SEC Network will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

RECAPPING OUR LAST GAME

• In just the third meeting in school history, the University of Tennessee defeated Central Arkansas, 63-36, in Thompson-Boling Arena on Thursday night.
• After allowing 18 points to the Sugar Bears (0-1) in the first quarter, Tennessee (2-0) surrendered just 18 points the rest of the way to give head coach Kellie Harper her first regular season win on The Summitt. The effort enabled the Lady Vols to improve their record in home openers to 43-3 all-time.
• In her first career start in a Lady Vol uniform, freshman guard Jordan Horston posted a team-leading 17 points on 7-of-9 accuracy from the field and 2-of-2 shooting from the three-point arc. She also pulled down five rebounds and dished out three assists in 27 minutes of duty.
• Sophomore guard Zaay Green tossed in nine points, while freshman Tamari Key and sophomore Rae Burrell chipped in eight each.  Key was one of five Lady Vols pulling down five rebounds and once again led UT with three blocked shots. She is averaging four per game through her first two contests.

LADY VOL LEFTOVERS FROM THURSDAY

• Hot-Hand Horston: Freshman Jordan Horston started out a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor vs. UCA, including 2-of-2 from long range. She went on to a 7-of-9 effort with a game-high 17 points.
• Newbies Getting Things Started: For the second-straight game, newcomers got things started offensively for Tennessee, scoring the first 16 points of the game (Jordan Horston – 8, Tamari Key – 6, Lou Brown – 2). In the previous game against ETSU, newcomers scored the first 17 points (Brown – 9, Horston – 4, McCoy – 2, Key – 2).
• A Night of Firsts: Three new Lady Vols made their way into the starting lineup against Central Arkansas. Freshmen Jordan Horston and Tamari Key each made their first career starts, while redshirt senior Lou Brown made her first start at Tennessee.
• Balanced Attack: All 11 active Tennessee players contributed at least two points in the win over UCA. Jaiden McCoy (left hand injury vs. ETSU) didn’t play.
• Tightening Up The Defense: After allowing UCA to score 18 points in the first quarter, UT bunkered down and allowed just seven points each in the second and third quarters. The Lady Vols then held the Sugar Bears to only four points in the fourth stanza, tying for the third fewest points allowed in a quarter.
• Owning The Paint: The Lady Vols scored 46 of their 63 points in the paint while allowing the Sugar Bears just 14.

PRESEASON RECOGNITION

• Junior wing Rennia Davis is a member of the Wade Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, Women’s Citizen Naismith Trophy and Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch Lists.
• Davis was named to the SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC First Team.
• She was a second-team selection on the SEC Media Preseason squad.
• Last season, Davis was an All-SEC Second Team choice by both the media and coaches and a WBCA All-America honorable mention choice.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME

• Notre Dame returned five letterwinners, but no starters, from last season’s NCAA Final Four runner-up squad that went 35-4.
• The Fighting Irish have won six straight ACC regular-season titles.
• UND welcomed four newcomers, including graduate transfers Marta Sniezek (Stanford) and Destinee Walker (North Carolina), and freshmen Sam Brunelle and Anaya Peoples, both McDonald’s All-Americans.
• Key returnees Mikayla Vaughn and Abby Prohaska have suffered injuries, leaving the Irish with seven scholarship players.

RECAPPING UND’S LAST GAME

• Katlyn Gilbert was the heroine of the night in her first career start, blowing past her previous career high of 14 points with a team-best 24 points to lead No. 16/14 Notre Dame to an 84-60 win over  Loyola Maryland.
• Freshman Anaya Peoples recorded her second straight game in double figures with a season-best 19 points to go with her seven rebounds.
• Destinee Walker also contributed a big night with 19 points and six boards. Next, Sam Brunelle rounded out the double-digit scorers with a near double-double of 12 points and nine rebounds.
• The Irish finished the game with a 48.5 shooting percentage, while Loyola was limited to 31.6 percent. The Irish also scored 42 of their points in the paint.

THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET

• Freshman guard Zaay Green scored 15 points in the first half to put UT up 34-31 at the break, but No. 1/1 Notre Dame rallied in the second half to grab a 77-62 win at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Green finished the game with a career-high 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while senior forward Cheridene Green pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds for the Lady Vols.
• Despite a four-point first-half effort, Arike Ogunbowale finished as the leading scorer for the Irish with 28 points, while Jackie Young posted a triple-double with 16 points, 13 boards and 10 assists.

UP NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE

• Tennessee returns home to host in-state foe Tennessee State on Nov. 14.
• Notre Dame continues its home stand, hosting Michigan State on Thursday.

UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee looks to pick up its third consecutive win and first road victory on Saturday against SEC East foe Kentucky.

The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. (ET) kick and will be the Vols’ penultimate road contest of the regular season. A victory would put UT (4-5, 2-3 SEC) at .500, with the team looking for its first win in Lexington, Ky., since its 52-21 triumph in 2015.

Broadcast Info
Saturday’s contest will be televised on SEC Network with Tom Hart (PxP), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline) on the call.

Fans can also listen to Tennessee’s official radio broadcast on the Vol Network (WIVK-FM 107.7) and satellite radio (XM Ch. 380, Internet Ch. 969). Bob Kesling (PxP), Tim Priest (analyst) and Brent Hubbs (analyst) will call the action all season long.

Fans can listen to the official Vol Network broadcast at the game on FM 101.7.

Need to Know
Trey Smith Leads Coat Drive
Junior O-lineman Trey Smith is leading the charge for the 34th annual Coats for the Cold Drive, which ends on Nov. 9. Smith, who spearheaded the Vols efforts in 2018, was able to help get 1,000 coats donated last season to the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM). To donate, go to KARM.org to find the nearest drop off center.

Vols Continue to Earn Weekly Recognition
Tennessee was represented for the second consecutive week on the conference’s weekly award list, this time with sophomore CB Bryce Thompson picking up the SEC Defensive Player of the Week award after his school-record-tying three-interception performance against UAB. The awards kept coming for Thompson who was recognized nationally as the Bednarik Award Player of the Week.

Junior K Brent Cimaglia also was named one of the Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award “Stars of the Week.” Cimaglia, who leads the SEC in field goals (18) and field goal percentage (90.0), was also named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award on Thursday.

Thompson and freshman LB Henry To’o To’o also picked up PFF College National Team of the Week nods, while five total Vols including the aforementioned were among the PFF College SEC Team of the Week. The others were freshman S Jaylen McCollough, redshirt senior OLB Darrell Taylor and redshirt senior WR Jauan Jennings.

Jennings leads the nation in missed tackles forced by a wide receiver (21).

Thompson Turns Up
Defensive back Bryce Thompson impressed in UT’s Homecoming victory over UAB with a defensive performance for the books. The sophomore picked off three passes in the decisive 30-7 win over the Blazers, tying the program record for single-game interceptions. The Irmo, S.C. native’s output was the most by a Vol since 1999 and led a defensive effort that held UAB to only 237 tards of total offense.

Thompson’s performance did not go unnoticed as he earned national recognition as the Bednarik Award Player of the Week after also nabbing the SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor. He also found a spot on the PFF College National Defensive Team of the Week.

The Vols lead the SEC and rank third nationally with 13 interceptions through nine games, already surpassing their total from 2018 (nine).

Automaglia
Kicker Brent Cimaglia leads the SEC and is tied for third in the nation with 18 field goals made, while his 90.0 field goal percentage (18-of-20) leads the SEC. He drilled a career-long 53-yarder against UAB and is a remarkable 8-of-9 on field goals from 40 yards or longer in 2019.

Cimaglia was named one of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award “Stars of the Week” for his perfect 3-for-3 field goal performance against the Blazers as he added 12 points for the Vols.

The Nashville native scored UT’s first nine points against the Blazers, nailing kicks from 36, 48 and 53 yards out.

Jennings Continues Climbing in Records
Jauan Jennings continues to climb the program ledger. The redshirt senior wideout has recorded at least one touchdown in each of the Vols’ previous three outings and has racked up significant yardage while doing it. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native currently ranks sixth in total receptions, ninth in career receiving yards (1,906), and is tied for ninth with 17 touchdown receptions. He leads the Vols with eight touchdowns, his most recent trip to the endzone was on a 2-yard push, the first rushing TD of his career, and also paces UT with 722 receiving yards and 47 receptions.

In week eight, Jennings was named the league’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week after scoring a pair of touchdowns and tallying 174 receiving yards against South Carolina. His yardage against the Gamecocks was the most by a Tennessee player since 2012 and the most in an SEC game since 2010. He also became the first Vol to amass more than 150 yards receiving and two touchdowns against and SEC opponent since Donté Stallworth had 169 yards and three receptions at Kentucky on Nov. 17, 2001.

Taylor’s Hunting for Quarterbacks
UT linebacker Darrell Taylor is prepared for a repeat performance headed into Kentucky on Saturday. A season ago, the Hopewell, Va., native smothered the Wildcats quarterback with four sacks, becoming only the third player in Tennessee history to do so along with Reggie White and Corey Miller.

The redshirt senior had combined for three sacks in the Vols last two outings, and ranks second in the SEC among active players with 17 career sacks.

Through nine games, he’s accumulated six sacks, seven tackles for loss, 33 tackles, three quarterback hurries, four pass break ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Series History
Vols lead series, 80-25-9
The Vols-Wildcats series is the program’s longest standing matchup dating back to 1893. Saturday’s contest will mark the 115th iteration with UT holding an 80-25-9 advantage in the series. Tennessee has beaten Kentucky more than any other team and is 37-15-3 record in Lexington.

Last time out, led by linebacker Darrell Taylor’s four-sack performance, the Vols routed No. 11 Kentucky, 24-7 on Nov. 10, 2018 in one of the top victories of Jeremy Pruitt’s inaugural season.

Despite having a significant edge in the all-time series, the Vols look for their first victory at Kroger Field since 2015. In its last visit to the Bluegrass State in 2017, the Orange and White were bolstered by four fumble recoveries and running back Ty Chandler’s 120-yard rushing and two-touchdown performance, but ultimately fell 29-26.

About Kentucky
Kentucky (4-4, 2-4 SEC) is coming off of its second bye week of the season and the contest with UT closes a two-game homestand for the Wildcats.

Led by head coach Mark Stoops, now in his seventh season, UK will return to the field for the first time since a lopsided 29-7 home victory against Missouri and has just one loss at home this season. Under Stoops, Kentucky holds a 40-43 record, and has either matched or exceeded the win total from its previous season.

UK has also allowed 24 points or less in 20 of its last 23 games and is tied for first in the FBS for fewest passing touchdowns allowed (four) while being explosive on the other side of the ball. The Wildcats rank sixth in the FBS and second in the SEC, for running plays of at least 20 yards (23).

A large part of their success on the ground is credited to converted junior quarterback Lynn Bowden, Jr., who shifted to play-caller from wide receiver for the past three contests due to injuries. A two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week recipient, Bowden amassed 196 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns against Arkansas and 204 ground yards and two touchdowns against Missouri, both UK victories.

Bowden, along with classmate Max Duffy, a punter, were named Midseason All-Americans by the Associated Press and ESPN. Duffy ranks second nationally in punting at 48.8 yards per punt and won the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week in week five and week nine after surpassing his average on both occasions.
UT Athletics

By Zach Stipe, Director of Football Communications

On the field, Trey Smith enjoys putting opponents on the ground.

Tennessee’s ultra-competitive junior offensive lineman from Jackson, Tenn., loves nothing more than a good old fashioned “pancake” or “knockdown” when he’s battling a defensive lineman in a game.

“I dominated you and knocked you on your back,” Smith says with a grin. “There really is no better feeling, honestly, than taking your man from Point A to Point B and putting him on his back.”

Smith has put a lot of opponents on their back during his three-year career that has included Freshman All-America and All-SEC Second Team honors. He recently recorded 11 knockdowns against Mississippi State, spearheading a 20-10 Tennessee victory at Neyland Stadium and collecting SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week accolades.

Smith also enjoys picking people up.

Whether it’s organizing a coat drive for underprivileged families during the winter, assisting with a holiday dinner for the homeless or telling his story about overcoming adversity to kids of all ages, the 6’6, 320-pounder has a heart to match his prototypical left guard frame.

“The story that I tell people is that it doesn’t really matter where you come from, what your situation is, you don’t need to give up,” Smith said. “You just need to keep fighting and fighting because you never know what’s going to happen. At the end of the day you shouldn’t give up because of your circumstances, you should always keep fighting, because you don’t know what God has in store for you.”

Smith is the living embodiment of this.

His collegiate playing career was put on hold following the discovery of blood clots. After a standout 2017 season that saw him become the first Volunteer true freshman to start at left tackle in over 30 years, he was expected to be one of the nation’s top offensive linemen as a sophomore. However, he was limited before the 2018 season following the off-season scare and then played in only seven games during Jeremy Pruitt‘s first season as the head coach in 2018. The blood clots returned and Smith’s future in football was up in the air heading into the 2019 offseason.

With encouragement from his coaches and family, Smith kept in shape during the winter and spring with the plan to return to the game he loves.

Pruitt, in particular, was very encouraging to Smith, making sure he remained included as a part of the team while he was out. Pruitt also reminded him to stay ready.

“He’s always been focused on me and my individual health rather thinking about the future in football,” Smith said. “We always have said that health comes first, and football comes second. It was really cool because there was the point last year where I didn’t know if I would play anymore and (Coach Pruitt) was telling me you never know what’s going to happen, so keep working out, because if a positive breakthrough happens then you are prepared for that moment.”

The positive breakthrough happened right before the season kicked off when Tennessee announced its star left guard was cleared to play in the 2019 season opener.

Smith and his family consulted with several of the best doctors in the country and a plan was developed that allowed him to play.

“My family and I are confident in that plan,” Smith said. “The coaches and staff here at Tennessee have always had my best interests at heart and I can’t thank them enough.”

The coaching staff brought Smith along slowly since he didn’t practice much leading into the fall. He didn’t start the first game and was on a snap-limit for the first few games. He has improved each week, and much like the Tennessee team, he continues to get better and is looking to peak next month as the Vols will compete for a bowl berth.

“I think right now it’s like climbing a mountain,” Smith said. “At the beginning we are at the bottom, and it’s like ‘Can we get up there?’ But now we are slowly going up, and eventually we are going to get to the top. We are still climbing.”

The Vols are still climbing and improving behind an offensive line that is led by Smith and redshirt senior center Brandon Kennedy. They are the veterans on the line that includes a pair of true freshmen tackles in Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright. The fifth member of the line has rotated with sophomore Jerome Carvin appearing to settle in at right guard, but redshirt juniors Ryan Johnson and Marcus Tatum as well as redshirt sophomores K’Rojhn Calbert and Riley Locklear are also providing quality reps in games.

“I think my leadership comes in different ways,” Smith said. “I feel like a lot of times my leadership comes in games. It’s third-and-short, if it’s third-and-long, if it’s a third-down scenario where we need to hold the line, I make sure everyone is locked in – especially Wanya and Darnell because their development is going to be key in the future.”

Led by Smith, the Vols relied on the running game to defeat Mississippi State before showing flashes of dominance against the nation’s No. 1 team in a loss at Alabama. The Vols’ offensive line pushed around the Crimson Tide’s defensive front throughout the game and opened holes for Tim Jordan who rushed for 94 yards on 17 carries.

Against South Carolina the following week, Smith and Kennedy led the Vols’ top offensive performance of the season. Tennessee had a season-high 485 yards of total offense and 351 passing yards despite playing three quarterbacks.

Smith handled South Carolina’s highly touted defensive line, holding the Gamecocks without a sack for the first time all season.

“I think everybody is really just excited for Trey,” Pruitt said. “Trey is a great person, comes from a great family. When you talk about representing the University of Tennessee the right way, it’s Trey Smith.”

Smith is a Tennessee kid and he is determined to get the Vols back to being one of the nation’s top programs. He takes pride in playing for his home state, wearing the Power T, running through the T and being an ambassador in the community.

“It means everything to me to put on the Orange and White every week, coming from the Jackson area and having several greats that have played here before me like Al Wilson, Trey Teague and Jabari Greer,” Smith said. “(Fellow Jackson native) Greg Emerson and I talked about leaving our legacy here and creating a ‘Jackson Pipeline.'”

Smith is well on his way to leaving an impressive legacy at Tennessee from overcoming adversity to impacting the community to knocking opponents down on the field.

“From day one, you knew Trey was an outstanding person and just a joy to be around,” Vols offensive line coach Will Friend said. “You feel for what he’s had to go through, but he’s had a great attitude. With all the adversity that he’s dealt with, you haven’t seen a change in Trey, and I think that’s a pretty good lesson to all of us, regardless of playing football or not.”

Smith plays for his family – his father, Henry, his namesake (Trey comes from Henry Smith III) and who also was a star football player from Jackson, his sister, Ashley, a former Lady Vol basketball manager under Pat Summitt, who now works as the Director of Student-Athlete Career Development for the Tennessee Athletic Department, and, of course, his mother, Dorsetta, who died in 2015.

And he plays the game because he loves it. It was almost taken away from him, so he is going to give his all to the game and give his all for Tennessee.

“I’m going to try to play as hard as I can, playing every play like it’s my last,” Smith said. “I always want to give as much effort as possible.”

UT Athletics