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Hoops Preview: Lady Vols vs. Vanderbilt

Posted on February 10, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee (17-9, 9-2 SEC), which is receiving votes in both polls, welcomes Vanderbilt (11-14, 2-9 SEC) to Thompson-Boling Arena for a 2:02 p.m. matchup on Sunday in the Lady Vols’ annual Play4Kay game.

This will mark the 88th meeting of the in-state rivalry, with UT leading the series, 77-10, after winning the programs’ first tilt this season, 84-71, at Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 8.

The Lady Vols enter the contest residing in third place in the SEC standings, while the Commodores are tied for 12th with Kentucky.

Tennessee looks to bounce back after dropping a 91-90 double overtime heartbreaker at Mississippi State on Feb. 6 in which Rickea Jackson (28/11) and Jillian Hollingshead (18/12) produced points/rebounds double-doubles.

The Lady Vols finally reached their first open date of conference play on Thursday, taking advantage this week of extra time for practice, additional attention to academics and much-needed rest.

Vanderbilt hosted Arkansas on Thursday night, and the Commodores picked up their second SEC win of the campaign, taking down the Razorbacks, 78-70, behind four players scoring in double figures and three playing all 40 minutes of the contest.

Game Info./Promotions

Sunday’s game is UT’s #Play4Kay game, with each team wearing pink as part of their uniform design to bring awareness to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund’s fight toward ending all forms of cancer affecting women.
Uniting players, coaches and fans to do something for the greater good that far exceeds wins and losses on the court, the #Play4Kay initiative is the largest fundraiser and plays a major role in the success of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
There is free admission for cancer survivors.
Pink shirts are available to purchase from Orange Mountain Design, with those buying one receiving a free ticket to the Play4Kay game vs Vanderbilt.
Proceeds from the shirts will be donated to the Play4Kay Foundation.
The Weekend Family 4 Pack Deal will be available, featuring four tickets & four $10 concession vouchers starting at $72 (plus tax/fees).
Free parking and shuttle service from the Ag Campus (Lot CF near Brehm & Food Science Bldgs.).
For additional details and information, please call 865-974-1734 or visit the Fans tab on UTSports.com and click on the Fan Experience link.

Broadcast Information

Sunday’s game will be streamed on SECN+, with Michael Wottreng (PxP) and Kamera Harris (Analyst) on the call.
All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) 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.
The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network stations and by audio stream, with Brian Rice on the call and Andy Brock serving as studio host.
A link to the live audio stream can be found on the Hoops Central page or the 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 the Vol Network Affiliates tab.
Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
The Lady Vol Network broadcast also can be heard frequently on satellite radio via SiriusXM and the SXM App. This game, however, will not be available.

I-40/17thStreet Construction Alert

Expect I-40 delays this weekend near campus and arrive early.
Significant traffic congestion could increase due to TDOT repairs to the I-40 bridge over 17th Street.
Lane closures: I-40 East & West between MM 386 & almost 389, small sections of I-275 as well as Alcoa Highway.

History Between Them

The 2021-22 season brought a brand new look to the Tennessee-Vanderbilt rivalry, as former Lady Vol standout Kellie Harper, who was then in her third year leading her alma mater, met then first-year Vandy skipper Shea Ralph, a UConn alum, for the very first time as head coaches.
It’s now year four at UT for Harper and year two for Ralph at VU, with Harper getting victories in the coaches’ two meetings a year ago and in the first matchup at Nashville in 2022-23.
The duo’s careers at UT and UConn overlapped from 1996-97 to 1998-99, with Harper (then known as Kellie Jolly) helping lead UT to the second and third of three-straight NCAA titles in 1997 and 1998, while Ralph contributed to a UConn crown in 1999-2000 after Harper had graduated.
Harper was 4-2 as a player vs. UConn, including 3-1 in games when both were on the rosters of the respective programs.
Both coaches feature spouses on their staff, with Jon Harper serving as an assistant coach alongside his wife, Kellie, for the 19th season. Tom Garrick is Ralph’s husband, and he is in his second year as an associate head coach on her staff. SEC observers may also recall Garrick was an assistant at Vandy from 2009-15.
Harper has two children, including son Jackson and daughter Kylie. Ralph has a daughter, Maysen.

Lady Vols vs. In-State Foes

The Tennessee women are now 259-61-1 all-time vs. four-year college teams from the Volunteer State, and Kellie Harper is 15-0 in those matchups in her fourth season on Rocky Top.
The Lady Vols are 2-0 in 2022-23 (wins vs. Chattanooga and Vanderbilt), were 6-0 in 2021-22 (wins vs. Tenn. Tech, ETSU, Chattanooga and Belmont at home and vs. Vanderbilt on the road and at home) and were 3-0 in 2020-21, with wins over ETSU, Lipscomb and Middle Tennessee, with two games on the schedule vs. Vandy (home and away) canceled.
UT has won 15 in a row over schools from within the state border and 31 of the last 32, with the lone setback during that run being a 76-69 loss to Vanderbilt in Knoxville on Feb. 28, 2019.

Looking Back At The MSU Game

The Lady Vols suffered a 91-90 loss to Mississippi State on Monday night in a double-overtime thriller that featured 17 lead changes and 14 ties inside Humphrey Coliseum.
Senior Rickea Jackson recorded a double-double to lead UT (17-9, 9-2 SEC), tying her season highs of 28 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore Jillian Hollingshead recorded the first double-double of her career with 18 points and 12 rebounds, setting career highs in both categories. Junior Tess Darby was also in double figures, turning in 10 points on the night.
MSU (16-7, 5-5 SEC) was led by Jerkaila Jordan, who tallied 24 points. Asianae Johnson and Anastasia Hayes were also in double figures with 16 and 14, respectively.

Hollingshead Becoming A Force

Sophomore Jillian Hollingshead is hitting her stride, recording her first career double-double against Mississippi State with 18 points and 12 rebounds to find her way into double-digit scoring for fourth time this season and second time in the last four games.
Over her last four outings, she is averaging 11.3 ppg. and 7.8 rpg. off the bench.

Team Free Throws In Record Book

Tennessee’s 37 made free throws vs. MSU tied as the third-most in school history along with the 37 netted vs. Vanderbilt on Jan. 19, 1997.
The 44 attempts against the Bulldogs matched UT’s effort vs. Alabama on March 6, 1994.
The 84.1 percent accuracy vs. State was a season high for the Lady Vols.

Rickea Ties UT’s Best Free Throw Mark

Rickea Jackson’s 13-for-13, 100-percent effort at the charity stripe vs. Mississippi State tied a school free throw percentage record set by Gail Dobson on March 1, 1975, vs. Union (Tenn.).
Jackson’s 13 makes tied for the No. 8 school mark with seven other Lady Vols.

UT/VU Notes

The Lady Vols are 35-1 vs. the Commodores in Knoxville, 32-7 in Nashville and 10-2 at neutral sites (all postseason).
UT has won 15 of the past 16 games vs. Vanderbilt.
These squads have been to overtime on one occasion, with Tennessee seizing a 92-79 decision in Nashville on Jan. 19, 1997.
Including that OT game in ’97, Kellie (Jolly) Harper was 9-0 vs. VU as a Lady Vol point guard, and she is 5-0 as UT’s coach.
Harper was 0-1 vs. VU at Western Carolina and 1-1 at NC State.
The 84 points scored by the Lady Vols in Nashville earlier this season were the most in Memorial Gymnasium since defeating Vandy, 94-88, on Feb. 15, 2004.

A Look At The Commodores

Ciaja Harbison, a transfer from St. Louis Univ., leads Vanderbilt in scoring at 19.7 ppg., hitting 81.7 pct. (125-153) on free throws.
Boston College transfer Marnelle Garraud is putting up 12.7 ppg., draining 69 treys and hitting 81.4 pct. on free throws.
The Commodores are surrendering 80.5 points per game and 51.5 field goal percentage to SEC opponents.
On the boards, VU has a 28.6-40.3 deficit (-11.7) vs. SEC foes that has improved from -22.0 the last time these teams played.

Vanderbilt’s Last Game

Marnelle Garraud posted a team-high 19 points and added seven rebounds Thursday to lead four Vanderbilt players in double figures as the Commodores defeated Arkansas 78-70 at Memorial Gymnasium.
Ciaja Harbison contributed 16 points, eight assists and four steals, Sacha Washington recorded 16 points and eight rebounds, and Ryanne Allen finished with 12 and six, respectively, to help Vandy improve to 11-14 on the season and 2-9 in the SEC. Makayla Daniels had 31 for the Razorbacks.

Last Meeting Between UT/Vandy

Tennessee remained perfect in SEC women’s basketball play, defeating Vanderbilt in Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 8, 2023, 84-71.
The 84 points scored by the Lady Vols in Nashville were the most by UT in Memorial Gymnasium since defeating Vandy there, 94-88, on Feb. 15, 2004.
Three players were in double figures for the Lady Vols (12-6, 4-0 SEC). Senior Rickea Jackson was the top scorer for UT with 23 points, while sophomore Karoline Striplin had a career-high 13 and senior Jordan Horston turned in 13 points to go along with eight assists and eight rebounds.
The Big Orange built its win streak to five games and claimed victory for the 10th time in the past 12 contests. Tennessee, which beat VU for the 15th time in the past 16 meetings in the series, remained tied atop the SEC standings along with South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
The Commodores (9-9, 0-4 SEC), who fell to their in-state rivals at Memorial Gymnasium for the eighth-straight occasion, were led by Ciaja Harbison who had a game-high 27 points. Marnelle Garraud and Sacha Washington were also in double figures with 19 and 13, respectively.

Last Time In Knoxville

Reaching 10 wins in SEC action, the No. 13/10 Lady Volunteers topped Vanderbilt, 66-52, on Feb. 13, 2022, the last time they met in Knoxville.
Guard Jordan Horston was stellar for the Lady Vols, tallying 16 points, 13 boards and seven assists while carding her 12th double-double of the season.
Rae Burrell posted her third game in a row with double-figure points off the bench and seventh game in nine scoring 10 plus. The senior tallied 15 points, while four Lady Vols scored eight, including graduate Alexus Dye, graduate Jordan Walker, junior Tamari Key and freshman Sara Puckett.
The Big Orange dominated on the glass all day long, out-rebounding the Commodores, 48-29, and posting their 19th double-digit margin on the boards in 25 contests.
UT also got a jolt from its bench, which posted 26 points to VU’s seven, and used its height advantage to double up Vandy on points in the paint, 32-16.

Upcoming Games

After Sunday, there are only two more regular season Lady Vol home games.
Tennessee’s next home contest will be the Senior Day matchup vs. Auburn at noon on Feb. 19.
UT seniors will be saluted during pregame festivities.
The Weekend Family 4 Pack Deal will be available, with four tickets & four $10 concession vouchers starting at $72 (plus tax/fees).

-UT Athletics

Program-Record Four Vols Named to Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

Posted on February 10, 2023

2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

CARY, N.C. – A program-record four Tennessee Volunteers have been named to the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball on Friday afternoon.

The pitching trio of Chase Dollander, Chase Burns and Drew Beam, along with newcomer Maui Ahuna, were all recognized on the 55-man preseason watch list for the award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top amateur baseball player.

The group of Dollander, Burns and Beam combined to make 43 starts last season, posting a 26-3 record with 273 strikeouts while issuing just 59 walks. Ahuna was a first-team All-Big 12 selection while at Kansas and played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team over the summer before joining the Vols’ program this fall.

With this year’s four selections, UT has now had at least one player named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List for four straight years and has had 13 total players named to the preseason list in the award’s history. Dollander, Burns and Beam all appeared on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List last season, with Burns also making the list of semifinalists in 2022.

Friday’s honor adds to a long list of preseason accolades for all four Vols, who have each garnered spots on multiple preseason All-America teams, as well.

In all, 40 different schools and 16 conferences are represented on this year’s preseason watch list. Tennessee and LSU led all programs with four selections apiece, while the SEC’s 17 players on the list led all conferences.

To view the full 2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, click HERE.

Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2023. Amateur baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning on May 22 with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 7, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 21.

The 2023 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:

• April 5: Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List announced
• May 22: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced and fan voting begins
• June 5: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
• June 7: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced and fan voting begins
• June 21: Golden Spikes Award finalists’ fan voting ends
• June 25: Golden Spikes Award winner announced

To stay up to date on the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter.

2023 Tennessee Baseball Preseason Honors

INF Maui Ahuna
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America Second Team – NCBWA
Preseason All-America Third Team – D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball News, Perfect Game
Preseason All-SEC Second Team – SS

RHP Drew Beam
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America First Team – NCBWA
Preseason All-America Second Team – Collegiate Baseball News, Perfect Game
Preseason All-America Third Team – D1Baseball

RHP Chase Burns
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America First Team – D1Baseball, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball News, NCBWA, Perfect Game
Preseason All-SEC First Team – SP

LHP Kirby Connell
Preseason All-America Second Team – NCBWA

OF/C Jared Dickey
Preseason All-America Third Team – Baseball America

RHP Chase Dollander
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Perfect Game Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Preseason All-America First Team – D1Baseball, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball News, NCBWA, Perfect Game
Preseason All-SEC First Team – SP

RHP Camden Sewell
Preseason All-America Second Team – Collegiate Baseball News
Preseason All-America Third Team – NCBWA
Preseason All-SEC Second Team – RP

-UT Athletics

Vols Announce Two More Hoops Sellouts; Limited Tickets Remain for Arkansas Game

Posted on February 10, 2023

As the college basketball postseason rapidly approaches, two more Tennessee home games sold out this week.

With upcoming clashes against Missouri (Saturday) and South Carolina (Feb. 25) joining the Feb. 15 Alabama game as sellouts, the only remaining home game with (very limited) ticket availability is the Feb. 28 Senior Day showdown vs. Arkansas. Remaining ticket inventory for the Arkansas game can be viewed/purchased HERE.

Tennessee has now sold out five home games this season and currently ranks fourth nationally in average home attendance (18,212).

Season tickets for the 2023-24 campaign are selling rapidly as well. Fans interested in lower-level seat availability next season are encouraged to fill out and submit a season-ticket interest form.

-UT Athletics

Softball Preview: Season Opening NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, FL

Posted on February 9, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball’s 2023 campaign begins Friday as the No. 12/13-ranked Lady Vols travel to Clearwater, Florida, for the NFCA Leadoff Classic, played at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

The weekend opens with a doubleheader on Friday against Howard at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the nightcap at 8:30 p.m. versus Illinois. Tennessee plays two more on Saturday against South Alabama at 4 p.m. and No. 6 Texas at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Vols close out the tournament with a 10 a.m. first-pitch on Sunday versus No. 8 Northwestern.

A full tournament schedule along with additional information about the 2023 NFCA Leadoff Classic can be found at this LINK.

FOLLOW LIVE
Live stats will be available for each game throughout the weekend via SIDEARM Stats. All stat links can be found by visiting the Tennessee softball schedule page on UTsports.com. GameChanger will provide a free live stream for all games during the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

How to Download & Watch
1. Download the GC app on your phone or device
2. Create your free account
3. Search for your team type: University Name + Mascot + NFCA
4. Click the blue ‘Join Team’ button

Andy Brock will lead the radio call for Tennessee softball during its trip to Clearwater with an audio broadcast for all five of Tennessee’s games this weekend. Links to each audio broadcast can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page and will be shared on @Vol_Softball social media accounts throughout the weekend.

LADY VOLS IN THE POLLS
Tennessee will begin the campaign as top-15 program in the four major softball polls. The Lady Vols are ranked No. 12 in the country by ESPN.com/USA Softball and D1Softball, while checking in at No. 13 in the USA Today/NFCA and Softball America national rankings.

In a vote of the league’s head coaches, the Lady Vols were tabbed to finish second in the SEC Preseason Poll, garnering three first-place votes.

PRESEASO HONORS
Tennessee players have garnered a plethora of preseason recognition from numerous softball outlets over the past month. Most notably, Kiki Milloy and Ashley Rogers were named Preseason All-Americans by D1Softball and Softball America. Both mentioned on USA Softball’s Top 50 Watch List for Collegiate National Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The duo also picked up Preseason All-SEC accolades from the league’s head coaches earlier this month – joined by senior Zaida Puni in that recognition.

Milloy, Rogers and newcomer Payton Gottshall were featured on Extra Inning Softball and D1Softball’s Top 100 players entering the season. Milloy ranked No. 12/13, while Rogers came in at No. 16 and 49. Gottshall landed at No. 71/72.

SCOUTING THE FIELD
Howard

2022 Record: 31-24 (17-4 MEAC)
2022 Conference Finish: 2nd
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Key Player/Stat: Howard had six players selected MEAC Preseason All-Conference, including Kalita Dennis who was tabbed as the preseason player of the year. The Bison were picked to finish first in the MEAC by the league’s coaches.

Illinois

2022 Record: 34-22 (15-7 Big Ten)
2022 Conference Finish: 3rd
Series Record: UT leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 15, 2014 (W, 10-0)
Key Player/Stat: Illinois returns fifth-year senior Avery Steiner along with its top two pitchers from a year ago in Sydney Sickels and Tori McQueen. Steiner led the Illini with a .391 average, 77 hits and 35 runs scored. Sickels and McQueen combined for 25 of Illinois’ 34 victories in 2022.

South Alabama

2022 Record: 25-21 (16-6 Sun Belt)
2022 Conference Finish: 2nd
Series Record: UT leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: March 5, 2022 (W, 9-0 (6))
Key Player/Stat: For the second straight year, Olivia Lackie and Mackenzie Brasher were named to the Sun Belt Conference preseason all-league team. The Jaguars also received 118 points and were picked to finish third in the preseason poll by the league coaches.

No. 6 Texas

2022 Record: 47-22-1 (12-6 Big 12)
2022 Conference Finish: 3rd
Series Record: Texas leads, 5-3
Last Meeting: Feb. 14, 2020 (L, 11-0 (5))
Key Player/Stat: Sophomore Mia Scott was selected to the 2023 Big 12 Softball Preseason Team and was tabbed to USA Softball’s Top 50 Watch List for Collegiate National Player of the Year. Texas finished the 2022 season as the national runner-up.

No. 8 Northwestern

2022 Record: 45-13 (19-4 Big Ten)
2022 Conference Finish: 1st
Series Record: UT leads, 7-6
Last Meeting: Feb. 8, 2020 (W, 6-3)
Key Player/Stat: Jordyn Rudd and Danielle Williams lead a Wildcats squad that reached Oklahoma City in 2022. Both player were also named to USA Softball’s Top 50 Watch List for Collegiate National Player of the Year.

UP NEXT
Tennessee goes international next weekend as it travels to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for the Puerto Vallarta Challenge. The Lady Vols will face Sacramento State, North Dakota State, Cal State Fullerton and Liberty along Mexico’s Pacific coast.

-UT Athletics

Tennessee places record 91 on fall SEC Honor Roll including 36 football players

Posted on February 9, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The University of Tennessee placed an athletics department-record 91 student-athletes on the 2022 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll that was announced Thursday by league commissioner Greg Sankey.

The Vol football program had 36 members make the list, followed by women’s soccer with 21, women’s cross country with 13, volleyball with 12 and men’s cross country with nine.

A total of 1,154 student-athletes were named to the 2022 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll. It includes the sports of cross country, football, soccer and volleyball, and it is based on grades from the 2022 Spring, Summer and Fall terms.

Any student-athlete who participates in a Southeastern Conference championship sport or a student-athlete who participates in a sport listed on his/her institution’s NCAA Sports Sponsorship Form is eligible for nomination to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

The following criteria will be followed: (1) A student‐athlete must have a grade point average of 3.00 or above for either the preceding academic year (two semesters or three quarters) or have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above at the nominating institution. (2) If a student‐athlete attends summer school, his/her grade point average during the summer academic term must be included in the calculation used to determine eligibility for the Academic Honor Roll. (3) Student‐athletes eligible for the Honor Roll include those receiving an athletics scholarship, recipients of an athletics award (i.e., letter winner), and non‐scholarship student‐athletes who have been on a varsity team for two seasons. (4) Prior to being nominated, a student‐athlete must have successfully completed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of non‐remedial academic credit toward a baccalaureate degree at the nominating institution. (5) The student‐athlete must have been a member of a varsity team for the sport’s entire NCAA Championship segment.

University of Tennessee 2022 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll Members

Men’s Cross Country (9)
Fuji Anday – Biological Sciences
Canaan Anderson – Aerospace Engineering
Will Cronin – Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
Mike Griffin – Sport Management
Conner Hawkins – Business Administration
Will Mazur – Biological Sciences
Matthew McMillan – Marketing
Eli Nahom – Mechanical Engineering
Karl Thiessen – Communication & Information Advertising

Women’s Cross Country (13)
Msgana Araya – Neuroscience
Carolyn Barksdale – Kinesiology
Ainsley Cooper – Psychology
Jette Davidson – Marketing
Brooke Dixon – Marketing
Jasmine Fehr – Communication & Information Advertising
Kayla Gholar – Psychology
Kathleen Maley – Sport Therapeutic Recreation Management
Marilyn McCarthy – Biological Sciences
Erin Spreen – Management
Rachel Sutliff – Mechanical Engineering
Callie Tucker – Neuroscience
Landri Wilcox – Chemistry

Football (36)
Will Albright – Finance
Parker Ball – Therapeutic Recreation
Montrell Bandy – Pre-Professional Programs
Michael Bittner – Finance
Paxton Brooks – Kinesiology
Will Brooks – Finance
Dayne Davis – Supply Chain Management
Kwauze Garland – Communication Studies
Jerrod Gentry – Sport Management
Jimmy Holiday – Sport Management
Nick Humphrey – Agricultural Leadership
Tayven Jackson – Sport Management
Cheyenne Labruzza – Sport Management
Ollie Lane – Management & Human Resources
Nigel Lanier – Sport Management
Cooper Mays – Sport Management
Chase McGrath – Agricultural Leadership
Gerald Mincey – Sport Management
Gaston Moore – Supply Chain Management
Kolby Morgan – Finance
Addison Nichols – Finance
Solon Page III – Agricultural Leadership
Jordan Phillips – Sport Management
Matthew Salansky – Kinesiology
Hunter Salmon – Nuclear Engineering
Navy Shuler – Communication Studies
Maurese Smith – Agricultural Leadership
Javontez Spraggins – Sociology
Alton Stephens – Agricultural Business
Da’Jon Terry – Communication Studies
Toby Wilson – Management & Human Resources
Jacob Warren – Agricultural Leadership
Kaleb Webb – Communication Studies
Patrick Wilk – Exploratory
Justin Williams-Thomas – Biological Sciences
Jaylen Wright – Sport Management

Women’s Soccer (21)
Nolyn Bartholomew – Kinesiology
Lindsey Brick – Psychology
Abbey Burdette – Marketing
Jenna Chatterton – Environmental and Soil
Claudia Dipasupil – Marketing
Maddie Eskin – Biological Sciences
Jordan Fusco – Kinesiology
MacKenzie Haba – Management
Sydney Hennessey – Kinesiology
Taylor Huff – Management
Tara Katz – Biological Sciences
Macaira Midgley – Marketing
Maria Nelson – Kinesiology
Claire Rain – Journalism & Electronic Media
Lawson Renie – Accounting
Lindsey Romig – Supply Chain Management
Layla Shell – Management
Jenna Stayart – Marketing
Jaida Thomas – Master’s in Management and HR
Hannah Zaluski – Master’s in Management and HR
Ally Zazzara – Mechanical Engineering

Volleyball (12)
Emily Beeker – Psychology
Abby Ekeler – Communication Studies
Morgahn Fingall – Kinesiology
Natalie Hayward – Child & Family Studies
Ashllyn King – Journalism & Electronic Media
Erykah Lovett – Management
Danielle Mahaffey – Mathematics
Abigail Matoso – Management & Human Resources
Ava Moes – Civil Engineering
JaKya Moore – Recreation/Sport Management
Klaudia Pawlik – Finance
Kylie Robinson – Management & Human Resources

-UT Athletics

Hoops Preview: #6 Tennessee vs. Missouri

Posted on February 9, 2023

Sixth-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball is back inside Thompson-Boling Arena this weekend, taking on Missouri at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Fans can catch Saturday’s game on SEC Network and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Perry Clark (analyst) will have the call.

Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.

Tennessee (19-5, 8-3 SEC) fell on the road at the buzzer Wednesday at Vanderbilt, 66-65. The Vols had four double-figure scorers in the loss, led by Santiago Vescovi and Tyreke Key, who had 14 apiece. Key’s 14 points were his career-high against an SEC opponent, while Vescovi’s four threes were tied for his most in SEC play this season.

Saturday marks Missouri’s first trip to Thompson-Boling Arena since Jan. 23, 2021, and first game in Knoxville in front of a non-reduced capacity crowd since Feb. 5, 2019. Tennessee has won five of its last six against the Tigers, with the 2021 game in Knoxville being Missouri’s lone win during that span.

Up next, Tennessee is home for a second consecutive game, taking on No. 3 Alabama on Wednesday inside Thompson-Boling Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN2.

THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads its all-time series with Missouri, 11-8, dating to 1961.
• When the series is contested in Knoxville, the Vols own a 5-3 advantage. But the last time the Tigers visited Rocky Top, they upset sixth-ranked Tennessee, 73-64, on Jan. 23, 2021.
• That 2021 loss is UT’s lone setback in its last six games vs. Mizzou.
• As a junior at Cal, current Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates lost to Rick Barnes‘ Texas squad in the Preseason NIT. See note below.
• The Vols are 5-1 this season vs. the SEC teams whose head coach is in his first year with that program.
• In four career games vs. Missouri, Santiago Vescovi averages 11.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting .714 from 3-point range (10 of 14).

SCOUTING REPORT
• The Vols occupy the No. 3 spot in the NCAA’s NET ratings after holding steady at No. 2 from Jan. 3 through Feb. 8.
• Tennessee has two wins over teams with a current top-10 NET rating—No. 9 Texas and No. 10 Kansas. UT is one of only seven teams in the country that can claim that.
• Tennessee has played 59 games since the last time it suffered back-to-back losses.
• During SEC play, Tennessee leads the league in scoring defense (56.1 ppg) and assists per game (15.9).
• Tennessee’s offensive rebounding percentage of 38.0 ranks second in the country behind only Purdue (38.7).
• Zakai Zeigler averages a league-best 6.7 assists during SEC play while ranking among the league leaders in both assist/turnover ratio (2.96. 3rd) and steals (1.8, 6th).
• In its last 27 games against SEC opponents, the Vols are 23-4 with wins over every league opponent except Alabama (no meetings).
• UT ranks fourth nationally in average home attendance (18,212)—one of three SEC teams in the top four.

THE NATION’S BEST DEFENSE
• For the 11th straight week, the Volunteers own the best adjusted defensive efficiency in the country per KenPom, allowing only 85.0 points per 100 possessions.
• Tennessee owns the nation’s best field-goal percentage defense (.347) and 3-point defense (.228) along with the nation’s second-best scoring defense (55.0 ppg).
• 11 times this season, the Vols have held their opponents to 50 points or less.
• Only three teams have reached the 70-point mark against these Vols.
• Only five opposing players have scored 20 or more points against the Vols this season.
• Tennessee has trailed at the break only four times this season and is outscoring its opponents 34.3 ppg to 25.1 ppg in first-half action (+9.2 ppg).

ABOUT MISSOURI
• Missouri (18-6, 6-5 SEC) has won four of its past five games, including a 78-61 home win over No. 12 Iowa State in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 28. The Tigers’ lone loss during that stretch came last Saturday at Mississippi State, 63-52.
• Currently ranked No. 49 in the NET, Missouri is 3-6 in Quadrant 1 games and a combined 15-0 in Quadrant 2, 3 and 4 games. In Quadrant 1, the Tigers own home wins over Iowa State and Arkansas and a neutral-site win over Illinois.
• The Tigers are 2-4 in true road games this season, notching wins at Ole Miss and Wichita State.
• Missouri is led by first-year head coach Dennis Gates, who arrived in Columbia after a three-year stint at Cleveland State that included back-to-back Horizon League championships in 2021 and 2022. Prior to serving as the head coach at Cleveland State, Gates was an assistant at Florida State for eight seasons from 2011-19.
• Senior Kobe Brown, a 2022 second-team All-SEC selection, is Missouri’s leading scorer (16.3 ppg) and rebounder (6.1 rpg).
• Brown is averaging 18.2 ppg and shooting .526 from the field during SEC play—both of which rank second in the conference.
• According to KenPom, Missouri ranks No. 9 in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 183 in adjusted defensive efficiency.
• On the offensive end, Missouri ranks 13th in Division I in scoring offense (82.0 ppg), 13th in the nation in assists per game (17.1 apg) and 26th in the nation in field-goal percentage (.480).
• Defensively, Missouri is second in Division I in steals (10.6 spg) and third in turnover margin (6.1).

LAST CLASH WITH MISSOURI
• Hot shooting led No. 17 Tennessee to a definitive road win on Feb. 22, 2022, at Missouri, 80-61.
• Kennedy Chandler led the way with 23 points (on 9-for-12 shooting), eight rebounds and six assists.
• Santiago Vescovi scored 14 points on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range, and Victor Bailey Jr. added 11 points.
• Javon Pickett had 16 points to lead Missouri.
• The Vols and Tigers played back-and-forth for the first four minutes of the second half before a Jonas Aidoo and-one fast-break dunk on a feed from Chandler kicked off a 16-3 Tennessee run that gave the Vols a 21-point lead at 57-36 with 10:44 remaining.
• Missouri responded with a 14-5 run to cut the Tennessee lead to 12 at 62-50 with 6:37 left, but never was able to draw any closer, as Vescovi’s three 3-pointers in the final six minutes helped the Vols maintain distance.

SATURDAY NOT RICK BARNES’, DENNIS GATES’ FIRST MEETING
• Early in Dennis Gates’ junior season as a guard at Cal, his Golden Bears squad traveled to Austin, Texas, for a Preseason NIT second-round game against Texas on Nov. 15, 2000—the Longhorns’ third year under head coach Rick Barnes.
• Gates played 10 minutes off the bench and totaled two points and two assists, but the Bears fell, 57-54.
• Barnes’ Texas team was led by Maurice Evans, who scored a game-high 17 points. Chris Owens added nine points, eight blocks and six rebounds.

AWAKA EARNING LARGER ROLE
• True freshman forward Tobe Awaka logged a career-high 22 minutes when the Vols faced Vanderbilt on Feb. 8, contributing eight points and nine rebounds for a +5 plus/minus rating.
• In the five games in which he’s played 15 minutes or more, Awaka is averaging 7.6 rebounds.
• Most impressively, Awaka ranks third among all Division I players in offensive rebounding percentage (21.0) and 13th nationally in total rebounding percentage (21.4).

-UT Athletics

Vols Tabbed as SEC East Favorites, Boast Four Preseason All-SEC Selections

Posted on February 9, 2023

Preseason Coaches Poll & All-SEC Teams

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The second-ranked Tennessee baseball team was picked to win its division and was well represented on the preseason All-SEC teams, which were announced by the league office on Thursday.

The Volunteers were selected by the league’s 14 head coaches to win the SEC Eastern Division after garnering 90 total points and receiving 12 of a possible 13 first-place votes (coaches could not vote for their own team). UT finished 11 points ahead of second-place Florida, which received the other two first-place votes.

LSU was picked to win the western division and was the favorite to win the league overall with 11 first-place votes.

Tennessee led all eastern division teams with four players earning preseason All-SEC honors and was tied for the overall SEC lead with two first teamers in starting pitchers Chase Dollander and Chase Burns. Junior transfer Maui Ahuna was tabbed as the second-team shortstop while veteran right hander Camden Sewell was also named to the second team as a relief pitcher.

The full SEC Preseason Coaches Poll and preseason All-SEC teams can be seen by clicking HERE.

Dollander is coming off a breakout sophomore season where he earned consensus first-team All-America honors and became just the second player in program history to be named SEC Pitcher of the Year.

Regarded as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2023 MLB Draft, Dollander posted a perfect 10-0 record and led the country with a 0.80 WHIP last season. The Evans, Georgia, native also finished second in the SEC with 108 strikeouts and led the league with a 2.39 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a paltry .175 batting average. He has been tabbed as a unanimous preseason first-team All-American entering this season.

Burns was one of the top freshmen in the country in 2022, earning freshman of the year or freshman pitcher of the year recognition from the NCBWA, D1Baseball and Collegiate Baseball News while garnering unanimous Freshman All-America honors. The hard-throwing right hander was the first pitcher in program history to earn three national award honors in the same season.

Burns was also named to four All-America teams following his debut season, joining former AL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey (1994) as the only players in program history to be selected to four All-America teams as true freshmen. The Gallatin, Tennessee, native had a phenomenal freshman campaign for the Big Orange, finishing with an 8-2 record and 2.91 ERA to go along with 103 strikeouts while serving as the Vols’ Friday night starter for the majority of the season. Like Dollander, Burns has also earned unanimous first-team All-America honors this preseason.

Ahuna joins the Vols after two very productive seasons at the University of Kansas, where he garnered first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2022 and was an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection as a true freshman in 2021.

Another potential first-round MLB Draft prospect, Ahuna is considered one of the top defensive shortstops in the country while also boasting impressive numbers at the plate during his collegiate career, posting a .357 batting average with 75 runs scored, 27 doubles, seven triples, nine home runs, 73 RBIs and 21 stolen bases over the past two seasons with the Jayhawks. A native of Hilo, Hawaii, Ahuna has been tabbed as a preseason All-American by four different outlets.

A Swiss army knife for the Big Orange, Sewell has been one of the Vols’ most versatile and productive arms throughout his time on Rocky Top, boasting a 15-3 overall record with a 2.53 ERA and 136 strikeouts over 70 appearances (10 starts) while holding opposing hitters to a .196 batting average.

The Cleveland, Tennessee, native has developed a reputation of being one of the SEC’s top big-game performers and has shined in late season and postseason contests throughout his career. Sewell was named to the 2021 SEC All-Tournament team and the 2021 NCAA Knoxville All-Regional team as a junior. He helped lead Tennessee its first SEC Tournament title since 1995 last year by tossing five shutout innings against Florida in the championship game. Sewell has garnered preseason All-America accolades from the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball News this year.

Tennessee’s complete list of preseason honors can be found below.

2023 Tennessee Baseball Preseason Honors

-UT Athletics

Two VFLs Aiming For Super Bowl LVII Ring

Posted on February 9, 2023

All-Time VFLs in Super Bowl

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Former Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith will take the field for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday night, seeking to become the latest VFL world champion.

In addition, former defensive lineman and All-American Derek Barnett is vying to capture his second Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles. Barnett has been on injured reserve and will not play in the contest. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions and is in the process of rehabbing the injury.

Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Smith is attempting to become the 40th VFL to win a Super Bowl as a player. To date, a total of 39 players have combined for 48 rings, including Barnett, who was a key member of the Eagles’ 2017 squad that defeated New England in Super Bowl LII.

A VFL is guaranteed to win a Super Bowl ring for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.

The Super Bowl experience has come full circle for Smith. He attended Super Bowl LIV in Miami in January 2020 while still a member of the Volunteers. He was presented with the inaugural Fritz Pollard Trophy in Miami, which honors a college player who has exemplified extraordinary courage, community values and exceptional performance on the field.

Smith has reached the NFL playoffs in both of his professional seasons, having played over 2,500 snaps and becoming a force for a Kansas City offense that leads the NFL and averaged 413.6 yards per game during the regular season.

Smith’s story of perseverance and leadership as a Volunteer is one that will endure forever. A former five-star high school prospect out of Jackson, Tennessee, he was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection and a 2020 Second-Team All-American as chosen by the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America.

He was sidelined during the 2018 offseason with blood clots but fought his way back and in 2019, helped lead the Volunteers to a Gator Bowl victory.

Off the field, Smith was awarded the university’s highest student honor when he was announced as a Torchbearer Award recipient in 2021. He was a two-time SEC Community Service Team honoree, and he won the 2019 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year.

-UT Athletics

University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Announced

Posted on February 9, 2023

All-Time Inductees

After a three-year hiatus initiated due to the pandemic, the University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame is set to resume induction in 2023, with a 12-member class set to be honored the weekend of April 14-15.

The class features four Vol greats, six Lady Vol legends, one former head coach and a transformational administrator: baseball player Chris Burke, soccer player Ali Christoph, administrator Joan Cronan, football player Ted Daffer (posthumous), track athlete Tianna Madison, rower Chelsea Pemberton, football player Carl Pickens, golfer Violeta Retamoza, track & field head coach Chuck Rohe, track athlete DeeDee Trotter, tennis player Caitlin Whoriskey and tennis player Chris Woodruff.

The 10 former student-athletes in the Class of 2023 combined to account for eight national championships, 10 SEC titles, six Olympic medals, one world record and an Academic All-American.

“We haven’t welcomed a new class of hall of famers since 2019,” Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “For that reason, we’ve selected a larger class to celebrate this spring. These individuals each earned a special place in the history of Tennessee Athletics and left remarkable legacies that continue to inspire those who have followed them.”

Induction weekend coincides with Tennessee football’s spring Orange & White Game on Saturday, April 15.

Chris Burke | Baseball | 1999-2001
Chris Burke is one of the top hitters in program history and a three-time All-American, earning first-team honors his final two seasons with the Volunteers. Many of Burke’s records still stand, as the 2001 SEC Player of the Year remains Tennessee’s career-record-holder in runs scored (224), hits (314), singles (199), doubles (72), triples (17), total bases (498) and extra-base hits (115). Burke also led the 2001 Vols to their third College World Series appearance while leading the NCAA in hits (118), runs scored (105) and runs per game (1.57). Burke’s induction into the University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023 comes on the 10-year anniversary of his induction into the University of Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Ali Christoph | Soccer | 2003-06
One of the most decorated soccer players in Tennessee history, Ali Christoph was a two-time NSCAA All-American, earning first-team honors as a junior in 2005. A three-time first-team All-SEC performer, she was a mainstay on the field for Tennessee through four seasons, leading UT to three regular-season SEC titles (2003, 2004, 2005) and two SEC Tournament championships (2003, 2005). During her time on Rocky Top, the Lady Vols made three appearances in the NCAA Round of 16, and she played in a program-best 93 matches for the Big Orange to set the school record for minutes played at 8,513. Christoph also holds the program career record of five made penalty kicks and ranks second in career assists with 27. She was just as accomplished in the classroom, being named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2006. She completed her degree in Psychology in 2008.

Joan Cronan | Administrator | 1983-2012
Under the vision and direction of Joan Cronan, the Tennessee women’s athletics department and the Lady Vols garnered a reputation as one of the most visible and respected brands throughout the nation. Tennessee’s success in both the athletic and academic realms spoke volumes about Cronan’s decision-making and leadership ability. A history-maker and member of several halls of fame, Cronan holds the distinction of becoming the first female director of athletics for the entire combined (men’s and women’s) department at UT when she served as Interim Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director in 2011. During her tenure overseeing women’s athletics, the Lady Vols won 10 team and 36 individual/relay NCAA championships, and they also captured 58 team and 177 individual/relay SEC titles. She hired 22 Tennessee head coaches, oversaw development and construction of multiple facilities and managed the women’s athletics program’s expansion from seven to 11 sports. Annual giving to women’s athletics increased exponentially from $75,000 to more than $2 million during her tenure. She now serves the university in an advisory role as Women’s Athletic Director Emeritus.

Ted Daffer | Football | 1949-51 (Posthumous)
Ted Daffer, who is being inducted posthumously, was a mainstay in the middle of Tennessee’s dominant national championship defenses in the early 1950s under Gen. Robert Neyland. The defensive guard was the only two-time first-team All-America selection from the 1950-51 squads. He helped the Volunteers to an 11-1 record and a national championship in one poll in 1950, a season that culminated with a 20-14 victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl. He was named SEC Most Outstanding Lineman by the Birmingham Quarterback Club that fall. Daffer returned the following year and guided UT to a consensus 1951 national championship with an undefeated regular season as his unit pitched five shutouts. A two-time first-team All-SEC honoree, Daffer earned his degree in Business in 1951 and was selected in the 21st round of the 1952 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He passed away on March 1, 2006.

Tianna Madison Bartoletta | Women’s Track & Field | 2004-05
A three-time Olympic champion for Team USA, Tianna Madison Bartoletta enjoyed a historically successful two-year career with the Tennessee women’s track & field program from 2004-05. She led the Lady Vols with 16 points at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships—winning the long jump national title and finishing third in the 60-meter dash—to help UT win the program’s first NCAA team championship and Tennessee’s first women’s NCAA team championship in a sport other than basketball. Individually, Bartoletta’s sophomore year in 2005 featured a clean sweep of long jump gold at the SEC and NCAA Championships during the indoor and outdoor seasons, and she was tabbed the 2005 SEC Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year. She finished her Tennessee career as a six-time All-American and currently holds school records in the indoor long jump (6.78m/22-3) and outdoor long jump (6.89m/22-7.25). Embarking on a prolific professional career after her sophomore season, Bartoletta has claimed six IAAF World Championship medals and represented the United States at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. She struck Olympic gold in 2012 with a world-record performance in the 4×100-meter relay and claimed a pair of golds in 2016, winning the long jump (7.17m/23-6.25) and 4×100-meter relay in Rio. Bartoletta is currently re-enrolled and is on track to complete her degree in Social Work later this year.

Chelsea Pemberton | Rowing | 2002-05
Chelsea Pemberton established herself as one of the top rowers in Tennessee history and was a major factor in the progression of the team’s success during the last decade and a half. Pemberton led the Lady Vols to three straight NCAA Championship appearances from 2003-05. After placing 16th in 2003, the three-time CRCA Pocock All-American helped Tennessee to a pair of top-10 finishes in the varsity 8+ races, taking 10th in 2004 and eighth in 2005—the best finish in the event in program history. During her career, Pemberton also was selected as a four-time CRCA All-Region first-teamer. She earned her degree in English in 2005.

Carl Pickens | Football | 1989-91
All-American Carl Pickens dazzled fans from 1989-91 at wide receiver, return specialist and even defensive back as a redshirt freshman. Pickens was a key contributor on the Vols’ back-to-back 1989 and 1990 SEC Championship teams. A 1989 SEC All-Freshman Team selection, he sparked UT to a win at LSU with a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown, and he was tabbed defensive MVP of the 1990 Cotton Bowl with a crucial interception in the endzone against Arkansas. His 1990 season saw him receive first-team All-SEC laurels with 917 receiving yards. He earned first-team All-America honors from four organizations as a junior in 1991, catching 49 passes for 817 yards for an average of 17.9 yards per catch. His 79.73 receiving yards per game led the SEC that fall. Pickens, who was also a standout on the track & field squad, was chosen in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He would go on to earn NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors that fall.

Violeta Retamoza | Women’s Golf | 2002-06
Violeta Retamoza is one of the most decorated golfers in Lady Vol history. Retamoza was named first-team All-SEC and led the Lady Vols in lowest stroke average for three consecutive seasons (2003, 2004, 2005). During her time at Tennessee, the Aguascalientes, Mexico, native notched three individual wins, two of which came during her freshman year and set the program’s single-season record for tournament wins. During the 2004-05 season, Retamoza set another program single-season record for rounds of par or better (15). In 2005, Retamoza collected first-team All-America honors and also earned SEC Player of the Year and SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year acclaim while finishing as the program’s career leader in rounds played (128). She graduated from the Haslam College of Business in 2006 and was an Academic All-American in 2004.

Chuck Rohe | Men’s Track & Field | 1963-71
Tennessee men’s track & field coaching great Chuck Rohe stood at the helm of the program from 1963-71. Previously enshrined in five halls of fame, Rohe led the Volunteers to a dominant stretch of 21 consecutive SEC titles across cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. His Tennessee squads sported an impressive 130-18-2 (.873) dual record over nine seasons and finished in the top-five at the NCAA Championships on six occasions. In 1967, Rohe was named the United States Track & Field Coach of the Year.
Rohe also was the architect of the championship-level nexus between Tennessee’s track and football programs, helping the Vols succeed in both sports by enabling student-athletes (17 in total) to participate in each. He served as the director of football recruiting under head coach Doug Dickey and mentored a pair of football All-Americans in Richmond Flowers and Chip Kell, in addition to Dick Evey. Three football athletes who also competed on Rohe’s track & field teams earned All-America acclaim in their respective events.

DeeDee Trotter | Women’s Track & Field | 2002-04
DeeDee Trotter achieved SEC and NCAA glory during her three years with the Lady Vol track & field program, winning titles and setting program records that still hold up to this day. An eight-time All-American, she won the 2004 outdoor NCAA 400-meter dash championship after claiming SEC gold in the outdoor 400-meter in 2003. Her college-best times of 51.29 and 50.00 in the indoor and outdoor 400m, respectively, still stand as program records. The Decatur, Georgia, native won six world titles over the course of her professional career, including two Olympic gold medals in the 4×400-meter relay at Athens in 2004 and London in 2012. She secured her third Olympic medal with a bronze performance in the 400-meter dash (49.72) in London and is one of only 10 Tennessee alums to win multiple Olympic medals. Trotter earned her Tennessee degree in Sociology in 2005.

Caitlin Whoriskey | Women’s Tennis | 2007-10
Caitlin Whoriskey is one of the most distinguished Lady Vol tennis players in program history. The 2010 ITA National Singles Player of the Year is one of three Lady Vols ever to earn singles and doubles All-America acclaim in the same season, doing so in 2010, after earning her first All-American nod in 2009. Whoriskey is one of seven players in program history to earn three consecutive All-SEC honors and was an integral part of the only two ITA All-American Championships in program history, earning the doubles crown in 2007 with Zsofia Zubor then doing so again in 2009 with Natalie Pluskota. In the spring of 2010, Whoriskey and Pluskota became the only pairing in Lady Vol tennis history to reach the finals of the NCAA Doubles Championships. Whoriskey graduated in 2010 with a degree in Geography.

Chris Woodruff | Men’s Tennis | 1992-93
Chris Woodruff is one of the most legendary and decorated alums in the storied history of Tennessee’s men’s tennis program. The Knoxville native remains the only NCAA singles champion in program history, winning the title in 1993. He took home ITA National Player of the Year and SEC Player of the Year honors that same year. A career that began with Woodruff’s 1992 ITA National Rookie of the Year acclaim finished with two singles All-American honors (1992 and 1993), along with a pair of singles All-SEC distinctions (1992 and 1993). Woodruff posted a two-year singles record of 81-16 (.835), including a remarkable 45-7 (.865) mark in 1993. The multiple-time ATP Tour champion and former world No. 29 singles player served as assistant coach and associate head coach at Tennessee from 2002 until his promotion to head coach in 2017. He completed his degree in Psychology in 2005.

-UT Athletics

Highlights/Photos/Postgame/Stats/Story: No. 6 Vols can’t close out with late lead, lose at Vanderbilt at buzzer, 66-65

Posted on February 8, 2023

BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTOS | BARNES POSTGAME | KEY POSTGAME

NASHVILLE – No. 6 Tennessee fell to Vanderbilt at the buzzer on the road Wednesday night, 66-65.

With Vanderbilt trailing by two points with 4.8 seconds remaining, the Commodores inbounded the ball near midcourt. Ezra Manjon drove toward the basket and kicked out to an open Tyrin Lawrence in the corner, who hit a 3-pointer as time expired to give Vanderbilt the one-point win.

Vanderbilt was 10-for-25 (.400) from 3-point range in the victory—the most made threes and highest 3-point percentage by a Tennessee opponent this season.

Tennessee (19-5, 8-3 SEC) had four double-figure scorers in the loss, led by Santiago Vescovi and Tyreke Key, who had 14 apiece. Key’s 14 points were his career-high against an SEC opponent, while Vescovi’s four threes were tied for his most in SEC play this season.

Olivier Nkamhoua and Julian Phillips each had 10 points for the Vols, while freshman forward Tobe Awaka scored eight points and had nine rebounds in a career-high 22 minutes.

Wednesday’s game featured 15 lead changes and nine ties on a night where neither team led by more than five points—or more than three points in the final 13:21.

Vanderbilt extended its lead to three points twice in the final six minutes, but Vescovi answered both times with a 3-pointer from the left wing to tie up the game.

The latter came with 1:37 remaining and tied the game at 63 and was followed by a defensive stop by the Vols and then a 15-foot jumper from Nkamhoua with 50 seconds to go.

After Tennessee got another stop on the defensive end, Vanderbilt fouled five straight times to put the Vols in the bonus. After a Tennessee missed free throw, the Commodores hit the game winner on the other end.

Tennessee led 34-32 at halftime after a back-and-forth first half that featured four ties and eight lead changes. The Vols shot 50 percent from the field during the first half, but Vanderbilt shot a nearly equal 48 percent in the opening period.

Key got off to a hot start offensively for Tennessee, leading the Vols with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. In just 12 first-half minutes, Zakai Zeigler—who was saddled with two fouls before the break—recorded six assists.

Lawrence and Liam Robbins combined for 23 of Vanderbilt’s 32 first-half points with 12 and 11 points in the opening period, respectively.

Lawrence and Robbins, who entered Wednesday’s game shooting a combined 20-of-85 (.235) from 3-point range on the season, combined to shoot 5-of-7 (.714) in the first half. As a team, the Commodores made six of their first 10 3-point attempts.

UP NEXT: Tennessee is back home for another Saturday SEC showdown, taking on Missouri at 6 p.m. ET inside Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will be televised on SEC Network.