KNOXVILLE – Tennessee Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Caldwell shared her program’s non-conference schedule on Tuesday, and her Lady Vols are set to face six teams that played in last season’s NCAA Tournament.
Among them are 2024 NCAA Final Four participants UConn and Iowa. The Huskies are No. 3 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25, and they will join No. 18 Florida State as ranked non-league teams playing at Food City Center this season. UT, meanwhile, will face last season’s national runner-up Hawkeyes at the Women’s Champions Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tennessee also squares off vs. three in-state schools outside of league play, including 2024 NCAA qualifiers Middle Tennessee and UT Martin at home. They’ll also visit Memphis and LVFL Alex (Fuller) Simmons in a contest played vs. the Tigers at FedExForum.
Including previously announced SEC opponents, UT is guaranteed to play 16 of its 29 total contests vs. teams making last year’s NCAA field. The total of foes seeing postseason action rises to 19 when including those who competed in the 2024 Women’s Basketball invitation Tournament (WBIT).
Ten match-ups for the Big Orange in 2024-25 will be against teams ranked in the ESPN Way-Too-Early preseason poll. Among them are home tilts vs. No. 1 South Carolina, No. 3 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 13 Oklahoma, No. 18 Florida State, No. 21 Alabama and No. 23 Ole Miss, and road trips to No. 6 Texas, No. 7 LSU and No. 25 Kentucky. Season tickets are available now at AllVols.com
The Lady Vols take the floor for their first contest on Oct. 31, as Carson-Newman comes to town for an exhibition. Tennessee will open the regular season with five home contests in November, starting with Samford on Nov. 5 and UT Martin on Nov. 7. UT will welcome Middle Tennessee to The Summitt on Nov. 12 for the second of a four-game series with the perennial NCAA Tournament program, before Liberty and Western Carolina visit on Nov. 16 and 26, respectively.
December features seven match-ups, with only three occurring at home. No. 18 Florida State starts the proceedings by making a reciprocal trip to Knoxville on Dec. 4 for the SEC-ACC Women’s Basketball Challenge before the Lady Vols wing their way to New York to meet 2024 NCAA runner-up Iowa at the Barclays Center in the Women’s Champions Classic on Dec. 7. After hosting North Carolina Central on Nov. 14, Tennessee will play at Memphis on Dec. 18, followed by a trip to the West Palm Beach Classic on Dec. 20 and 21 vs. opponents that tourney organizers will announce soon. One of those squads made the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
A Dec. 29 home tilt vs. Winthrop and LVFL Semeka Randall Lay is Tennessee’s first action coming off winter break and will serve as a tune-up for SEC play, which is expected to begin the first Thursday in January. The final non-league event will feature a home clash between the Big Orange and No. 3 UConn on Feb. 6. That match-up is part of a home-and-home series that will see the two teams meet in Connecticut next season. The location and date of that game will be shared later.
Carson-Newman (Oct. 31)
This is the 19th meeting between UT and C-N in an exhibition game
Tennessee is 18-0 in exhibitions vs. Carson-Newman
The Lady Vols and Lady Eagles last met on Oct. 30, 2023 (UT, 105-72)
Samford (Nov. 5)
This is the first meeting between these programs
The Bulldogs are members of the Southern Conference
UT Martin (Nov. 7)
This marks the 17th meeting between these teams
Tennessee leads the all-time series, 14-2
The teams last met on March 17, 2012, with the Lady Vols prevailing, 72-49
The Skyhawks made the 2024 NCAA field, notching their fifth all-time berth in the tourney
Middle Tennessee (Nov. 12)
This is the 24th meeting between these programs
UT is 22-1 all-time vs. Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders upset Tennessee, 73-62, in Huntsville, Ala., last season on Dec. 6
MTSU made the NCAA Second Round in 2024, knocking off Louisville to open the tourney and pushing LSU before falling in Baton Rouge
Liberty (Nov. 16)
This marks the fourth meeting in series history
UT is 3-0 all-time vs. Liberty
The Lady Vols won the last meeting, 90-55, over the Flames in Lynchburg on Dec. 31, 2023
Western Carolina (Nov. 26)
This will be the 18th meeting in the series
UT holds a 10-7 advantage over the Catamounts
The last meeting came on Nov. 25, 2008, when UT won, 83-56, in Knoxville
Florida State (Dec. 4)
This is the fourth meeting in series history
UT is 2-1 all-time vs. Florida State
The teams last met on Nov. 9, 2023, in Tallahassee, with the Seminoles prevailing, 92-91
FSU was an NCAA First Round participant in 2024
vs. Iowa (Dec. 7)
This is the fourth all-time meeting between these programs
Tennessee holds a 2-1 series advantage
UT won, 72-56, the last time these teams met on March 27, 1993
Iowa was the 2024 NCAA Final Four runner-up
North Carolina Central (Dec. 14)
This is the first meeting between these programs
The Eagles are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
at Memphis (Dec. 18)
This will mark the 29th meeting between these programs
Tennessee is 27-1 vs. Memphis
The teams last met on Nov. 13, 2023, in Knoxville, with UT winning in overtime, 84-74
Alex (Fuller) Simmons is in her second season as head coach at UM
UT senior Destinee Wells hails from the Memphis suburb of Lakeland
The Lady Vols will play UM in Memphis for the first time since Dec. 29, 2001.
vs. TBD (Dec. 20)
Tennessee’s first game in the West Palm Beach Classic
vs. TBD (Dec. 21)
Tennessee’s second game in the West Palm Beach Classic
Winthrop (Dec. 29)
This is the sixth meeting between Tennessee and Winthrop
UT holds a 3-2 advantage in the series
The teams last met on Nov. 21, 2014, with the Lady Vols winning, 81-48, in Knoxville
LVFL Semeka Randall Lay has led the Eagles since 2020-21
UConn (Feb. 6)
This will mark the 27th meeting between Tennessee and UConn
The Huskies hold a 17-9 all-time series lead
UConn won the last meeting, 84-67, on Jan. 26, 2023, in Knoxville
The Huskies lost in the 2024 NCAA Final Four semifinals
Head coaches Geno Auriemma (1,213-162, 88.2 pct.) and Kim Caldwell (217-31, 87.5 pct.) are both ranked in the active top 10 for career winning percentage at any level of women’s college basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Athletics has announced its 2024 home football game designations in Neyland Stadium as the 15th-ranked Volunteers kick off the fourth season of the Josh Heupel era this fall.
#CheckerNeyland presented by Pilot takes center stage for the Vols’ SEC home opener against Florida on Oct. 12. #CheckerNeyland showcases Tennessee’s iconic checkerboard pattern through Neyland Stadium. This will be the eighth #CheckerNeyland in program history.
When Tennessee hosts Kentucky on Nov. 2, it will be the third annual Champions Weekend presented by Pilot. That weekend, past teams and individuals who won SEC and/or NCAA championships during specific years and celebrating anniversaries are invited back to Rocky Top.
UT will also recognize the 2024 Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame Class when the Wildcats visit Neyland Stadium. The 2024 class was formally inducted last spring and includes: softball’s Sarah Fekete-Bailey, women’s basketball’s Sheila Frost, football’s John Henderson, track and field’s Stan Huntsman, volleyball’s Julie Knytych, legacy inductee Jim Haslam and trailblazer inductee Ann Baker Furrow.
Homecoming is set for Nov. 9 when the Vols take on Mississippi State. It will be just the second time in the past 15 years that the Bulldogs visit Knoxville. The Kentucky and Mississippi State games are night kickoffs in the 6-8 p.m. ET window.
The annual Salute to Service game, which honors our nation’s service members, veterans and their families, is slated for Nov. 23 when UTEP visits Neyland Stadium. The home finale against the Miners will also serve as Senior Day. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
Tennessee opens its 128th season on Aug. 31 against Chattanooga. Limited tickets remain on sale for the 12:45 p.m. contest at AllVols.com.
The Vols are welcoming all youth for Youth Sports Day presented by DICK’S House of Sport on Aug. 31. All youth participants are invited to experience the Youth Sports Day Zone pregame in Vol Village including photo ops, inflatables and more. Vol Village is open from 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Tickets to the Chattanooga game for Youth Sports Day are available here.
Tennessee home games versus Kent State, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi State are sold out. Season tickets are sold out for the second straight season, a year after the Vols led the SEC in accumulated attendance (713,405) and average attendance (101,915). Fans interested in purchasing future new season tickets can fill out the 2025 season ticket interest form.
2024 Tennessee Football Game Designations Oct. 12 Florida – #CheckerNeyland presented by Pilot Nov. 2 Kentucky – Champions Weekend presented by Pilot, 2024 Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame Recognition Nov. 9 Mississippi State – Homecoming Nov. 23 UTEP – Salute To Service, Senior Day
Nashville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Tennessee has unveiled new designs for drivers licenses and ID cards.
The new design features Tennessee’s state capitol and flag. It also has waves and patterns printed in very fine lines which cannot be scanned or easily reproduced (see photo below).
Officials said the new credentials are made with a sturdy polycarbonate composition. They include elaborate overlapping of data and graphics and laser-engraved elements that will show if the document has been altered or is fraudulent.
Additionally, the back of the card contains a machine-readable barcode with applicable classes, endorsements, and restrictions. A mini ghost image repeated from the photograph is encoded as an element for automated validation to help reduce identity theft.
State officials say this does not mean you have to go out and get the drivers license right now.
“The current one that [you] have is valid until the expiration date. If [you] do come in to get a renewal, or a replacement or a duplicate, then [you] will get the new license” said Tennessee Department of Homeland Security Spokesperson Marlo Mason speaking with WOKI news partner WVLT.
In addition to a new design for licenses and IDs, new self-service kiosks are being rolled out to reduce wait times at Driver Service Centers.
“We are excited about the added flexibility and convenience the new self-service kiosks will provide for Tennesseans,” said TDOSHS Commissioner Jeff Long. “Citizens can complete many Driver Services transactions at one of these new kiosks, which will help reduce wait times at Driver Services Centers.”
In addition to new a new design for licenses and IDs, new self-service kiosks are being rolled out to reduce wait times at Driver Service Centers. (Courtesy: TDOSHS)
(WOKI) There is a rare super blue moon set to grace the skies this week.
NASA defines the term supermoon “as either a new or full moon that happens when the moon is within 90% of perigee, its closest approach to Earth.”
The moon will be closest to Earth for this orbit Wednesday morning at 11:55. According to NASA, the moon will appear full for three days, from Tuesday to Friday morning.
“About 25% of all full moons are supermoons, but only 3% of full moons are blue moons,” according to NASA.
The last time two full supermoons graced the sky in the same month was in 2018. It won’t happen again until 2037.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball head coach Karen Weekly announced the program’s exhibition schedule for the 2024 fall semester on Friday. The slate features seven home contests and one road game for the Lady Vols.
Admission is free for all fall contests at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Gates will open one hour prior to first pitch. Restrooms will be open, but concessions will not be available for fall softball games.
The back-to-back SEC champions open the autumn slate at home with doubleheaders against Lipscomb and Georgia Tech on Sept. 28, followed by two more games versus Walters State and Carson-Newman on Sept. 29.
Kentucky rolls into Knoxville on Oct. 5 for the first of two fall meetings between the border rivals. Tennessee then plays host to Tusculum on Oct. 11 and King University on Oct. 13 to complete the home schedule.
The Lady Vols conclude their fall season in Lexington on Oct. 20 against the Wildcats.
UT will also welcome its 2024 signees – the nation’s No. 4-ranked recruiting class – to Rocky Top as well as transfer additions Sage Mardjetko, Kinsey Fiedler, Ryan Brown and Aubrey Barnhart.
Weekly – the third-winningest active head coach in the country – enters her 24th season at the helm of the Lady Vols. She boasts 1,308 career wins and holds a record of 1,085-340-2 (.761) while leading the Big Orange.
Among coaches in head-to-head sports at the University of Tennessee, only Pat Summitt (1,098) has collected more wins than Weekly.
Under her direction, Tennessee has won six SEC titles, reached the NCAA Tournament in 20 consecutive seasons, hosted 19 straight regionals and made eight trips to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series.
The 2024 fall softball schedule can be viewed below. Dates and times (ET) are subject to change.
Saturday, Sept. 28 – Tennessee vs. Lipscomb – Noon
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, Tennessee volleyball opens the 2024 season ranked 15th overall, the AVCA announced Monday.
The Lady Vols have been ranked in the preseason poll 10 times in the program’s history, with the most recent occasion coming in 2019. That year, the Big Orange ranked 19th to kick off the campaign. Last season, Tennessee was a mainstay in the national rankings, reaching as high as eighth and ending the year at No. 9 overall.
The Big Orange’s 2024 schedule includes 18 matches against 15 different teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, including seven teams that earned national seeds and five that advanced to the Sweet 16. The Lady Vols will face the reigning league champs from the SEC, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-Atlantic Conference, Sun Belt Conference, Southern Conference and Northeast Conference.
Tennessee is slated to face seven teams ranked in the preseason poll: Texas (1), Louisville (6), Penn State (7), Kentucky (9), Florida (11), Arkansas (19) and Georgia (25). The Lady Vols will also take on several teams who received votes. Western Kentucky was the top vote getter of the group and just missed being ranked, while Auburn, UCLA, Missouri and Western Michigan also earned spots on coach ballots.
After losing four starters to graduation, including three All-Americans, Tennessee’s new-look roster during the 2024 campaign will be led by All-American setter Caroline Kerr and veteran middle blocker Keondreya Granberry. The Lady Vols boast five other returners who played at least 25 sets last season and two who started double-digit matches.
Kerr, who was named Preseason All-SEC by league coaches, ranked third nationally, second in the SEC and led all NCAA freshmen in assists per set at 11.75, recording 14 40-assist efforts and five 50-assist performances on the year. Granberry has led the Lady Vols in blocks each of her first two seasons on Rocky Top, totaling 211 with back-to-back seasons with more than 100, and she ranked second in the SEC in hitting percentage (.356) last year.
UT brought in nine newcomers to help replace the production from last year, with four transfers and five freshmen. Of the transfers, outside hitters Nina Cajic and Hayden Kubik are expected to play a major role in replacing the duo of Morgahn Fingall and Jenaisya Moore. Cajic was the 2023 CAA Player of the Year at Towson and owns 983 kills for her career, while Kubik was one of the top-rated recruits in the 2022 signing class. She saw limited action during her time at Nebraska but finished with the most kills and digs during Tennessee’s foreign trip to Italy and Poland this summer.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – “Vol Calls,” the official statewide radio show for the Tennessee Volunteers, kicks off its 2024-25 season on Wednesday, Aug. 21, on location from the legendary Calhoun’s On the River location in downtown Knoxville.
The one-hour show airs at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT across the state of Tennessee on Vol Network affiliates.
Bob Kesling, the voice of the Tennessee Volunteers and UT’s director of broadcasting, serves as the show’s host and is joined by Vol Network veteran Brent Hubbs to answer questions and provide the latest news and information on Tennessee Athletics. The Vol Network’s Andy Brock lines up questions on-site from fans in attendance.
The show will be held outside each week during the fall on the restaurant’s massive, covered outdoor deck. Overlooking the Tennessee River, “The Deck” at Calhoun’s provides a unique outdoor dining and show experience with big-screen televisions, ceiling fans and a roof that fully protects fans from the elements.
Head coach Josh Heupel will make his on-site show debut on Wednesday, Aug. 28 prior to UT’s season opener versus Chattanooga on Aug. 31. Assistant coaches and other special guests will be part of the weekly lineup. A recorded interview with Heupel airs this week.
Calhoun’s On the River returns as the home of “Vol Calls” for the 13th straight season. Famous for its award-winning ribs, BBQ and other delicious Southern dishes, Calhoun’s is one of Tennessee’s most popular restaurant destinations. The restaurant will give away special prizes each week during football season through its Instagram channel – @calhounstn – including “Best Seats in the House” for the show, game tickets, hospitality passes and a collection of special signature sauces.
“Vol Calls” is the exclusive statewide radio show for Tennessee Athletics featuring the head coaches of the Big Orange. The show can be heard on 50-plus radio stations across the state of Tennessee on the Vol Radio Network and all over the world through UTsports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and SiriusXM.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department and East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers are working to apprehend those responsible for metal thefts in Knoxville.
The first is a bronze statue of two children reading stolen from Tank Strickland Park on Asheville Highway. Officials with East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers say it could be sold almost anywhere, even on Facebook Marketplace.
Knox County officials say a monument was stolen from a Knoxville park (Courtesy: Knox County)
“They could have it taken to be melted down, taken to some flea market or something out there,” said Stacy Payne with East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers. “It could even show up on Marketplace. Keep an eye out. If you see something like that, it should stick out to you.”
Police are also looking looking for a suspect in another metal theft; a man was seen on camera robbing a Kingston Pike pawn shop, taking thousands of dollars in gold and silver.
(Courtesy: KPD)
“You’re looking at seven to eight thousand dollars worth of coin. He’s got it out there somewhere. Someone knows some information,” Payne said.
(Courtesy: KPD)
If you have any information on these thefts, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers. You can also report tips here.
