By Lily Helton
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It was a career night for Chelsea Sutton, who had an absolutely dominating performance in the Lady Vols’ 3-1 win over the No. 21 Yellow Jackets on Tuesday night. She racked up a personal best 15 kills, alongside a solo block, and four block assists at the net.
The middle blocker Sutton set the tone early, with four kills in just the first set. By the third set, she had produced 12 kills and two block assists.
Where the sophomore Lady Vol truly separated herself was in the fourth set.
After dropping the third set 25-23, the Lady Vols required some momentum and a quick turnaround.
In response, Sutton absolutely lit up, adding a solo block, two more blocking assists, and three more kills to her stats sheet.
What message did Sutton want to send during the fourth set? Simple.
“Just like we’re done, like it’s over,” Sutton said.
The glue for the offense, All-American setter Caroline Kerr, finished with 53 assists, 13 digs, and three kills of her own to earn her 14th career double-double.
Kerr’s connection with the offense was a key factor in terms of the team’s success. Often finding Sutton going airborne for the kill, the relationships established through practice made their way to the court.
“It’s extremely important.. It’s been one of the main focuses of all week leading up to this game,” Sutton said.
Beyond just Sutton, the team clicked offensively. Starr Williams finished with 17 kills, the team high for the day. Right behind Williams and Sutton was sophomore Paityn Chapman, finishing with 13 kills.
“What Starr Williams did to help us win was a credit to what this team has prioritized in terms of team over self,” head coach Eve Rackham Watt.“We had some new faces out there.. And that continues to be a strength, and I think the team is buying into that more and more.”
The Lady Vols picked up a home victory over a ranked opponent for the first time since 2023, and Rackham Watt picked up her 10th win all-time over a ranked foe.
The team aspect overall showed up tonight; the Lady Vols were productive both offensively and defensively, with libero Gülce Güçtekin leading the team with 22 digs. The win also marks the first of the inaugural Showdown at the Net ACC/SEC challenge.
The Lady Vols get a small two-day break and then face Delaware State in New York City at a neutral site of Carnesecca Arena on Saturday at noon.