By Brody Rupert
It has been an up-and-down week for University of Tennessee athletics, peaking Saturday when the Volunteers handled the Alabama Crimson Tide.
There were several wins for the teams, and a handful of losses to keep them in check.
Soccer: Falling into a slump
Lady Vols soccer started the season hot, but has fallen into a hole the last few games, dropping four straight.
Its most recent loss came at Regal Stadium, where the team hosted the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Vols started slow, and it took only 12 minutes for Arkansas to put what would be the deciding goal in the back of the net. A seam in the middle of the defense led to a breakaway chance, and the Razorbacks converted.
The team looked different after halftime, generating shots on goal in the second 45 minutes. Tennessee finished with 17 shots—six on goal—but had nothing to show for it.
It was not a lack of opportunities; the Vols lived in the opponent’s half of the field, but turnovers and missed chances plagued the offense.
Shae O’Rourke took three shots, all on goal, yet failed to put one in the back of the net.
The Vols rank 12th in the Southeastern Conference, holding the final qualifying spot for the SEC tournament. With three games remaining, they must find answers quickly.
Basketball: Disappointing exhibition loss
The Tennessee men’s basketball team hosted Xavier at Thompson-Boling Arena for an exhibition contest.
What was expected to be a comfortable win exposed a harsher reality: This group of transfers needs time to build chemistry.
Despite taking a 35-27 lead into halftime, the Vols fell 86-70.
It is not time to panic after one exhibition game. Coach Rick Barnes frequently experiments with lineups and holds true starters out of initial preseason action.
For example, Terrence Hill Jr. came off the bench despite likely serving as the team’s starting point guard when the regular season begins.
Hill led the offense for the Vols, scoring 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
It was an unpolished performance overall, which aligns with a roster featuring nine transfers working to integrate their roles.
Down the stretch, the defense struggled and shot selection faltered. Xavier erupted for 59 points in the second half, shooting 70% from the field and well over 50% from 3-point range.
Tennessee looked tired, sluggish and out of sync. Poor communication and streaky shooting led to an expanding deficit.
“I don’t think Tennessee had played a scrimmage yet,” Xavier head coach Richard Pitino said postgame. “We clearly looked ahead because we had maybe played one.”
It was the team’s first public competition together, making growing pains expected. The Vols will look to refine their execution before the regular-season opener.
Volleyball: Keeps on rolling
In contrast to the soccer program, the Lady Vols volleyball team has won four straight matches following a victory over Arkansas.
The 3-1 win capped four competitive sets between the programs. While searching for complete consistency, Tennessee continues to show flashes of high-level play.
Jalyn Stout led the effort with a season-high 19 kills. Her performance, combined with 47 assists from Caroline Kerr, helped the No. 9 Vols avoid the upset.
Chelsea Sutton and Kennedi Rogers added 12 kills apiece in the victory.
Tied at 19 in the final set, Tennessee closed on a 6-1 run to secure the match.
The team stands at 13-3 overall and 4-2 in SEC play heading into the stretch run. The Lady Vols continue their road trip in Oklahoma.