By Ashley Stadnicki
It was a weekend of highs and lows for Tennessee athletics, with a soccer win to celebrate, a volleyball ranking to defend and a new Lady Vol basketball team ready to make some noise.
Soccer: Ending on a high note
The Lady Vols soccer team finished the regular season with a 3-1 win over Oklahoma. Emerson Moore scored twice in the first half before Cora Fry added a third goal in the second. It was a strong finish for Tennessee as the team wrapped up its regular season.
While the Lady Vols did not qualify for the SEC Tournament, there is a small chance they will make the NCAA Tournament. The team will now wait until Nov. 16 to find out if this win was enough to keep its season alive.
Volleyball: A tough weekend for sixth-ranked Tennessee
The No. 6 Lady Vols went from riding high to hitting a road bump, dropping back-to-back matches against Texas A&M and Missouri after a seven-match winning streak. Tennessee entered the weekend with its highest national ranking since 2005.
Friday’s matchup against No. 17 Texas A&M was a battle from the start. The Aggies took the first two sets, including a marathon second set that ended 33-31. Tennessee bounced back with a dominant 25-15 win in the third, but Texas A&M closed out the match in four sets.
Kennedi Rogers led Tennessee with 24 kills and 17 digs, but the Lady Vols couldn’t overcome the Aggies’ blocking and late-match execution.
Sunday brought more heartbreak as Tennessee fell to Missouri, 3-2. The five-set loss capped a difficult weekend for the sixth-ranked Lady Vols, who will look to regroup as SEC play continues.
The Lady Vols return to Food City Center on Friday to take on Mississippi State. On Sunday, they will face Alabama in their final home game of the regular season before closing with two road games.
Women’s Basketball: The new era is here
If Tuesday’s exhibition was any indication, the Lady Vols are ready to run. Tennessee overwhelmed Florida A&M, 132-63, offering fans an exciting first look at a completely rebuilt roster.
Eight players scored in double figures, led by Maryland transfer Kaylene Smikle with 19 points. Northern Arizona transfer Naomi White added 16 points and seven assists.
Tennessee also dominated the offense, grabbing 30 offensive rebounds and turning them into 42 second-chance points. The Lady Vols added 45 points off turnovers, showcasing the fast-paced, aggressive style head coach Kim Caldwell wants to bring to Knoxville.
After last season’s complete roster overhaul featuring 13 transfers and two high school recruits, Tennessee has plenty to prove. Tuesday’s performance offered an encouraging first glimpse of what this new squad could become.
The team opens its season on Monday at 6:30 p.m. against Duquesne inside Food City Center.