By Aidan Corley
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – “It’s a new era for us,” were the words of Shae O’Rourke following Tennessee’s season-opening upset over No.1 North Carolina.
When Tennessee kicked off the soccer season, they took on the role of giant killer, an under-the-radar squad playing spoiler to the likes of top-five-ranked North Carolina and UCLA. As the spotlight got sharper, so did their play, completing a grueling non-conference schedule undefeated with only a minor blemish, a 0-0 draw on the road at Memphis. Tennessee now sits on the throne of college soccer as the giant they once killed, achieving the No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history.
It’s been a season full of firsts and a season full of history for the Lady Vols; now, a brand new season awaits. The SEC beckons as 16 teams lace up with a clean record and one goal in mind: to be alone at the top.
Tennessee was picked to finish fifth in the SEC preseason poll, but now sit at the mountain top of the sport. Going from the outside looking in to handling the limelight of being a top-ranked team would test the mental fortitude of anyone, but for head coach Joe Kirt and company, the approach is no different than before.
“It’s great to be in the spot we are, but it doesn’t change what we do each and every day,” Kirt said after defeating Georgia Southern. “We try to take that side out of it; it’s outside noise. We control what we do every day on the field, and we try and keep it at that.”
Senior goalkeeper Ally Zazzara admits that the noise is heard by the team, but they are quick to turn it into fuel.
“Sometimes we get into the media and we see ranked number two, and you have to kind of humble yourself,” Zazzara said following the Georgia Southern win. “The second you step on that field, okay, we’re number two to all these people around us, but who’s going to be number two out there?”
The Lady Vols are strictly business on the pitch, evident by their now No.1 ranking, but the togetherness both on and off the field that has been preached since day one of the season is possibly the squad’s greatest strength. Sophomore goalkeeper Cayden Norris noted it as one of the team’s main improvements entering the season following the upset over North Carolina.
“I think, honestly, we’ve just improved on staying together. Being one. I think that’s one area that separates us from everyone else,” Norris said. “We’re there for each other; everyone has everyone’s back 24/7. It’s amazing.”
Just a few weeks later, over 4,000 fans packed into Regal Stadium for the Senior Day win over Georgia Southern, and ear-to-ear smiles were seen throughout after the final whistle. The Lady Vols and Vol Nation looked like one big family, and according to Senior Jenna Stayart, they are.
“It’s so connected,” Stayart said.” I mean, from the team itself and how much love we have for each other, and then all the support from all of our families and friends and everyone, we’re just constantly surrounded by a huge support system.”
The “new era” Lady Vols now face their biggest challenge, the gauntlet of the SEC, which currently features five other ranked teams. Tennessee has toppled powerhouses already, proving they fear no opponent. In fact, it was quite the opposite when playing the No. 1-ranked team, according to O’Rourke and Norris.
“I think we were more excited for that,” they said. “It just makes us want to go harder and win more.”
Tennessee’s SEC Schedule:
Sept. 12 at Mississippi State (5-1-0)
Tennessee record vs Mississippi State: 17-3-3
Notable 2025 results: L at Baylor 2-0, W vs No. 10 Wake Forest 2-1
Players to watch: Ally Perry, Zoe Main
Sept. 18 at Missouri (3-3-1)
Tennessee record vs Missouri: 10-2-1
Notable 2025 results: L at No. 15 Memphis 2-1, L vs Illinois 2-0
Players to watch: Mia Yang, Emily Derucki
Sept. 21 vs LSU (5-3-0)
Tennessee record vs LSU: 14-5-5
Notable 2025 results: L at No. 10 Wake Forest 1-0, W vs Wisconsin 1-0
Players to watch: Ava Galligan, Ida Hermannsdottir
Sept. 26 vs Texas A&M (3-1-3)
Tennessee record vs Texas A&M: 7-3-0
Notable 2025 results: L at No.4 TCU 2-1, W vs UConn 2-1
Players to watch: Kaylee Noble, Leah Diaz
Oct. 2 vs No. 24 Georgia (4-2-2)
Tennessee record vs Georgia: 19-12-1
Notable 2025 results: W vs No. 12 North Carolina 2-0, L vs No. 8 UCLA 1-0
Players to watch: Summer Denigan, Kiera Staude
Oct. 5 at Ole Miss (4-1-0)
Tennessee record vs Ole Miss: 19-4-2
Notable 2025 results: L at Memphis 3-2, W vs UAB 2-1
Players to watch: Katie Ramsden, Tate Blincoe
Oct. 9 at No. 20 Oklahoma (7-0-1)
Tennessee record vs Oklahoma: 3-0-0
Notable 2025 results: T at Texas State 1-1, W vs Oklahoma State 4-1
Players to watch: Naomi Clark, Kayla Keefer
Oct. 16 vs Florida (4-4-0)
Tennessee record vs Florida: 16-18-3
Notable 2025 results: L at No.3 Florida State 5-0, W at Maryland 3-1
Players to watch: Addy Hess, Abby Gemma
Oct. 19 at No. 13 Vanderbilt (6-1-0)
Tennessee record vs Vanderbilt: 12-17-5
Notable 2025 results: W vs Louisville 2-0, L at No. 24 Memphis 1-0
Players to watch: Sydney Watts, Olivia Stafford
Oct. 26 vs Alabama (5-2-1)
Tennessee record vs Alabama: 13-9-2
Notable 2025 results: L at No. 23 North Carolina 4-0, T at No. 3 Duke 1-1
Players to watch: Gianna Paul, Larkin Thomason
This conference schedule is what stands in the way between the No. 1 Lady Vols and their first SEC regular season championship since 2005.
Tennessee will open up conference play Friday at Mississippi State at 7 p.m. EST on ESPNU.