Alabama
8-4,0-1SEC
Tennessee
8-3,1-0SEC
Alabama Pushes 20th-Ranked Tennessee to Five Sets in Wednesday Road Loss
9/25/2024 9:37:00 PM | Volleyball
The Crimson Tide fell just short of the ranked upset in its SEC opener in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Alabama gave 20th-ranked Tennessee all it could handle in its SEC opener Wednesday night in Knoxville, pushing the Lady Vols to five sets in a hard-fought loss for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama (8-4, 0-1 SEC) dropped the first point of set one to Tennessee (8-3, 1-0 SEC) and the Lady Vols would not fall behind for the remainder of set, eventually winning 25-17. The Crimson Tide took its first lead of the match in the early goings of set two and remained ahead until Tennessee rallied late to move in front, 23-22. Alabama reached set point three times before a Sophie Agee kill ended it at 27-25 to even the match at 1-1. Neither team led by more than two points in the third set until a 4-0 UT run put the home team in front 12-9 at the halfway mark. Alabama answered right back with four unanswered to knot it up at 12-12. Tied again later at 16-16, the Lady Vols closed it out with a 9-4 run to win, 25-20, and take a 2-1 match lead.
Down 12-8 in set four, Alabama scored seven unanswered to move in front 15-12. Tennessee eventually fought back to retake the lead at 19-18 and then back-to-back points from the Tide swung the lead back to 20-19 and Alabama would remain ahead the rest of the way, winning 25-23 to force a fifth set. The Lady Vols led 8-4 at halfway mark of the deciding final set and the Tide would draw as close as two points down the stretch, but Tennessee ultimately held on to win, 15-11, and take the match.
FROM HEAD COACH RASHINDA REED
"Today's match proved that we are that good. We need to come out stronger from the start and clean up the little things as we prepare for Auburn on Sunday because they are a very good team. We have to clean up the little things."
NOTES
- Wednesday's match was Alabama's first five-set loss of the season, winning previous five setters against Grambling State (Aug. 30) and UTSA (Sept. 13)
- The match was Alabama's second straight against a ranked opponent, previously facing then-No. 18 Florida State last Saturday in Tuscaloosa
- Sophie Agee led the team with 18 kills, giving her double-digit kills in 10 of the Tide's 12 matches this season
- Agee also added 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season while Francesca Bertucci tallied her first with 11 assists and 21 digs
- Jordyn Towns tied her career-high mark with 10 kills
- Chaise Campbell tied her season-best mark with a team-leading five blocks
- Lindsey Brown led the team with a season-best three aces
STAT LEADERS
- Kills: Sophie Agee - 18
- Assists: Callie Kieffer - 18
- Digs: Francesca Bertucci - 21
- Blocks: Chaise Campbell - 5
- Aces: Lindsey Brown - 3
SET-BY-SET
- Set 1: Tennessee 25, Alabama 17
- Set 2: Alabama 27, Tennessee 25
- Set 3: Tennessee 25, Alabama 20
- Set 4: Alabama 25, Tennessee 23
- Set 5: Tennessee 15, Alabama 11
UP NEXT: AT AUBURN
- Sunday, Sept. 29 – Auburn, Ala. – 4 p.m. CT – SEC Network
