Nov. 5, 2009

Complete Match Notes in PDF Format

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee volleyball team (17-6, 10-3 Southeastern Conference) will look to build on a pair of hard-fought road victories from last weekend when it welcomes Mississippi State to Rocky Top at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 and takes on Alabama at 1:30 p.m. two days later. Both matches will take place in Thompson-Boling Arena with live video and stats available at UTLadyVols.com.

The first 200 fans to arrive on Friday will receive a free Lady Vol reusable grocery tote as UT hosts a Turn Big Orange Green Night. Representatives from the Knoxville Recycling Coalition, Ijams Nature Center and Make Orange Green will be in attendance. Fans can also receive free admission on Friday if they donate a book for the Pi Beta Phi Sorority and Tennessee Athletics Department Book Drive. All books donated will go to either Beaumont Elementary School or the Knox County Public Library and all monetary donations will be given to the First Book Organization.

Following its first home loss of the season to No. 20 LSU on Oct. 26, the Big Orange returned to its winning ways with a weekend sweep of a pair of important conference road matches. The Lady Volunteers opened with a four-set triumph over Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., on Friday, Nov. 6, riding the right arm of sophomore Kayla Jeter to victory.

The Solon, Ohio, native finished the contest with a stellar .342 hitting percentage with 17 kills and just four errors on 38 swings. She also added a pair of digs and two blocks in the win. In addition to Jeter's offensive outburst, junior Nikki Fowler notched her sixth consecutive double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs, while freshman Natalie Guerra paced the UT attack with a career-high 25 assists and five digs in the most extensive action of her career.

Just two days later and 400 miles away in Fayetteville, Ark., the Big Orange outlasted a spirited Arkansas effort, winning in five set, to improve to 17-6 overall and 10-3 in SEC play. Once again, it was a two-person show for the Lady Vols, as Fowler and Jeter notched kill totals of 24 and 20, respectively. Fowler set a season high with her effort, while Jeter tied her career high, set earlier this season at Louisville. Fowler also registered her seventh consecutive double-double with 10 digs.

After its two matches this weekend, Tennessee will close out the road portion of its schedule with contests at Auburn and Georgia. The Orange and White will first take on the Tigers at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 13 in Auburn, Ala., before making the trek to Athens, Ga., for a 2 p.m. showdown against the Bulldogs on Sunday, Nov. 15.