After a 5-0 start to the season, Tennessee volleyball moved up five spots to No. 17 in this week’s AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll. The Lady Vols have yet to lose a set. They are coming off a top-25 win over No. 21 Indiana on Sunday.
On Monday, the Southeastern Conference announced Week 2’s players of the week. Three Lady Vols received honors. Kennedi Rogers earned co-offensive player of the week. Caroline Kerr earned co-setter of the week. In addition, Jolene Oddo took freshman of the week honors.
Rogers, a sophomore outside hitter from Missouri City, Texas, put up 6.25 points and 5.50 kills per set as Tennessee climbed to 5-0. In the sweep of Illinois in the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge, she had 14 kills on a .355 clip with seven digs, two assists, one block and one ace. She then led all players with 19 kills against No. 21 Indiana at the Broadway Block Party. She also added three total blocks and two digs in the three-set win.
Kerr, a fifth-year setter from Champaign, Illinois, helped Tennessee hit .330 as a team. She posted two 30-plus-assist outings across last week’s two sweeps. She opened with 38 assists, six digs, four kills and three blocks against Illinois in the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge. Against No. 21 Indiana, Kerr logged the 25th double-double of her career with 32 assists and 10 digs. In addition, she chipped in two aces, one kill and one block against the Hoosiers.
Oddo, a middle blocker from Clayton, North Carolina, had seven total blocks across two wins as Tennessee stayed undefeated. She put up five kills and two blocks in the home sweep of Illinois in the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge. Against No. 21 Indiana at the Broadway Block Party, her five blocks were part of a 13-block night for Tennessee. That effort held the Hoosiers to a .179 hitting percentage.
The No. 17 Lady Vols are set for another tough match this week. They will face the No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers in the Showdown at the Net. The event will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida, on Wednesday.
