University of Tennessee Athletics
Tuesday, September 15
Charlotte, N.C.
5:30 p.m. ET
University of Tennessee
at
Queens
VB Preview: #16 Lady Vols Travel to Charlotte to Face Queens
September 14, 2026 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The No. 16 Tennessee volleyball team plays its first true road contest of the year as it travels to Charlotte to face Queens. First serve is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET and the match will be streamed on ESPN+. This will mark the first meeting between Tennessee and Queens.
UT enters the match after a three-set victory over Coastal Carolina. The win moved the Lady Vols to 5-0 at home to begin the season, with each home victory this season coming via the sweep. Jalyn Stout led the Lady Vols offensively with a season-best 17 kills on a .400 hitting percentage. Kennedi Rogers had her sixth double-digit kill effort with 10, while also leading the team with four blocks. Jolene Oddo had her best offensive showing to date, tallying nine kills to go along with three blocks. Caroline Kerr posted her second 40-assist performance of the season, adding eight digs and four kills. Tennessee held Coastal Carolina to just 26 kills on a .147 hitting percentage thanks to 43 digs and seven blocks. Five players had at least six digs in the match, while four players had two or more blocks.
The Royals enter play coming off three consecutive victories at home, getting wins over Chattanooga, Buffalo, and Presbyterian this past weekend. Leading the Royals offensively is the trio of Emma Norris, Callie DeSchryver, and Elizabeth Layson. Norris leads the group with 105 kills and a 3.07 kills per set average, followed by DeSchryver with 87 and Layson with 78. Two setters support the Royals' offense, with Marlee Cook leading the charge with 165 assists and Tyler Peluso at 73 assists. Defensively, DeSchryver leads the team with 90 digs, while Layni Tobias paces the Royals with 24 blocks.
Fifth-year setter Caroline Kerr has been key to start the season for Tennessee. Through seven matches Kerr has 239 assists and an 11.38 assists per set average, which ranks sixth in Division I. Kerr continues her quest to reach the 4,000-career-assist threshold, which would make her just the fourth Lady Vol to do so. In Tennessee's win over Coastal Carolina, Kerr moved up to fifth in program history with 3,498 career assists, passing Sedona Hansen (3,494, 2016-19).
The Big Orange offense has consistently been one of the top units in the country under head coach Eve Rackham Watt. The Lady Vols lead Division I with a 15.14 kills per set average, while ranking seventh in the nation with a .327 hitting percentage. In five of its previous eight seasons, Tennessee has ranked in the top 20 in either kills per set or hitting percentage. Last season, Tennessee had another impressive offensive performance, ranking 10th hitting percentage at .292, and 11th in kills per set at 14.27.
UT enters the match after a three-set victory over Coastal Carolina. The win moved the Lady Vols to 5-0 at home to begin the season, with each home victory this season coming via the sweep. Jalyn Stout led the Lady Vols offensively with a season-best 17 kills on a .400 hitting percentage. Kennedi Rogers had her sixth double-digit kill effort with 10, while also leading the team with four blocks. Jolene Oddo had her best offensive showing to date, tallying nine kills to go along with three blocks. Caroline Kerr posted her second 40-assist performance of the season, adding eight digs and four kills. Tennessee held Coastal Carolina to just 26 kills on a .147 hitting percentage thanks to 43 digs and seven blocks. Five players had at least six digs in the match, while four players had two or more blocks.
The Royals enter play coming off three consecutive victories at home, getting wins over Chattanooga, Buffalo, and Presbyterian this past weekend. Leading the Royals offensively is the trio of Emma Norris, Callie DeSchryver, and Elizabeth Layson. Norris leads the group with 105 kills and a 3.07 kills per set average, followed by DeSchryver with 87 and Layson with 78. Two setters support the Royals' offense, with Marlee Cook leading the charge with 165 assists and Tyler Peluso at 73 assists. Defensively, DeSchryver leads the team with 90 digs, while Layni Tobias paces the Royals with 24 blocks.
Fifth-year setter Caroline Kerr has been key to start the season for Tennessee. Through seven matches Kerr has 239 assists and an 11.38 assists per set average, which ranks sixth in Division I. Kerr continues her quest to reach the 4,000-career-assist threshold, which would make her just the fourth Lady Vol to do so. In Tennessee's win over Coastal Carolina, Kerr moved up to fifth in program history with 3,498 career assists, passing Sedona Hansen (3,494, 2016-19).
The Big Orange offense has consistently been one of the top units in the country under head coach Eve Rackham Watt. The Lady Vols lead Division I with a 15.14 kills per set average, while ranking seventh in the nation with a .327 hitting percentage. In five of its previous eight seasons, Tennessee has ranked in the top 20 in either kills per set or hitting percentage. Last season, Tennessee had another impressive offensive performance, ranking 10th hitting percentage at .292, and 11th in kills per set at 14.27.
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