University of Tennessee Athletics
Wednesday, September 9
Kissimmee, Fla.
6:30 p.m. ET
University of Tennessee
vs
Pitt
VB Preview: #17 Lady Vols Head to Florida for Midweek Match Against #2 Pitt
September 08, 2026 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The No. 17 Tennessee volleyball team faces its second consecutive ranked opponent on Wednesday, as it meets No. 2 Pitt in the Showdown at the Net. The match will be held at the State Farm Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, and the match will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Tennessee enters the matchup after a three-set win over Indiana at the Broadway Block Party. Kennedi Rogers led the offense with 19 kills and added three blocks. Caroline Kerr notched her 25th career double-double with 32 assists and 10 digs, moving her into a tie for ninth in program history with Lily Felts (2018-21). The UT block defense was key in the victory over the Hoosiers. The Lady Vols posted a season-high 13 blocks in the match, led by the duo of Chelsea Sutton and Jolene Oddo with five each. The work at the net was an important catalyst for holding the Indiana offensive attack to 36 kills and a .179 hitting percentage.
Through its first five matches, Tennessee has yet to drop a set. This marks the third time in program history that Tennessee has begun the season with five consecutive sweeps. It last occurred in 2010, with the Lady Vols winning their first six matches via the sweep.
Pitt (6-0) enters the match unbeaten after wins away from home over BYU and Utah. The Panthers are led by two-time AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock, who has 109 kills this season through the team's six matches. Babcock ranks top ten nationally so far this season in kills (seventh), kills per set (4.95, fifth), points (127.5, sixth), and points per set (5.80, fourth). Babcock set the Pitt single-season record for kills last season, with 646 last season. Transfer setter Izzy Starck leads the team in both assists (226) and digs (61). The Pitt block defense has been important to its early season success. The Panthers rank 11th in Division I with 65 blocks and 13th in blocks per set at 2.95. Six Pitt players have double-digit blocks this season, led by Maaike Heilig with 31.
This will be the 20th meeting between Tennessee and Pitt, with the Panthers holding a 10-9 lead in the series. The two programs last met in 2022 in Pittsburgh, with Pitt earning a close victory.
Three Lady Vols earned SEC weekly honors this week. Kennedi Rogers was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week, Caroline Kerr took home Co-Setter of the Week honors, and middle blocker Jolene Oddo named Freshman of the Week. Rogers is coming off two double figure kill outings against Illinois and Indiana last week. One of the top hitters in the nation to begin the year, Rogers ranks second nationally in both kills per set (5.67) and points per set (6.29). Kerr had two 30-plus assist performances in both matches, leading a Tennessee attack that had a .330 hitting percentage across its two contests. Kerr has 169 assists to begin the season, and ranks sixth in the nation at 11.27 assists per set. Oddo takes Freshman of the Week honors after her big block showing against Indiana. Oddo had a season-best five blocks in the victory, and currently leads the team with 14 blocks.
Tennessee has continued the trend of top offenses in the country under head coach Eve Rackham Watt. To begin the 2026 campaign, Tennessee leads the country with a 15.27 kills per set average and ranks second with a .353 hitting percentage. Across the previous eight seasons with Rackham Watt at the helm , Tennessee has ranked in the top 20 nationally in either statistic in five seasons. Last season, Tennessee ranked in the top 15 in both hitting percentage (.292, 10th) and kills per set (14.27, 11th).
Tennessee enters the matchup after a three-set win over Indiana at the Broadway Block Party. Kennedi Rogers led the offense with 19 kills and added three blocks. Caroline Kerr notched her 25th career double-double with 32 assists and 10 digs, moving her into a tie for ninth in program history with Lily Felts (2018-21). The UT block defense was key in the victory over the Hoosiers. The Lady Vols posted a season-high 13 blocks in the match, led by the duo of Chelsea Sutton and Jolene Oddo with five each. The work at the net was an important catalyst for holding the Indiana offensive attack to 36 kills and a .179 hitting percentage.
Through its first five matches, Tennessee has yet to drop a set. This marks the third time in program history that Tennessee has begun the season with five consecutive sweeps. It last occurred in 2010, with the Lady Vols winning their first six matches via the sweep.
Pitt (6-0) enters the match unbeaten after wins away from home over BYU and Utah. The Panthers are led by two-time AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock, who has 109 kills this season through the team's six matches. Babcock ranks top ten nationally so far this season in kills (seventh), kills per set (4.95, fifth), points (127.5, sixth), and points per set (5.80, fourth). Babcock set the Pitt single-season record for kills last season, with 646 last season. Transfer setter Izzy Starck leads the team in both assists (226) and digs (61). The Pitt block defense has been important to its early season success. The Panthers rank 11th in Division I with 65 blocks and 13th in blocks per set at 2.95. Six Pitt players have double-digit blocks this season, led by Maaike Heilig with 31.
This will be the 20th meeting between Tennessee and Pitt, with the Panthers holding a 10-9 lead in the series. The two programs last met in 2022 in Pittsburgh, with Pitt earning a close victory.
Three Lady Vols earned SEC weekly honors this week. Kennedi Rogers was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week, Caroline Kerr took home Co-Setter of the Week honors, and middle blocker Jolene Oddo named Freshman of the Week. Rogers is coming off two double figure kill outings against Illinois and Indiana last week. One of the top hitters in the nation to begin the year, Rogers ranks second nationally in both kills per set (5.67) and points per set (6.29). Kerr had two 30-plus assist performances in both matches, leading a Tennessee attack that had a .330 hitting percentage across its two contests. Kerr has 169 assists to begin the season, and ranks sixth in the nation at 11.27 assists per set. Oddo takes Freshman of the Week honors after her big block showing against Indiana. Oddo had a season-best five blocks in the victory, and currently leads the team with 14 blocks.
Tennessee has continued the trend of top offenses in the country under head coach Eve Rackham Watt. To begin the 2026 campaign, Tennessee leads the country with a 15.27 kills per set average and ranks second with a .353 hitting percentage. Across the previous eight seasons with Rackham Watt at the helm , Tennessee has ranked in the top 20 nationally in either statistic in five seasons. Last season, Tennessee ranked in the top 15 in both hitting percentage (.292, 10th) and kills per set (14.27, 11th).
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
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