Pair of Ranked Road Matches Await No. 10 Hogs

October 19, 2023

Tennessee Stream Tennessee Stats Kentucky Stream Kentucky Stats Match Notes

The Razorbacks enter their first long road streak of the SEC season this weekend as Arkansas takes on Tennessee and Kentucky on Friday and Sunday.

The pair of matches will be the Razorbacks’ first back-to-back ranked contests since Aug. 29 and 30 against No. 1 Wisconsin, and the first against two different ranked opponents in 2023.

Arkansas checked in at No. 10 in the AVCA Coaches Poll on Monday, the highest ranking in program history and the first time ever in the top 10. The Hogs switched places with the Volunteers this week, who took their first conference loss of the season against Kentucky last week and now sit at No. 12. The Wildcats have been in the AVCA poll all season and are currently No. 20 after their upset of Tennessee.

The Razorbacks are currently the only unbeaten team in SEC play, and their 7-0 start so far is the best since 2003. The Vols are just behind at 7-1 and the Wildcats are in third at 6-1.

Friday’s match in Knoxville is set for 5:30 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SEC Network+. Sunday’s weekend finale in Lexington has a noon first serve and will be broadcast live on SEC Network.

Scouting the Series: Tennessee

The Vols and Hogs were the only two undefeated SEC teams coming into the fourth week of conference play, and both had only lost to No. 1 Wisconsin prior
Arkansas has not won in Knoxville since 2014
The Razorbacks and Volunteers are 1-2 in three stats in the SEC. Arkansas has the edge in aces, Tennessee is higher in hitting percentage and assists

Stat Leaders – Tennessee

Kills/set: Morgahn Fingall | 4.23 | 254
Assists/set: Caroline Kerr | 11.42 | 685
Digs/set: Yelianliz Torres | 3.70 | 222
Blocks/set: Keondreya Granberry | 1.24 | 61
Aces/set: Caroline Kerr | 0.40 | 24

Scouting the Series: Kentucky

Arkansas has never beaten Kentucky under head coach Jason Watson and has not won in Lexington since 2012
Both the Wildcats and Razorbacks have been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 all season
Arkansas and Kentucky have the two best setters in the conference. Emma Grome checks in at first with 11.76 assists per set, and Hannah Hogue is second with 11.43 assists per set

Stat Leaders – Kentucky

Kills/set: Reagan Rutherford | 3.68 | 125
Assists/set: Emma Grome | 11.76 | 682
Digs/set: Eleanor Beavin | 3.83 | 222
Blocks/set: Jordyn Williams | 1.00 | 38
Aces/set: Audrey Whitworth | 0.31 | 16

Stat Leaders – Arkansas

Kills/set: Jill Gillen | 4.06 | 276
Assists/set: Hannah Hogue | 11.43 | 777
Digs/set: Courtney Jackson | 3.93 | 267
Blocks/set: Zoi Evans | 1.03 | 67
Aces/set: Jill Gillen | 0.51 | 35

More Information

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