Lady Vols Secure NCAA Tournament Bid and Historic Hosting Opportunity for First Time in a Decade

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Lady Vols have secured a spot in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament as the No. 10 national seed after a highly successful regular season, marking their highest seeding in program history. Tennessee, ranked eighth, is set to kick off the tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Stanford quarter of the bracket with a first-round match against High Point, the Big South champions. The match is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Food City Center. Additionally, the Lady Vols will also host Western Kentucky and Coastal Carolina, who will face off on the same day at 4:30 p.m. Fans can purchase all-session passes for $10 at AllVols.com, with free parking available for all matches.

This marks the 18th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Lady Vols, with a record-setting No. 10 seed. The last time the Lady Vols hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament was in 2011, when the team was the No. 11 seed. It’s the third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the Lady Vols under head coach Eve Rackham Watt (2018, 2021, 2022, 2023). Heading into the tournament with a 24-4 overall and 15-3 SEC play record, the Lady Vols secured the second spot in the league with a conference-best eight bids.

In their previous NCAA Tournament appearances under Rackham Watt, Tennessee advanced to the second round in both 2018 and 2021. Last year, the Lady Vols narrowly missed out on advancing after a five-set battle with Purdue in the first round. Rackham Watt brings a wealth of experience, making her 12th postseason appearance as a coach and her fourth as head coach.

Tennessee NCAA Tournament Notes

• The Lady Vols have made 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, recording a 15-17 record.
• Tennessee’s No. 10 seed is the highest in program history, surpassing the previous record of No. 11 in 2011.
• The Lady Vols have been a host school in the tournament nine times (1982, 1984, 1993, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2023).
• Tennessee’s best NCAA Tournament finish was reaching the semifinals in 2005, finishing the season with a 25-9 record.
• The Lady Vols have a record of 11-6 in the first round, 2-9 in the second round, 1-1 in the round of 16, 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and 0-1 in the semifinals.

Tennessee vs. The Field

• The Lady Vols had a 9-3 record against NCAA Tournament teams during the regular season.
• Tennessee’s most notable win was a 3-0 road sweep against the No. 2 seed Kentucky Wildcats.
• The Big Orange had a strong road performance, going 5-1 against tournament teams, with their only loss coming against No. 1 seed Wisconsin in a five-set thriller in September.
• Tennessee’s impressive record included wins against Missouri, Texas A&M, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, and Marquette.

Recapping the Lady Vols’ Incredible Regular Season

• Tennessee’s strong showing in the regular season resulted in a 24-4 overall record and a 15-3 conference play record, with the team reaching No. 8 in the AVCA polls.
• The Lady Vols have demonstrated their offensive prowess, ranking inside the top five in the country and leading the SEC in key statistical categories.
• Tennessee has dominated opponents, sweeping 17 teams on the year and losing only 15 sets in 18 matches against SEC teams.
• The Lady Vols secured wins against four top-25 teams, with notable road victories at Florida, Kentucky, and Marquette.
• Tennessee’s strong road performance resulted in an 11-2 record, including an 8-1 record in away SEC matches.
• Several Lady Vols players received recognition in the SEC yearly honors, highlighting the team’s depth and talent.