The Lady Vols hit the road after splitting their previous two-game homestand, starting a week-long road trip beginning in Tuscaloosa against Alabama.
Using a strong opening and closing set, the Lady Vols defeated the Crimson Tide 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 23-25, 25-15). Hayden Kubik led the team with 18 kills. Chelsea Sutton continued her impressive sophomore campaign on both sides of the ball through set one, including a block assist alongside Mackenzie Plante.
Plante and Sutton both finished among the top scorers on the day. Plante’s role continues to increase after posting a career high in kills against Texas on October 8. She continues to see her name listed at the top of the stat sheet.
Including Friday’s matchup against the Crimson Tide, Plante can boast nine or more kills in five of her last six matches.
In the early stages of set one, the junior went on a run that saw her post four kills in a quick span to push her team ahead to an early lead. She finished her first set with six total kills as the Lady Vols jumped ahead with a 1-0 set advantage after winning the opening set 25-18.
Plante earned her 250th career dig amidst her performance.
Momentum stayed on the side of Tennessee during set two. The Lady Vols looked strong with an early 3-1 start before Alabama began to find its footing. The frame saw a handful of more runs compared to the opening round. Despite pushback from the Crimson Tide, the Lady Vols’ offense stayed persistent. Plante continued to make her presence felt, but Kubik began warming up offensively as well.
Kubik remains an offensive centerpiece for the team this season. Even with a slow start, the senior shows consistent growth into a complete player. She is putting together her best season in collegiate volleyball yet.
Set two finished with the Lady Vols ahead 25-20, holding Alabama at bay after it mounted a 5-0 run in the middle of the frame. The Crimson Tide didn’t waver easily with its back to the wall.
Moving to set three, Alabama began things with a 4-0 run led by Kaleigh Palmer. The Lady Vols didn’t see themselves with a lead for the entirety of the set, prompting a big momentum switch.
In a league as competitive as the SEC this season, which includes 13 teams with records with a .500 or better win percentage, the Lady Vols couldn’t afford to let Alabama start a run of its own while on the road in a tough environment. The Crimson Tide claimed set three 25-23, forcing a fourth set.
Tennessee must’ve felt inspired by Alabama’s 4-0 run to begin the third set, because they came out in set four with an even larger 6-0 run. The Crimson Tide trailed by as much as eight in the set before the Lady Vols finished the round on another 6-0 run. This propelled Tennessee to a 25-15 set win, clinching the win over Alabama.
