Lady Vols to Play Georgia Tech in Showdown at the Net.

The Tennessee Lady Vols’ 2024 volleyball season concluded in a dramatic five-set loss to No. 18 Georgia Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The match, held on December 5, 2024, at the Wisconsin Field House in Madison, Wisconsin, showcased intense competition and highlighted the resilience of both teams.(University of Tennessee Athletics, Vols Wire)

The Lady Vols (15-12, 8-8 SEC) faced the Yellow Jackets (21-9, 12-8 ACC) in a highly anticipated matchup. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with 15 lead changes and 39 tied scores, reflecting the evenly matched nature of the teams. Georgia Tech ultimately secured the victory with set scores of 25-18, 13-25, 32-30, 26-28, and 15-12. (University of Tennessee Athletics)Nina Cajic: The graduate student outside hitter delivered an outstanding performance, recording 27 kills on a .338 hitting percentage, along with 11 digs, six blocks, two aces, and two assists. This marked her fifth 20-kill effort of the season and sixth double-double. (University of Tennessee Athletics)

• Caroline Kerr: The redshirt sophomore setter tied her career high with 57 assists, adding 13 digs, four kills, and two blocks. She finished the season with 1,069 assists, ranking eighth for a single year during the 25-point rally-scoring era. (University of Tennessee Athletics)
• Paityn Chapman: The freshman right-side hitter contributed 13 kills, four blocks, and one dig, marking her 13th contest with double-digit kills. (University of Tennessee Athletics)
• Klaudia Pawlik: The redshirt junior middle blocker recorded a match-high eight blocks and added five kills, playing a crucial role in the team’s defensive efforts. (Vols Wire)

• Tamara Otene: The senior outside hitter delivered a career-high 33 kills, becoming the second Yellow Jacket under head coach Michelle Collier to record 30+ kills in an NCAA Tournament match. She also added 15 digs, earning her 13th double-double of the season. (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)
• Bianca Bertolino: The senior outside hitter contributed 25 kills, leading the team alongside Otene in the offensive onslaught. (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)
• Tennessee: The Lady Vols amassed 67 kills on a .264 hitting percentage, 66 assists, 65 digs, 14 blocks, and three aces. (University of Tennessee Athletics)
• Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets recorded 79 kills on a .232 hitting percentage, 81 digs, 76 assists, nine blocks, and two aces. (University of Tennessee Athletics)

The 2024 season marked Tennessee’s 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Despite the early exit, the Lady Vols demonstrated significant growth and resilience. The match against Georgia Tech highlighted the team’s competitive spirit and the individual talents of players like Cajic and Kerr. Looking ahead, the program aims to build on this experience to achieve greater success in future seasons.(University of Tennessee Athletics)