Category: Lady Vols

Kim Caldwell recaps Lady Vols’ 86-point win versus Carson-Newman

Tennessee basketball head coach Kim Caldwell recaps the Lady Vols’, 135-49, win against Carson-Newman.

First-year Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kim Caldwell was hired on April 7.

Caldwell coached on the Lady Vols’ sideline for the first time on Thursday. Tennessee defeated Carson-Newman, 135-49, in an exhibition contest at Food City Center.

“It was a good test for us to play in the arena, in front of the fans,” Caldwell said. “It was really nice to play against somebody other than ourselves. We appreciate Carson-Newman for coming. That that’s a very good Division II team and they’re going to have a good year and we’re going to be rooting for them all the way.”

The Lady Vols also scored 52 points off 43 Carson-Newman turnovers.

“It’s big,” Caldwell said. “It’s everything we want. It’s why we press.”

Tennessee will open its 2024-25 regular-season on Nov. 5 versus Samford at Food City Center. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. EST and can be watched on SEC Network+.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Lady Vols score 135 points against Carson-Newman

Tennessee scores 135 points against Carson-Newman basketball at Food City Center.

Kim Caldwell coached her first game for Tennessee on Thursday. The Lady Vols defeated Carson-Newman, 135-49, in an exhibition game at Food City Center.

Caldwell is the fourth Tennessee women’s basketball head coach during the NCAA era, joining Pat Summitt, Holly Warlick and Kellie Harper.

Tennessee scored 52 bench points, 58 points in the paint, 52 points off turnovers, recorded 26 second chance points and 50 fast break points on Thursday.

Ruby Whitehorn led the Lady Vols with 29 points. Kaniya Boyd was Tennessee’s top rebounder (7), while Samara Spencer was the Lady Vols’ leader in assists (8).

Tennessee converted 19-of-48 three-point attempts and created 43 Carson-Newman turnovers.

Tennessee will open its 2024-25 regular-season on Nov. 5 versus Samford at Food City Center. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. EST and can be watched on SEC Network+.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Medical update on Tennessee guard Edie Darby

Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell provides medical update on Lady Vols’ guard Edie Darby.

Tennessee will open its 2024-25 women’s basketball regular-season on Nov. 5 versus Samford at Food City Center (6:30 p.m. EST, SEC Network+).

The Kim Caldwell era for the Lady Vols will tip off Thursday with an exhibition game at 6:30 p.m. EDT versus Carson-Newman. The in-state matchup will be contested at Food City Center and can be watched on SEC Network+.

Ahead of Thursday’s exhibition, Caldwell provided a medical update for junior guard Edie Darby. Caldwell announced Darby will be sidelined for an extended period of time due to a left foot injury.

The 5-foot-7 guard has appeared in 23 contests for the Lady Vols since 2022, averaging 0.9 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Kim Caldwell. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Kim Caldwell provides medical update for Kaiya Wynn

Tennessee basketball head coach Kim Caldwell provides medical update for Lady Vols’ guard Kaiya Wynn.

Kim Caldwell enters her first season as the Lady Vols’ basketball head coach for the 2024-25 campaign.

Tennessee will tipoff its regular-season versus Samford on Nov. 5 at Food City Center. The season opening contest is slated for 6:30 p.m. EST and can be watched on SEC Network+.

Caldwell provided a medical update on Tuesday regarding Tennessee senior guard Kaiya Wynn.

“Wynn has suffered a torn Achilles in her right leg and is expected to miss the 2024-25 season,” Caldwell announced.

The 6-foot guard was one of five Lady Vol basketball players to appear in all 33 games last season. She averaged 4.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

Wynn is from Nashville, Tennessee and has appeared in 94 contests since 2021 for the Lady Vols, averaging 2.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

During the summer, Wynn traveled to South Africa and Botswana for a service and leadership trip with the VOLeaders Academy.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Kim Caldwell. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Jaida Thomas scores 40th career goal for Lady Vols

Tennessee soccer defeats Missouri and Jaida Thomas scores 40th career goal.

Tennessee (7-1-3, 2-0-2) defeated Missouri (3-7-2, 1-3-1), 1-0, on Friday at Regal Soccer Stadium.

Jaida Thomas made her first start of the season for the Lady Vols and scored the contest’s only goal in the 21st minute. The redshirt senior forward has scored 40 goals since arriving at Tennessee in 2019.

Thomas is second all time in Tennessee program history for career goals behind Kylee Rossi (43).

She also recorded her 12th career game-winning goal. Thomas is fourth all time in Tennessee program history for career game-winning goals.

Tennessee will next play on Oct. 10 at Arkansas. Kickoff between the Lady Vols and Razorbacks is slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Jaida Thomas. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Ally Zazzara records 100th career save for Lady Vols

Tennessee goalkeeper Ally Zazzara records 100th save for the Lady Vols.

Tennessee (6-1-3, 1-0-2 SEC) hosted Vanderbilt (5-2-4, 0-2-2 SEC) on Sunday at Regal Soccer Stadium. The Lady Vols and Commodores played to a, 1-1, tie.

Tennessee goalkeeper Ally Zazzara totaled a season-high 11 saves against Vanderbilt, including a penalty kick during the 12th minute. She also recorded her 100th career save for the Lady Vols in the contest.

Mac Midgley scored Tennessee’s only goal and Reese Mattern recorded an assist in the 83rd minute. Sydney Watts scored a goal for Vanderbilt during the 56th minute.

Tennessee extended its unbeaten streak to nine games. The Lady Vols have not lost a match since their season-opening game at Indiana on Aug. 15.

The Lady Vols will next play Missouri on Friday at Regal Soccer Stadium (7 p.m. EDT, SEC Network).

No. 20 Lady Vols defeat Alabama to open SEC play

Tennessee volleyball defeats Alabama to open SEC play.

No. 20 Tennessee (8-3, 1-0 SEC) opened Southeastern Conference play on Wednesday. The Lady Vols defeated Alabama (8-4, 0-1 SEC), 25-17, 25-27, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11, at Food City Center.

Graduate student outside hitter Nina Cajic recorded 31 kills for Tennessee. She earned SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.

Cajic also recorded a .338 hitting percentage, 11 digs, four aces and one block against the Crimson Tide for her fourth double-double of the season.

Redshirt sophomore setter Caroline Kerr also recorded a double-double for the Lady Vols, totaling 48 assists, 16 digs, five kills, three blocks, one ace and a .556 hitting percentage.

Tennessee will next play Oklahoma on Sunday in Norman, Oklahoma. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. EDT and can be watched on SEC Network+.

Lady Vols, Alabama tie in Tuscaloosa

Tennessee and Alabama soccer tie in Tuscaloosa.

No. 23 Tennessee (6-1-2, 1-0-1 SEC) tied Alabama (7-2-2, 0-0-2 SEC), 2-2, Sunday at Alabama Soccer Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Crimson Tide led, 1-0, after Nedya Sawan scored in the 40th minute.

The Lady Vols tied the game, 1-1, on an unassisted goal by Kennedy Price. The match was tied, 1-1, at halftime.

Tennessee took its first lead of the match after Sammi Woods made the score, 2-1, with a goal in the 51st minute. Reese Mattern was credited with an assists on the goal.

Alabama salvaged a draw when Gianna Paul scored a goal in the 52nd minute.

The Crimson Tide out shot the Lady Vols, 20-12, in the match. Tennessee had seven of its scoring chances land on goal, while Alabama had four shots on goal.

Lady Vols’ goalkeeper Ally Zazzara totaled two saves against the Crimson Tide.

Lady Vols end nonconference play with win over Western Michigan

Lady Vols defeat Western Michigan volleyball in four sets.

No. 15 Tennessee( 7-3) defeated Western Michigan (4-7), 25-20, 25-11, 22-25, 25-19, Friday at Food City Center in its final nonconference game of the season.

Graduate student Nina Cajic totaled 16 kills, eight digs and two blocks for the Lady Vols, who posted a .370 hitting percentage in the match against the Broncos. She also totaled eight digs and two blocks.

Freshman Paityn Chapman recorded 12 kills, three blocks, three aces, two digs and one assist, while recording a .429 hitting percentage. Eryn Jones totaled 11 kills, 11 digs and four blocks.

Redshirt sophomore Caroline Kerr was the Lady Vols’ leading passer as she finished with 44 assists. She also totaled three blocks, three digs and two kills for Tennessee, which held Western Michigan to a .143 hitting percentage.

Nina Cajic’s record setting performance leads Lady Vols to victory

Nina Cajic sets single-match kills record for Tennessee.

No. 15 Tennessee (6-3) defeated Western Michigan (4-6), 24-26, 25-20, 29-27, 33-31, Thursday at Food City Center.

Nina Cajic, a graduate student and outside hitter for the Lady Vols had a record setting match in the victory.

Cajic recorded 42 kills, breaking a previous record, set by Stephanie Ehlers in 1998 against Washington State. Cajic also became the first player in SEC history to eclipse 40 kills in the 25-point rally scoring era. She also became the second player in NCAA Division I history to record 40-plus kills in a four-set match during that stint.

Cajic, who averaged 10.5 kills per set, recorded 20 kills in the final set. She also totaled 13 digs, four blocks and one assist in the match and posted a .500 hitting percentage.

Redshirt sophomore setter Caroline Kerr finished with a career-high 57 assists. She also totaled 10 digs and two blocks against the Broncos.

Ashllyn King finished with a career-high 23 digs and four assists.