Tennessee’s first team sport back in action this week is soccer, and the Lady Vols open their season Thursday night with a matchup that should tell a lot about where they stand right out of the gate.
The Tennessee women’s soccer team enters the year after a strong 2024 campaign that produced 12 wins, 4 losses and 3 ties. Even better for the Lady Vols, they went unbeaten at Regal Stadium, turning their home field into a real advantage all season long. At one point, that success pushed them all the way to No. 1 in the rankings before North Carolina knocked them out in the first game of the postseason and ended the national title chase.
Now they start fresh, and they do it ranked No. 24.
Rutgers is the opponent in Thursday’s opener, and the Scarlet Knights come in as the clear underdog. Their women’s team finished last season 4-7-5, leaving Tennessee in the favorite’s seat from the start. It also gives the Lady Vols a solid early test without being thrown into the deep end.
The game is set for 7:00 PM EDT and will be streamed on SECN+ and ESPN+. It’s Tennessee’s only match before Sunday, when the Lady Vols face South Alabama. If Coach Kirt’s team can handle Rutgers and then carry that momentum into the weekend, they could open the season with two strong wins.
With no other sports on Thursday, all eyes in Knoxville will be on the soccer team.
In Other News...
Tennessee Already Has A Tight End Concern In Fall Camp
Tennessees tight end room is already getting a closer look in fall camp after Ethan Davis was slowed by an injury on the first day of practice. The sophomore has been out of action since then, and with the unit still sorting through recent transfers and new arrivals, the Volunteers have been forced to spread the work around while Davis watches from the sideline.
In the meantime, DaSaahn Brame, Cole Harrison and Luca Wolf have taken reps and gotten more chances to show where they fit. Tight ends coach Alec Abeln has indicated the injury is not considered serious, and Tennessee is treating Davis carefully rather than rushing him back, but the opening stretch of camp has already put some early pressure on a position group that needed clean reps. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee May Already Be Leaning On Two Newcomers Up Front
Tennessees front line looks a lot different this fall, and not just because the Volunteers are replacing all four defensive line starters from last season after they moved on to professional football. With key depth pieces Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring also gone, the reshuffle has put a premium on the newcomers who arrived to stabilize a position group that has to find answers fast.
Rodney Garner has stressed the need for steady improvement in camp, and two transfers have already started to separate themselves in the conversation. Xavier Gilliam and Jordan Norman have been productive enough to draw attention in practice, and both are positioned to matter right away as Tennessee sorts out who can absorb the snaps and responsibility left behind up front. [Read more 🡒]
Rodney Garner Sent Tennessees Defensive Line A Message They Needed
As Tennessee closes in on the 2024 season, Rodney Garner has made it clear the defensive line still has work to do before it looks like a finished group. The veteran coach has seen enough in practice to know the position room cannot afford to drift through August, especially with departures already thinning out the depth chart and new faces trying to carve out roles.
The bigger challenge now is finding someone who can steady the unit and become a reliable presence up front. Penn State transfer Xavier Gilliam and Tulane edge Jordan Norman are among the additions expected to help, but Garners message was broader than any one player: the line needs consistency, leadership and a clear voice before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]