MATCH CENTRAL: UT vs. Kennesaw State
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee continues its non-conference homestand on Thursday with a 6:30 p.m. ET matchup against Kennesaw State that will be streamed on SECN+.
The Lady Vols (2-2-1) are coming off a 7-0 victory over Tennessee Tech in Regal Stadium on Sunday. Sophomore
Jordan Fusco carded a brace while fifth-year seniors
Abbey Burdette and
Mackenzie George, redshirt-junior
Jaida Thomas, sophomore
Taylor Huff and freshman
Macaira Midgley each added one.
KSU (1-4-1) enters the contest on the heels of a 7-0 loss at home against Georgia on Sunday.
UT has played the Owls just once previously, winning 2-0 on the road on Aug. 31, 2012.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will play their final non-conference match on Sunday, welcoming Queens University for a 1 p.m. ET matinee that will be streamed on SECN+.
SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE: The Owls went 9-8-2 overall last season and 4-3-2 in conference play, placing sixth in the regular season before finishing runner-up in the ASUN Tournament. KSU, who was picked to finish fourth in the ASUN this season as voted on by the league's head coaches, returned 17 letterwinners from the 2021 squad and added 14 newcomers.
VS ASUN: Tennessee is 4-0-2 all-time against ASUN schools. The two ties came a week apart during the 2015 season in the form of scoreless draws against Liberty and Lipscomb.
NELSON DISHING: Redshirt-junior
Maria Nelson has doled out assists in three straight games, surpassing her total of two from the 2021 season.
TRACKING THOMAS:
Jaida Thomas has now tallied five goals over the last four games, moving her career total to 30. She stands alone at third on UT's all-time career goals list, trailing No. 2 Hannah Wilkinson by three and No. 1 Kylee Rossi by 13.
JUST HUFF THINGS: Through the four games in which she's been active, sophomore
Taylor Huff has racked up three goals and three assists. The 2021 SEC Freshman of the Year has taken 15 shots, 10 of which have been on frame.
TENNESSEE ON TOP: The Lady Vols were picked to finish first in the SEC as voted on by the conference's 14 head coaches. UT is coming off a 2021 campaign in which it won a program-best 20 games, clinching an SEC Tournament Championship and going 20-3 en route to the NCAA Round of 16.