Lady Vols are set to host volleyball Classic

The Tennessee women's volleyball team is back home for a big weekend.

The Lady Vols, who opened their season by splitting two matches last weekend at the American Volleyball Coaches Association Showcase at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., host the Comcast Lady Vol Classic beginning tonight at Stokely Athletics Center.

The Lady Vols open against Appalachian State at 7. The event begins at 10 this morning with Jacksonville (Ala.) State playing Appalachian State.

The Lady Vols play Belmont at 10 a.m. Saturday and finish play against Indiana at 7.

Tennessee brings a nine-match non-conference home winning streak in tournament play into the Classic. UT's last loss was in five games against Michigan in September of 2003. In coach Rob Patrick's 10 seasons, the Lady Vols are 9-1 in home openers with the lone loss coming against LSU in 2001.

Overall, the Lady Vols have been strong at home the past three seasons with a 38-6 record. Since Stokely underwent a multimillion dollar renovation prior to the 1998 season, UT is 91-27 on its home court with four of the victories coming in five matches in the NCAA tournament.

Two former members of the UT volleyball program return this weekend.

First-year Indiana coach Sherry Dunbar was an assistant at Tennessee for six seasons (1997-2002) before becoming head coach at College of Charleston. Dunbar was 113-22 in four seasons at Charleston before moving to Indiana.

Appalachian State senior outside hitter Brittany Zahn played at UT for two seasons (2003-04) before transferring.

Lady Vols Milan Clarke and Leah Hinkey got off to strong starts at the Showcase event in Omaha last weekend.

Clarke, a junior, was named to the all tournament team after leading the Lady Vols in kills with 24 and attacks with 69.

Hinkey, a sophomore, recorded the fourth-highest block total for a match in school history with 13 in the Lady Vols' hard-fought, five-game victory over Utah last Saturday.

Clarke was named Lady Vol athlete of the week, and Hinkey was named SEC defensive player of the week.

Free Clinic: For the third consecutive year, Tennessee's baseball and softball coaches will host a free clinic for children ages 6-12 from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Caswell Park on Winona Street. There's no charge.

First-year baseball coach Todd Raleigh and assistants Bradley LeCroy and Fred Corral, along with Lady Vols softball coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly will be joined by a select group of athletes.

"To begin my coaching career at Tennessee giving back to the community that supports our teams is an opportunity I couldn't pass up,'' Raleigh said. "It will be great to get out there and meet the fans, and it's always fun to help kids learn how to play."

The UT contingent will work in conjunction with the City Parks and Recreation office.

For more information, call 865-215-1418.