TENNESSEE LADY VOLS VOLLEYBALL: Three on Player of Year watch list

A trio of Lady Vols have been named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List, as Caroline Kerr, Kennedi Rogers and Jalyn Stout were included on the list announced by the AVCA on Thursday afternoon.

Kerr has continued the play that has made the fifth-year setter a three-time All-American. Kerr leads the team with 459 assists and 10.93 assists per set. Her assists per set average is one of the top marks in the country, ranking sixth in Division I. The Champaign, Illinois, native has reached 40 or more assists in four matches and is supporting a Tennessee attack that leads the nation in kills per set at 14.57.

She is also tied for the team lead in double-doubles with five and sits eighth in program history with 29 career double-doubles. One of the top setters in program history, Kerr is closing in on 4,000 career assists and is fourth in program history with 3,718 assists.

Rogers has had a breakout season in her first year with the Big Orange. The outside hitter leads the team in kills (164), kills per set (4.56), points (184) and points per set (5.11). One of the top attackers in the country, Rogers ranks 11th nationally in both kills per set and points per set. Rogers has reached double-figure kills in 10 of her 11 matches this season, including tying her career-high of 21 against Fairfield and Penn State.

Playing as the primary opposite hitter for Tennessee this season, Stout has filled up the stat sheet through 13 matches in the Orange & White. The senior has totaled 124 kills, 92 digs, 29 blocks and 26 assists. She has reached double-digit kills in seven matches, while recording a season-high 17 at home against Coastal Carolina. Stout has a .338 hitting percentage this season, which ranks as the 11th-best mark in the SEC. A two-time AVCA Southeast All-Region First Team honoree, Stout holds the NCAA record for the most triple-doubles in a career with 46.

The list includes 46 players, which will be narrowed down to a list of semifinalists in November. Finalists for the award will be announced in December, with the Player of the Year announced on Friday, Dec. 18.