Nikki Fowler isn't the most vocal player on the Tennessee volleyball team. In fact, the soft-spoken junior would say so.
But her play on the court does all the talking.
Fowler tallied 16 kills and 16 digs to lead the Lady Vols to a sweep of Alabama on Sunday afternoon inside Thompson-Boling Arena, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23.
"(I am) to the outward eye," Fowler said of her quiet nature.
"I'm vocal, but we have more vocal people than myself. My mindset is to go out there and do my job and do what I have to do. Playing together as a team is a big goal of ours."
Fowler was the only unanimous All-SEC team selection and earned honorable mention All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2008. She was a preseason All-SEC selection this year and leads the team in kills.
"She's really about the team," said UT coach Rob Patrick. "She doesn't care about her personal accolades. She goes about her business, and we ask a lot out of her.
"She says things at the right times, and that's what's really important. Now it's a little bit softer voice than mine, but she does a real nice job of leading in her own way."
Fowler and junior Leah Hinkey keyed a 7-0 run that gave UT (19-6, 12-3 SEC) a 12-5 lead early in the first set. Alabama (7-19, 5-11) never got closer than two points, and Fowler and Hinkey combined for the set-clinching block.
"Rob (Coach Patrick) tells us that heart is defense, so we always want to try to get as many balls as we can," Fowler said.
"But I'd probably rather get the kill. It's more fun."
Fowler had five kills in the second set, including a pair in a 9-3 spurt that gave UT a 16-11 lead. She added two more later in the set, and a kill by senior Farren Powe gave the Lady Vols a two-set lead.
Alabama built a 12-8 lead in the third set and Ashley Frazier's kill gave the Crimson Tide a 21-18 lead.
But UT rallied behind Fowler, who had three kills to tie the set at 22, and senior Kylie Marshall's kill finished off Alabama, which has lost 11 of its last 12 matches.
"I just think that even when everybody knows that (Fowler's) going to get the ball, she's going to put it down," Patrick said of going to Fowler for an important kill.
Sophomore setter Kelsey Mahoney had 21 assists and 14 digs. Junior Leah Hinkey added nine kills and sophomore Kayla Jeter chipped in eight kills.
UT has won 13 of its last 15 matches, and goes on the road for the final time in the regular season next weekend to face Auburn and Georgia.
Patrick Brown is a freelance contributor.
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