Illinois volleyball adds Paityn Chapman from Tennessee via transfer portal
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 28, 2026, 5:47 PM
Last updated Aug 28, 2026
Paityn Chapman joins the Illinois volleyball program after transferring from Tennessee. Chapman, a 6-foot-3 opposite hitter, caught the attention of Illinois head coach Chris Tamas during a match in Nashville last year, where she recorded 19 kills. After a first-round exit in the NCAA tournament, Chapman opted to leave Tennessee, citing the importance of coaching and team culture in her decision to transfer. Illinois opens its season against Cincinnati on Friday, where Chapman is expected to make her Illini debut. She will face her former team in a match at Tennessee next Tuesday.
- •Paityn Chapman transfers from Tennessee to Illinois volleyball
- •Coach Tamas reached out immediately after Chapman entered the portal
- •Chapman recorded 165 kills in her last season at Tennessee
- •Illinois hosts Cincinnati for their season opener on Friday
- •Illini will visit Tennessee next Tuesday in Big Ten/SEC Challenge
- 5:47 PMYahoo Sports — Fit worked for both Chapman and the Illini
"Aug. 28—CHAMPAIGN — The first text message Paityn Chapman received after entering the transfer portal last winter came from Chris Tamas. Same with the first phone call. Tamas was clearly making the soon-to-be-former Tennessee opposite hitter a priority. For good reason. The Illinois volleyball program had a need on the right side of its attack — an experienced big arm, in particular — and what ...
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