Tennessee Lady Vols’ 2022-23 preview: Frontcourt

Tennessee guard/forward Marta Suarez (33) during practice after the Lady Vols' media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp
Tennessee guard/forward Marta Suarez (33) during practice after the Lady Vols' media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp
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Tennessee forward Karoline Striplin (11) records a video for social media during the Lady Vols’ media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp
Tennessee forward Karoline Striplin (11) records a video for social media during the Lady Vols’ media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp

Returning backups

Karoline Striplin

  • 6’3″
  • Sophomore
  • Hartford, Ala.

Joining the Tennessee Lady Vols out of Geneva County High School in Alabama, Karoline Striplin managed to find her way into the rotation down the stretch of the season and was on the cusp all year. She appeared in 25 games, averaging seven minutes an outing. Now, there’s a chance for her to take on a larger role.

In terms of production, Striplin averaged just over two and a half points and just over two rebounds a game. Efficiency was mixed. She was 44.4 percent from the field, but she did shoot 77.3 percent from the foul line. The problem was going 1-of-7 from three. Staying under the basket is likely crucial for her.

Marta Suárez

  • 6′ 3″
  • Redshirt sophomore
  • Oviedo, Spain

An All-SEC Freshman out of Joaquin Blume Institute in 2020-2021, Marta Suárez suffered a season-ending lower extremity injury before the year even tipped off. She was supposed to explode after her freshman year, but it wasn’t meant to be. Now, though, she is back and one of the most versatile players on the team.

Suárez can play the two through the four, but her size leans more toward her in the post. As a freshman, she averaged over four points and three and a half rebounds a game while shooting 75 percent from the free throw line. Assuming she’s back fully healthy, two years of development could make her dangerous.