Volunteers take Nittany Lions to final minutes
UT drops opening round match to #9 Penn State
April 18, 2009 (Marietta, Georgia) — Tennessee almost went the distance with the highly ranked Nittany Lions only to let it slip away in the first round of the 2009 USA Rugby Collegiate National Championship Tournament. The Volunteers score two tries to tie the match in the final 10 minutes only to watch Penn State answer with two of their own as time expired on the heroic Volunteer effort.

UT kept the highly regarded PSU attack (averaging near 50 points a game in the MARFU Premier League) in check for most of the game with some sure tackling and a solid contest of possession at the breakdown. At the 70 minute mark, Jared Wilson scored two tries only moments apart to bring the Volunteers back from a 12 point deficit. However, it was not to be on this day as Penn State answered with two tries from broke field plays to secure the win.

Penn State advances to the second round to take on Army. The loss sends Tennessee to the consolation match against #4 St Marys University, upset losers to Army in the opening round.