Tess Darby using COVID-19 year of eligibility to return for fifth season with Lady Vols

Tess Darby is returning for a fifth season with Lady Vols basketball, she announced on social media Friday.

Darby, a 6-foot-1 guard from Greenfield, has played four years at Tennessee. She moved into the top 10 for career 3-pointers made this season and is currently No. 5 all-time with 170 career 3-pointers. She is using her COVID-19 year of eligibility to return next season.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to represent a university that I love and one that has blessed me so much," Darby wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I'm so excited about the future of Lady Vol basketball and thrilled to spend my final college season on Rocky Top!"

Darby's decision was announced five days after Kim Caldwell was named the new coach of the Lady Vols. Caldwell replaces Kellie Harper, who was fired April 1 after five seasons. Darby was signed by Harper out of high school and played all four years under her.

Darby was a starter her sophomore and junior season when Tennessee made back-to-back runs to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015 and 2016. She has started in 73 of her 113 appearances for Tennessee.

After only playing in 10 games as a freshman, Darby stepped into a starting role her sophomore year and averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Darby had a career-best season as a starter her junior season, averaging 7.4 points while shooting 40.9% from 3-point range, which ranked third in the SEC. Her 70 made 3-pointers in 2022-23 ranked No. 9 in program history for 3-pointers made in one season.

WHAT'S NEXT?:How do Kellie Harper, Lady Vols approach pivotal offseason after early March Madness exit?

Darby started eight games this season but mostly played in a reserve role as a senior. She averaged 5.2 points and a career-high 3.4 rebounds this season while shooting 32.4% from behind the arc. She scored a career-high of 18 points this season against Liberty in December when she hit a career-high six 3-pointers.

Darby's younger sister, Edie Darby, is a sophomore walk-on point guard for the Lady Vols.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.