Tennessee Volunteers softball | |
---|---|
2021 Tennessee Volunteers softball team | |
Founded | 1996 |
University | University of Tennessee |
Athletic director | Danny White |
Head coach | Karen Weekly (20th season) |
Conference | SEC |
Location | Knoxville, TN |
Home stadium | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (Capacity: 1,614 Record: 2,549) |
Nickname | Volunteers |
Colors | Orange and white [1] |
NCAA WCWS runner-up | |
2007, 2013 | |
NCAA WCWS appearances | |
2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 | |
NCAA Super Regional appearances | |
2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 | |
Conference Tournament championships | |
2006, 2011 | |
Conference championships | |
2007 |
The Tennessee Volunteers softball team represents the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA Division I women's softball competition. Coached by Karen Weekly, the team has become a consistently top tier team in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Along with all other UT women's sports teams, it used the nickname "Lady Volunteers" (or the short form "Lady Vols") until the 2015–16 school year, when the school dropped the "Lady" prefix from the nicknames of all women's teams except in basketball. [2] In September 2017, the “Lady Volunteers” name was reinstated for all women’s athletics teams. [3]
The Lady Vols first fielded a softball team in 1996 with Jim Beitia as head coach. In 2002, Tennessee brought in the husband and wife team of Ralph and Karen Weekly as co-head coaches. Since 2004, the team has reached the NCAA Tournament every year and the Women's College World Series five times. In 2007 the Lady Vols managed to make history and set the benchmark by which all future Lady Vol teams will be compared as the squad finished 63–8 for the program's best winning percentage of .887. A third-straight trip to the WCWS ended with Tennessee becoming the first SEC program to reach the best-of-three NCAA Championship Series, before falling to champion Arizona. That year the team managed two wins over No. 4 Arizona and triumphs against No. 6 Northwestern and No. 7 Texas A&M which led to Tennessee spending a record 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, becoming the first SEC school to reach the lofty top ranking in the league's softball history. [4]
The Sherri Parker Lee Stadium is the home venue for the Vols replacing Tyson Park. Opened in 2008, the stadium can seat 1,614 spectators as well as three press boxes, four VIP suites and an observation deck for television crews. [5] In addition to Tennessee home games, Lee Stadium has hosted the SEC Softball Tournament (in 2009 and 2017) and exhibition games involving the US national team (2008) and the Dutch national team (2011, 2012).
Situated next to the stadium, the Volunteers clubhouse is approximately 7,000 square feet (650 m2) and features a team room, whirlpools, training area and conference room. Its other amenities include a kitchen, 30-seat theater, trophy room and a recreation room with a big-screen television, pool table, video games and comfortable furniture for the student-athletes. The locker room is also equipped with full laundry facilities, a mud room, 24 large lockers, shower and bathroom facilities. Also next to the clubhouse is one of the largest batting cage facilities in the nation. It contains four 16-by-60-foot (18 m) cages which are designed to provide plenty of room to walk or film between each. All four cages are covered from the weather and possess high-quality Astroturf. [5]
In 2011 the field was recognized as the NFCA/Stabilizer Solutions Field of the Year. [6]
In 2017 general admission outfield bleachers were added to the stadium.
Since Ralph and Karen Weekly took over the Lady Vols they have guided the program from a team struggling to make a name for themselves in the SEC to a team that has garnered world recognition for their success. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has chosen to honor Ralph for his efforts throughout a distinguished, three-decade career, that has spanned from his time in the U.S. Air Force through stops at Pacific Lutheran, Chattanooga and now Tennessee, with a 2011 induction into the NFCA Hall of Fame. Voted in by his coaching peers and with the organization consisting of just 49 previous inclusions, Weekly will join Ithaca Head Coach Deb Pallozzi in ceremonies to be held at the annual NFCA Convention. Ralph and Karen have taken the Vols to their first Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament championships as well as the team's first Women's College World Series appearance. Their over-all record at Tennessee is 465–150–2 and they have recorded the programs most wins in a season with 67, a then national record in the NCAA. Ralph and Karen have also authored a book, High-Scoring Softball. [7] [4]
Season | Overall Record | SEC Record | NCAA Tournament Results | SEC Tournament Results | SEC Regular Season Finish |
1996 | 54–14 [9] | – | – | – | – |
1997 | 45–22 [9] | 20–7 | – | L 0–2 vs. Auburn L 1–2 vs. Florida | 2nd Eastern |
1998 | 37–31 [9] | 13–15 | – | L 1–2 vs. Alabama W 2–1 vs. Arkansas L 0–8 vs. No. 12 LSU | 3rd Eastern |
1999 | 44–27 [9] | 17–11 | L 1–12 vs. Cal State Fullerton L 1–12 vs. Washington | W 11–3 vs. Florida W 4–2 vs. Mississippi State L 2–3 vs. Arkansas L 1–3 vs. Arkansas | Tied 1st Eastern |
2000 | 29–34 [9] | 5–22 | – | – | 5th Eastern |
2001 | 24–35 [9] | 9–20 | – | – | 5th Eastern |
2002 | 35–25–1 [9] | 8–17 | – | – | 4th Eastern |
2003 | 45–25 [9] | 14–15 | – | L 0–1 vs. No. 12 LSU W 4–3 vs. Auburn W 5–3 vs. No. 7 Georgia L 4–3 vs. No. 16 Alabama | 4th Eastern |
2004 | 55–16 [9] | 20–8 | W 10–0 vs. Illinois-Chicago L 0–4 vs. Oregon State W 4–0 vs. DePaul L 5–6 vs. Illinois-Chicago | L 2–8 vs. Mississippi State W 7–5 vs. No. 23 Florida W 1–0 vs. No. 15 Alabama L 0–4 vs. No. 10 Georgia | 1st Eastern |
2005 | 67–15 [9] | 20–8 | W 9–0 vs. Miami (Ohio) W 4–0 vs. College of Charleston W 2–0 vs. College of Charleston W 2–0 vs. No. 6 Stanford W 6–0 vs. No. 6 Stanford *W 1–0 vs. No. 3 Arizona *L 1–3 vs. No. 7 UCLA *W 4–0 vs. No. 12 Alabama *W 2–0 vs. No. 1 Michigan *L 2–3 vs. No. 1 Michigan | W 4–0 vs. No. 23 Florida L 3–5 vs. No. 8 Georgia W 3–0 vs. Mississippi State W 3–1 vs. No. 9 Alabama L 0–3 vs. No. 9 Alabama | 2nd Eastern |
2006 | 61–12 [9] | 21–9 | W 6–4 vs. Tennessee Tech W 9–1 vs. Virginia Tech W 8–1 vs. Louisville W 5–3 vs. No. 9 Michigan L 1–5 vs. No. 9 Michigan W 1–0 vs. No. 9 Michigan *W 4–3 vs. No. 1 UCLA *L 0–2 vs. No. 4 Northwestern *W 3–1 vs. No. 6 Arizona State *W 1–0 vs. No. 2 Arizona *L 0–6 vs. No. 2 Arizona | W 6–0 vs. Florida W 2–1 vs. No. 4 Alabama W 3–0 vs. No. 12 LSU SEC Tournament Champions | 2nd Eastern |
2007 | 63–8 [9] | 23–4 | W 8–0 vs. Furman W 2–0 vs. North Carolina W 7–0 vs. Winthrop W 9–0 vs. Hawaii L 6–9 vs. Hawaii W 7–1 vs. Hawaii *W 2–0 vs. No. 4 Texas A&M *W 1–0 vs. No. 1 Arizona *W 3–0 vs. No. 2 Northwestern *W 3–0 vs. No. 1 Arizona *L 0–1 vs. No. 1 Arizona *L 0–5 vs. No. 1 Arizona | W 6–0 vs. Ole Miss L 0–1 vs. No. 19 Florida | SEC Champions |
2008 | 50–16 [9] | 14–2 | W 3–0 vs. Winthrop L 0–4 vs. Virginia Tech W 8–1 vs. Louisville W 7–1 vs. Virginia Tech L 2–4 vs. No. 17 Virginia Tech | W 5–2 vs. No. 25 Georgia L 1–6 vs. No. 1 Florida | 2nd Eastern |
2009 | 40–18–1 [9] | 12–12–1 | W 4–3 vs. James Madison W 5–2 vs. Nebraska L 1–6 vs. Jacksonville State L 1–2 vs. Jacksonville State | W 6–5 vs. No. 20 LSU L 3–11 vs. No. 1 Florida | 3rd Eastern |
2010 | 49–15 [9] | 17–8 | W 5–0 vs. Ball State W 11–2 vs. Virginia W 3–1 vs. Louisville W 5–0 vs. No. 2 Michigan W 4–3 vs. No. 2 Michigan *W 9–0 vs. No. 10 Arizona *W 7–5 vs. No. 6 Georgia *L 0–8 vs. No. 10 Arizona *L 2–5 vs. No. 10 Arizona | W 6–4 vs. No. 9 Georgia L 3–4 vs. No. 4 Alabama | 3rd Eastern |
2011 | 49–12 [9] | 20–8 | W 8–0 vs. Liberty L 1–6 vs. Oklahoma State W 7–0 vs. No. 19 Georgia Tech L 5–6 vs. Oklahoma State | W 4–1 vs. No. 20 Kentucky W 2–1 vs. No. 24 Auburn W 6–5 vs. No. 9 Georgia SEC Tournament Champions | 2nd Eastern |
2012 | 52–14 [10] | 22–6 | L 0–1 vs. Miami (OH) W 8–0 vs. UAB W 8–0 vs. Miami (OH) W 2–1 vs. Virginia Tech W 10–2 vs. Virginia Tech W 3–2 vs. No. 10 Georgia L 0–1 vs. No. 10 Georgia W 2–1 vs. No. 10 Georgia *L 3–5 vs. No. 2 Alabama *L 1–3 vs. No. 11 Oregon | W 2–1 vs. Auburn L 1–2 vs. No. 7 Florida | 1st Eastern |
2013 | 52–12 [11] | 16–6 | W 9–0 vs. Longwood W 1–0 vs. NC State W 7–0 vs. NC State W 3–2 vs. No. 10 Alabama W 5–3 vs. No. 10 Alabama *W 9–2 vs. No. 2 Florida *W 1–0 vs. No. 11 Washington *W 2–1 vs. No. 5 Texas *L 3–5 vs. No. 1 Oklahoma *L 0–4 vs. No. 1 Oklahoma | W 5–0 vs. South Carolina L 0–3 vs. No. 8 Missouri | 1st Eastern |
2014 | 46–12 [12] | 17–8 | W 12–3 vs. Charleston Southern W 12–0 vs. Virginia Tech W 2–0 vs. Lipscomb L 1–8 vs. No. 7 Oklahoma W 4–0 vs. No. 7 Oklahoma L 2–8 vs. No. 7 Oklahoma | L 2–0 vs. No. 15 Kentucky | 2nd SEC |
2015 | 47–17 [13] | 15–9 | W 2–0 vs. Longwood W 9–1 vs. Utah W 3–1 vs. Utah W 3–2 vs. No. 9 Florida St. L 1–6 vs. No. 9 Florida St. W 2–1 vs. No. 9 Florida St. *L 2–7 vs. No. 1 Florida *L 2–4 vs. No. 4 Auburn | W 5–4 vs. No. 24 Kentucky W 7–5 vs. No. 8 LSU W 2–1 vs. No. 1 Florida L 5–6 vs. No. 5 Auburn | 5th SEC |
2016 | 43–16 [14] | 16–7 | W 10–2 vs. Marist L 0–4 vs. Arizona W 10–1 vs. Ohio St. L 3–4 vs. Arizona | W 5–1 vs. South Carolina L 1–3 vs. No. 13 LSU | 3rd SEC |
2017 | 48–12 [14] | 16–7 | W 5–0 vs. Longwood W 7–3 vs. USC Upstate W 3–0 vs. Longwood W 8–1 vs. No. 11 Texas A&M L 5–6 vs. No. 11 Texas A&M L 3–5 vs. No. 11 Texas A&M | L 2–6 vs. No. 21 LSU | 3rd SEC |
2018 | 48–14 [14] | 14–10 | W 9–0 vs. Monmouth W 12–3 vs. James Madison W 5–1 vs. Ohio L 3–4 vs. No. 7 Georgia L 1–2 vs. No. 7 Georgia | W 1–0 vs. No. 11 LSU L 2–10 vs. No. 4 Florida | 4th SEC |
*Women's College World Series |
National seeding began in 2005. The Tennessee Volunteers are one of only three teams to have a national seed every year, along with Florida and Alabama.
Years → | '05 | '06 | '07 | '08 | '09 | '10 | '11 | '12 | '13 | '14 | '15 | '16 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeds → | 11 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
The Tennessee Volunteers softball program has garnered 36 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American honors.
See alsoRelated Research ArticlesThe Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In January 2021, Danny White was introduced as the Volunteers' Director of Athletics. Monica Cecilia Abbott is an American professional softball player, former collegiate All-American and silver medal-winning Team USA Olympian. A left-handed softball pitcher originally from Salinas, California, she pitched for the Tennessee Lady Vols in college and professionally in NPF, and in the Japan Softball League. In international competition, she has played for Team USA from 2005 including the national softball team winning a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Abbott is the NCAA Division I leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and innings. The LSU Tigers softball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and plays home games in Tiger Park. The team is currently coached by Beth Torina. The 2007 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament was held from May 17 through June 4, 2007. 64 NCAA Division I college softball teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament, to play in the NCAA Tournament. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Caitlin Faith Lowe-Nagy is the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats softball team. Caitlin is an American, former collegiate four-time First Team All-American and medal winning Olympian, retired three-time pro All-Star, left-handed hitting softball outfielder originally from Tustin, California. She played for the University of Arizona Wildcats under head coach Mike Candrea and led her team in back-to-back NCAA Women's College World Series championships in 2006 and 2007. She won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Lowe played with National Pro Fastpitch's USSSA Pride for 6 seasons, winning three titles and being named 2012 Player of the Year, before officially retiring in 2015. Tammy Kay Williams is an American, former collegiate 4-time All-American, left-handed hitting 4-time professional All-Star softball player, originally from Roscoe, Missouri. She played her natural position at shortstop from 2006 to 2009 for the Northwestern Wildcats in the Big Ten Conference as well as the Team USA and Chicago Bandits softball team. She owns Northwestern softball team all-time career records in batting average, home runs, hits and total bases. She helped lead the Wildcats to a national runner up finish in the 2006 Women's College World Series. Williams was drafted #10 in the National Pro Fastpitch playing from 2009, 2011-15, winning titles in 2011 and 2015. She later worked as a sports broadcaster for the Big Ten and an assistant softball coach. The Tennessee Volunteers women's soccer team represents the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA Division I women's soccer competition as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide softball team was an American softball team, representing the University of Alabama for the 2012 NCAA softball season. The Crimson Tide played its home games at Rhoads Stadium. The 2012 team made the postseason for the 14th straight year, and the Women's College World Series for eighth time. This season represented the 16th season of softball in the school's history. Alabama won its first softball National Championship, defeating Oklahoma in three games. They became the first team in the Southeastern Conference to win the Women's College World Series. Sherri Parker Lee Stadium is a softball stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is the home field of the University of Tennessee Volunteers college softball team. The stadium opened in 2008 and holds 2,200 people. The Stadium is named after former UT graduate Sherri Lee. The Kentucky Wildcats softball team represents the University of Kentucky in the sport of softball. The Kentucky Wildcats compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Wildcats play their home games at John Cropp Stadium on the university's Lexington, Kentucky campus, and are currently led by head coach Rachel Lawson. In the history of the Wildcats softball program, the team has made appearances in eleven NCAA Division I Softball Championship, seven Super Regionals, and one Women's College World Series (WCWS). Ellen Ruth Reed née Renfroe is an American, former collegiate All-American, right-handed softball pitcher originally from Jackson, Tennessee. Renfroe played for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers from 2011 to 2014. Renfroe was the second of three softball playing sisters at Tennessee; she is the sister of Anna and Ivy Renfroe. Renfroe was also an All-Southeastern Conference player for four years. Renfroe was also on the 2013 Women's College World Series All-Tournament team, helping the Lady Vols finish as National runner up in the 2013 Women's College World Series. Renfroe is currently a high school softball coach. The 2015 Auburn Tigers softball team is an American softball team, representing the Auburn University for the 2015 NCAA softball season. In 2014, the Auburn Tigers softball team went 42-19-1 during Clint Myers first season. The Auburn Tigers play their home games at Jane B. Moore Field. Kristie Lynn Fox is an American, former collegiate All-American, right-handed hitting pro softball shortstop and current softball Head Coach, originally from San Diego, California. She attended Mt. Carmel High School and later suited up for the Arizona Wildcats softball team from 2004-07. Fox led the Wildcats to back-to-back Women's College World Series championships in 2006 and 2007. She was selected 5th overall in 2007 NPF Draft and played three season from 2007-2009, winning the first title for the Chicago Bandits team in 2008. Fox served as an assistant softball coach at the University of Arizona, Murray State University, and Texas Tech University, before serving as the head softball coach at the University of Texas at Arlington from 2013 to 2017. Fox was named head softball coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on July 20, 2017. Madison Taylor Shipman is an American, former collegiate All-American, right-handed hitting pro All-Star softball player at shortstop, originally from Valencia, California. She attended Valencia High School and she later attended the University of Tennessee, where she played for the Tennessee Volunteers softball team from 2011-2014. She led the Volunteers to the 2013 Women's College World Series championship where they finished as runner up to the Oklahoma Sooners. She was later selected 2nd overall in the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft and went on to be named Rookie of The Year and win the 2014 championship with the USSSA Pride. The 2004 NCAA Division I softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in January 2004. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2004 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament and 2004 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held in Oklahoma City at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, ended on May 31, 2004. The 2005 NCAA Division I softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 2005. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2005 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament and 2005 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held in Oklahoma City at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, ended on June 8, 2005. The 2020 Tennessee Volunteers softball team represents the University of Tennessee in the 2020 NCAA Division I softball season. The Volunteers play their home games at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The 2006 NCAA Division I softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 2006. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2006 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament and 2006 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held in held in Oklahoma City at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, ended on June 6, 2006. The 2007 NCAA Division I softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 2007. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2007 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament and 2007 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held in held in Oklahoma City at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, ended on June 6, 2007. The 2014 NCAA Division I softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 2014. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2014 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament and 2014 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held in Oklahoma City at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, ended on June 3, 2014. References
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