Chavanne, Abbott to Play in 2010 KFC World Cup of Softball University of Tennessee Athletics

Chavanne, Abbott to Play in 2010 KFC World Cup of Softball Event Runs From July 22-26 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

U.S. Futures Team member Raven Chavanne

July 21, 2010

By Brian Davis, Assistant Media Relations Director

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee rising sophomore All-American outfielder Raven Chavanne and former Lady Vol legend and 2008 U.S. Olympian Monica Abbott are currently in Oklahoma City, Okla., preparing to open KFC World Cup of Softball 5 over July 22-26 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

Chavanne is one of 19 members of the U.S. Women's Futures National Team, while Abbott continues to ply her trade from the circle for the reigning 2010 ISF World Champion U.S. Women's National Team.

Both squads will open play on Thurs., July 22nd, as the U.S. Nationals battle Canada live on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET while the Futures face off against 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Japan at 10 p.m. ET.

In all, six U.S. National Team contests are scheduled for live coverage on either ESPN or ESPN2 with Abbott and Chavanne's squads slated to face off on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET on Sat., July 24 (U.S. National Team vs. U.S. Futures Team). Check usasoftball.com for more information on both squads as well as links to Gametracker live stats.

On her way to 2010 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American, NFCA All-Southeast Region, All-Southeastern Conference and SEC All-Freshman accolades as well as a Top 25 finalist for the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year trophy, Chavanne made quite an impression offensively during her rookie campaign at Rocky Top by hitting an impressive .455 overall with 64 runs scored, 37 stolen bases, five doubles, five triples, three HR's and 26 RBIs while helping Tennessee to a third place national finish at the Women's College World Series. Among the NCAA Division I batting average leaders all season long, the Thousand Oaks, Calif., product guided the Lady Vol squad in multi-hit games in 2010 with 29, including a quartet of four-hit efforts. Chavanne even posted early-season strings of eight consecutive hits, reached over 22 straight plate appearances by hit, walk, error or fielder's choice and posted a UT-best 11-game hitting skein.

The 2007 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year and winner of the prestigious Honda Award for Softball, Abbott registered a NCAA Division I-best 50-5 record with a 0.68 ERA and 29 shutouts to go along with a NCAA single-season record 724 strikeouts during her senior campaign. She is the Lady Vols' only four-time NFCA First Team Softball All-American, as well as being a three-time SEC Pitcher of the Year winner, a four-time All-SEC pick and a three-time WCWS All-Tournament selection. The Salinas, Calif., native also set new NCAA Division I career records for wins (189), strikeouts (2,440), shutouts (112), appearances (253) and innings pitched (1448.0). A 16-time SEC Pitcher of the Week, four-time USA Softball National Player of the Week and three-time NFCA National Player of the Week, Abbott recorded 23 career no-hitters and six perfect games at UT.

KFC World Cup of Softball 5 Schedule

Thur., July 22

8:00 p.m. USA vs. Canada ESPN

10:00 p.m. Japan vs. USA Futures

Fri., July 23

4:00 p.m. Canada vs. Futures

8:00 p.m. USA vs. Japan ESPN

10:00 p.m. Canada vs. Japan

Sat., July 24

2:00 p.m. USA vs. USA Futures ESPN

8:00 p.m. USA vs. Japan ESPN2

10:00 p.m. Canada vs. USA Futures