Sept. 26, 2008

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - After guiding last year's Lady Vol softball squad to a 50-16 overall record and a fifth-consecutive NCAA Regional berth, Tennessee co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly begin preparations to embark on a new campaign with the release of a challenging 2009 schedule.

The '09 version of the Lady Vols welcomes back 12 letterwinners and five position starters off last season's club, while bringing in a class of six high-profile recruits from across the nation. Among those returning to guide the program are a trio of 2008 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Second-Team All-South Region selections (sophomore pitcher Ashton Ward, junior utility player Tiffany Huff and senior outfielder Lillian Hammond), a 2008 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman choice (Jen Lapicki) and a power-hitting outfielder who crossed the 10-homer plateau for the first time in her career (Erinn Webb).

Ward started her career at Tennessee by leading the '07 team from the circle with an outstanding 27-5 record, a 1.92 ERA and 187 strikeouts over 204.1 innings of work for a K-per-7-inning ratio of 6.4. Huff, a'07 preseason addition to the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List, continued providing strong offensive production into her sophomore campaign by hitting .313 with three home runs and 50 RBIs while delivering a team-high 18 doubles. The Saugus, Calif., native also drew 44 walks to drive her season on-base percentage up to an outstanding .452. A two-time ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-American, the speedy Hammond helped ignite the offense from the top of the order with a .349 batting average while plating 46 runs and swiping 23 bases in 24 attempts. Lapicki made quite a statement in her initial season at Rocky Top by blasting six homers and driving in 43 runs while posting a .283 average over 64 starts. Webb provided a solid power threat by hammering 10 home runs, including three big flies during the final two games of the 2008 campaign against eventual Women's College World Series participant Virginia Tech. The Hemet, Calif., product also tallied a .314 batting average, 14 doubles, a team-best six triples and 43 RBIs.

The early season tournament schedule takes the squad from coast-to-coast during February and early March. Included among the slate is the second-annual Tennessee Classic to be contested over Feb. 27-March 1 at the Sherri Lee Softball Stadium.

The Lady Vol campaign kicks off with the program's first-ever visit to the state of Utah to participate in the BYU Red Desert Classic. Held in St. George, Utah, the Big Orange will battle Northern Colorado, Utah State, Washington, San Jose State and BYU during a three-day stay.

After traveling to Orlando, Fla, over Feb. 13-15 for the UCF Classic, Tennessee, for the fourth time in program history, will venture out west for the prestigious Palm Springs Classic at Big League Dreams in Cathedral City, Calif. Awaiting the squad is a slate that features Loyola Marymount, Massachusetts, Hawai'i, Cal Poly and Oregon State.

From Feb. 27- March 1 the Lady Vols will serve as host of the second-annual Tennessee Classic. Included alongside home-standing UT in the eight-team field will be Marshall, Winthrop, James Madison, North Carolina, South Dakota State, Bowling Green and Jacksonville State.

Following a mid-week non-conference home tilt against Boston College (March 3) and a single match-up in Norman, Okla., versus perennial power Oklahoma (March 6), the Orange & White will return to the site of some of the most memorable moments in its program history, the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla., for the OU/Worth Invitational. A daunting challenge awaits the Lady Vols during the event as UT faces a pair of contests against national power Northwestern and another battle against the Sooners.

With the early-season tournament slate in the rear-view mirror, the schedule will get no easier as Tennessee ventures head-long into the rugged Southeastern Conference.

The final reprieve before league play begins is a mid-week home tilt against in-state foe Belmont on Wed., March 11th. Also included in non-conference action are a trip to Liberty (March 17) for a single match-up, and contests against UTEP (April 1) and Appalachian State (April 22).

UT opens its league campaign by hosting the South Carolina Gamecocks for a three-game series at Lee Stadium over March 14-15.

Other conference series slated to be held at Lee Stadium during the 2009 campaign include Arkansas (March 25-DH), Mississippi State (March 28-29, three games), Auburn (April 11-12, three games) and Alabama (May 2-3, three games).

The Orange & White face a daunting road schedule in league action with trips to battle Florida (March 21-22, three games), LSU (April 4-5, three games), Kentucky (April 8-DH), Ole Miss (April 18-19, three games) and Georgia (April 25-26, three games).

Once the regular-season concludes, Tennessee will hold an advantage entering postseason play as the annual SEC Softball Tournament will be held in Knoxville over May 7-9. The Lady Vols have never hosted the league's annual showcase event for softball.

The NCAA Tournament schedule opens at campus sites over May 14-16 with NCAA Regionals and follow with Super Regionals from May 21-23. The annual Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., will be contested from May 27-June 3 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.