Category: Lady Vols

Monica Abbott to play for Team USA

Former Tennessee softball player Monica Abbott to pitch for Team USA.

A former University of Tennessee softball player and Lady Vols’ legend will represent the United States in the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games.

Left-handed pitcher Monica Abbott will play for Team USA in the Olympics, which open next week in Tokyo, Japan, as softball returns to the summer games for the first time since 2008.

Competition in the upcoming Olympic tournament begins July 20 at Fukushima Stadium and Yokohama Stadium.

Team USA is the top-ranked team in the six-team field, which features teams from host Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Italy.

Abbott, a native of Salinas, California, is one of three pitchers on Team USA’s 15-player roster.

She is one of two players with previous Olympic experience, winning a gold medal in 2008.

Team USA will begin its quest for a fourth Olympic gold medal when it plays Italy on July 20 at 11 p.m. EDT.

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Hannah Jefcoat earns academic honor from CoSIDA

Tennessee pole vaulter Hannah Jeffcoat receives academic honor from CoSIDA.

Lady Vols’ track and field athlete Hannah Jefcoat was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America’s Academic All-District 3 Team.

Jefcoat, a redshirt junior pole vaulter for Tennessee, was recognized CoSIDA for her athletic endeavors and her classroom accomplishments.

District 3 is comprised of schools from Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia.

Jefcoat, the school’s record holder in the pole vault, is a two-time CoSIDA academic honoree and a four-time member of the Southeastern Conference Honor Roll.

She recently graduated with a degree in kinesiology and received the Volunteer of Distinction award from UT for her academic achievement and professional promise.

In addition to being honored by the SEC and CoSIDA, Jefcoat, a native of Dacula, Georgia, is a three-time member of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches All-Academic Team.

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Taylor Huff named National Scholar Player of the Year

Lady Vols incoming freshman soccer player Taylor Huff named National Scholar Player of the Year.

Incoming Lady Vols’ soccer player has earned a national honor.

Taylor Huff was named National Scholar Player of the Year by United Soccer Coaches.

Huff was one of 49 players recognized for their accomplishments on the pitch and in the classroom.

In addition to excellence on the field, players had to hold a minimum of a 3.75 cumulative GPA throughout their high school careers.

Huff, who hails from Mansfield, Ohio, graduated at the top of her class at Madison Comprehensive High School with a 4.00 GPA.

She was named Ms. Soccer by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association and helped her team complete a perfect season and capturing the Ohio Division II state championship.

She scored 34 goals and had 27 assists for the Lady Rams during her senior campaign.

Huff tallied 133 goals and a state record 93 assists during her prep career. She was a four-time United Soccer Coaches All-American and was the 2020 National Player of the Year.

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Kara Lawson to coach Team USA in new Olympic event

Kara Lawson to coach Team USA in new Olympic event.

Duke women’s basketball head coach Kara Lawson will take part in the Olympics later this month.

Lawson, who played for the Lady Vols under head coach Pat Summitt, will coach Team USA’s 3×3 women’s basketball team. The event is new to the Olympics this year.

Team USA will be comprised of four players, including Kelsey Plum, Katie Lou Samuelson, Stefanie Dolson and Allisha Gray.

The team went undefeated (6-0) in the recent FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

France and Japan also qualified with their showings in the FIBA tournament. Eight teams will compete later this month in the Olympics.

Despite being Team USA’s head coach, Lawson, under Olympic rules, will not coach in the games.

Coaches are only permitted to direct practice and preparation.

Lawson, an All-America standout during her playing days at Tennessee, won a gold medal for Team USA as a player in 2008.

She played in the WNBA and was formerly a commentator and studio analyst at ESPN before becoming an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics.

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Erin Edmoundson signs with Lady Vols

Erin Edmoundson signs with Tennessee to play softball.

Tennessee’s softball team has landed a graduate transfer.

Erin Edmoundson has joined the Lady Vols’ program, the school announced Thursday.

Edmoundson, a left-handed pitcher, comes to Tennessee after spending the previous four seasons at Texas Tech.

With the Red Raiders, Edmoundson posted a career record of 54-32 with a 3.07 ERA.

Last season a senior, she went 7-11 and posted a 5.06 ERA.

Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said Edmoundson is a welcomed addition to the Lady Vols’ program, who recently had pitcher Callie Turner enter the NCAA transfer portal.

“We are thrilled that Erin is joining the Lady Vols,” Weekly said in a press release. “Erin is a seasoned veteran and proven winner in a power-five conference. Her maturity and competitive personality are a great fit for our program.”

In 2019, Edmoundson went 20-5 and pitched 14 complete games at Texas Tech. She received second-team all-region honors from the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association.

She also posted 10 victories in the circle when the 2020 campaign ended prematurely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Edmoudnson, who hails from Deer Park, Texas and is a Deer Park High School graduate, is a two-time member of the Big 12 All-Academic Team.

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Five Lady Vols named WGCA All-American scholars

Five Lady Vols named WGCA All-American scholars.

The University of Tennessee women’s golf team has been honored for its achievements in the classroom.

The Lady Vols had five players named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association’s All-American Scholars Team.

Tennessee players selected included Mikayla Bardwell, Vanessa Gilly, Kayla Holden, Nicole Whiston and Micheala Williams-Luck.

This season marks the first time Tennessee has placed five players named to the team. UT, however, had four players make the team in each of the last three previous campaigns.

To qualify for the team, golfers must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50.

Williams-Brooks has been named to the squad in each of her five years in the Lady Vols’ program, while Bardwell has been recognized for three consecutive seasons.

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Nicole Shanahan transfers to Tennessee

UT volleyball team signs graduate transfer Nicole Shanahan.

The Tennessee volleyball team has added a graduate transfer for the 2021 season.

The Lady Vols landed middle blocker Nicole Shanahan. Shanahan signed with Tennessee after a four-year stint at Wisconsin, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

At UT, she will pursue a master’s degree in human resources.

Shanahan, a native of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and graduate of Oconomowoc High School, played for two Badgers’ teams to reach the NCAA semifinals.

She won the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the 2020-21 season and made the conference’s all-academic team in 2018-19.

Shanahan was also a member of the Big Ten’s All-Star team that toured Japan in 2019.

At Wisconsin, she appeared in 32 sets, recording 21 kills, three service aces and 26 blocks.

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SEC Network announces programming for Tennessee’s July 14 takeover

SEC Network announces programming for Tennessee’s July 14 takeover.

The annual SEC Network Takeover will take place July 3-16.

Tennessee athletics will be highlighted beginning at midnight EDT on July 14.

Below is a look at Tennessee’s 24-hour programming on the SEC Network for July 14. Programming includes games from Vols and Lady Vols events, along with a documentary.

All times are Eastern.

Callie Turner enters transfer portal

Lady Vols’ pitcher Callie Turner enters transfer portal.

Lady Vols’ softball player Callie Turner has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Turner, a sophomore pitcher for Tennessee, announced her decision to enter the transfer portal after UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly announced his retirement and co-head coach Karen Weekly was tapped by the school to be the next head coach.

Turner went 10-3 for the Lady Vols in 2021. She made 17 starts for Tennessee and had a 2.28 ERA.

Turner, a Florida native and graduate of Land O’ Lakes High School, came to Knoxville in 2020. She was 8-7 during the campaign, which was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Turner made 33 career starts for the Big Orange and had a 2.50 ERA in two seasons at Tennessee.

Turner has three years of eligibility remaining.

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Candace Parker named WNBA All-Star

Former Lady Vol Candace Parker named WNBA All-Star.

Former Lady Vol Candace Parker was named to her sixth WNBA All-Star game.

The game will be played July 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The WNBA All-Stars will play the USA basketball’s women’s team. ESPN will televise the matchup.

Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. EDT.

Parker, a post player for the Chicago Sky, is in the midst of her 13th WNBA season. She has won a championship and the league’s Most Valuable Player twice.

Parker is the only player in the WNBA to be named MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 2008.

She previously played for the Los Angeles Sparks from 2008-20.

Parker also played professionally overseas between 2010-18.

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