Tag: Lady Vols

Two Lady Vols earn bids to national tennis championships

Two Tennessee women’s tennis players qualify for individual national championships.

Two Tennessee women’s tennis players earned bids to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships.

The tournament will take place May 20-25 at Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Sofia Cabezas was selected to compete in singles competition. She will also team with Elza Tomase to compete in the doubles portion of the national championships.

Cabezas, a senior for the Lady Vols, earned an at-large bid in the singles bracket. The Valencia, Venezuela native is ranked No. 13 in the nation. She is an All-SEC performer and has recorded 10 wins as Tennessee’s No. 1 singles player. Cabezas earned six wins against ranked opponents, including victories over three players ranked in the top 10.

In doubles, the team of Cabezas and Tomase (12-4) earned an at-large bid. The duo is the nation’s No. 9 doubles team.

Tomase is a Second-Team All-SEC standout.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Karlyn Pickens earns SEC Pitcher of the Week honors

Karlyn Pickens named SEC Pitcher of the Week for a third time this season.

Tennessee sophomore Karlyn Pickens was named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week for a third time in 2024 on Tuesday.

Pickens earned one in two starts for Tennessee last week. Tennessee won two of its three games at Alabama.

Pickens pitched her 13th complete game of the season in Tennessee’s victory over the Crimson Tide on Saturday. The sophomore carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning for her 10th shutout in 2024.

Her most recent SEC weekly honor was the seventh of her career. this week’s award marked the fourth time Pickens was named SEC Pitcher of the Week with the Lady Vols.

Tennessee Lady Vols’ pitcher Karlyn Pickens pitches a perfect games versus Appalachian State on March 4, 2023. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Lady Vols to host NCAA Tournament regional

Lady Vols to host NCAA Tournament regional as a No. 16 seed.

Tennessee (18-7, 9-4) earned a No. 16 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Lady Vols will host the Knoxville Regional first and second rounds at Barksdale Stadium.

“Our team is excited to be hosting the first two rounds of the tournament again,” Lady Vols’ tennis head coach Alison Ojeda said. “Our squad has worked really hard and they have earned the opportunity to compete at home on Rocky Top!”

2024 NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional women’s tennis schedule

Friday, May 4

Match 1 – Duke vs. ETSU – 10 a.m. EDT
Match 2 – Tennessee vs. Murray State – 1 p.m. EDT

Saturday, May 5

Match 3 – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2 – 1 p.m. EDT

Candace Parker announces retirement from WNBA

Former Lady Vol Candace Parker retires from the WNBA.

Former Lady Vol Candace Parker announced her retirement from the WNBA on Sunday.

Parker played in the WNBA from 2008-23. She was selected No. 1 overall in the 2008 WNBA draft by Los Angeles. The former Lady Vol also played for Chicago and Las Vegas.

Parker was the 2008 WNBA Rookie of the Year, a seven-time WNBA All-Star. She was also named league MVP during her rookie season and named WNBA MVP in 2013.

Parker was a seven-time First-Team All-WNBA standout and the WNBA Finals MVP in 2016.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist played at Tennessee from 2006-08 under head coach Pat Summitt.

Parker led the Lady Vols to consecutive national championships in 2007-08. Her No. 3 is retired by the Lady Vols.

Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports

Alabama shuts out Lady Vols in series finale

Alabama softball shuts out Tennessee in series finale.

No. 17 Alabama (32-14, 9-12 SEC) defeated No. 3 Tennessee (37-9, 16-5 SEC), 1-0, Sunday at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Alabama salvaged the third game of the SEC series after the Lady Vols posted a pair of shutout victories on Friday and Saturday.

The loss also ended Tennessee’s four-game win streak.

Sunday’s game was scoreless until the fifth inning when Kristen White hit an infield single with two outs that scored Kenleigh Cahalan, who tripled earlier during the inning.

The Lady Vols recorded two hits off Alabama pitcher Kayla Beaver (15-8). Tennessee center fielder and leadoff hitter Kiki Milloy went 2-for-3. She recorded one stolen base.

Payton Gottshall (18-4) started for the Lady Vols and pitched 4.2 innings and recorded two strikeouts.

Lady Vols shut out Alabama to win SEC series

Tennessee records second consecutive shutout against Alabama to win series.

No. 3 Tennessee (37-8, 16-4 SEC) defeated Alabama (31-14, 8-12 SEC), 2-0, Saturday at Rhoads Field in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Lady Vols won its fourth consecutive game and clinched a SEC series win.

Saturday also marked the second consecutive time Tennessee has shut out Alabama during the series.

Rylie West went 2-for-3 for Tennessee. She hit a solo home run, while recording one run and one RBI. Destiny Rodriguez went 3-for-3 and recorded one RBI.

Karlyn Pickens (17-5) pitched seven innings for Tennessee. She recorded seven strikeouts, while totaling 79 pitches (52 strikes).

First pitch for Sunday’s series finale is slated for 2 p.m. EDT and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

Lady Vols win series opener at Alabama

Tennessee shuts out Alabama softball to open SEC series.

No. 3 Tennessee (36-8, 15-4 SEC) defeated Alabama (31-13, 8-11), 5-0, Friday at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Tennessee won its third consecutive game. The Lady Vols recorded 10 hits in the contest against Alabama.

Kiki Milloy went 2-for-3. She recoded three runs, one double and one stolen base for Tennessee. Zaida Puni went 3-for-4. She recoded one home run, two RBIs and one run.

Payton Gottshall (17-3) pitched seven innings for the Lady Vols. She allowed three hits and two walks, while recording four strikeouts. Gottshall totaled 99 pitches, including 61 strikes.

Game No. 2 between the Lady Vols and Crimson Tide on Saturday is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN2.

Kim Caldwell introduces Nolan Harvath to Lady Vols’ basketball program

Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell introduces Nolan Harvath to the Lady Vols’ basketball program.

First-year head coach Kim Caldwell introduced Nolan Harvath to Tennessee’s basketball program on Thursday. Harvarth will serve as director of women’s basketball sports performance.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Nolan in the past, and he knows what we are trying to accomplish,” Caldwell said. “He sees the vision we have and is dedicated to making sure we are the hardest working team in the country. I know he is going to show up to work focused on ensuring our program is getting better every single day.”

Harvarth served as a member of West Virginia’s strength and conditioning staff from 2020-24.

He worked alongside Caldwell at Glenville State, serving as director of strength and conditioning from 2018-20 and assistant athletic director from 2019-20.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Karoline Striplin announces transfer destination

Former Lady Vol Karoline Striplin announces transfer destination.

Former Lady Vols forward Karoline Striplin announced her transfer destination on Thursday. She transferred to Indiana after entering the NCAA transfer portal on April 19.

“I am choosing to enter the transfer portal for my senior year to expand my horizons on and off the court,” Striplin announced. “Once again, thank you to everyone who has been with me over the past three seasons. I can’t wait to make the most out of one more!”

Striplin played three years at Tennessee. She appeared in 33 games for the Lady Vols last season, including 11 starts. Striplin averaged 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 14.4 minutes per contest during the 2023-24 season.

She recorded a .491 field goal percentage and a .310 three-point field goal percentage.

As a sophomore, Striplin appeared in 33 games and made 28 starts in 2022-23.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Kim Caldwell discusses Lazaria Spearman signing with Lady Vols

Tennessee basketball head coach Kim Caldwell discusses Lazaria Spearman signing with the Lady Vols.

Tennessee announced the signing of Miami basketball transfer Lazaria Spearman on Wednesday.

“We welcome Lazaria to the Lady Vol program and are excited about the height and athleticism she brings to our team,” Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell said. “It’s not easy to find someone with her combination of length and ability to play in transition.

“She really clicked with our team and is fun to be around. I can’t wait to have her on the court with us.”

The 6-foot-4 forward appeared in 60 games, including 10 starts, at Miami from 2022-24. She averaged 5.8 points and five rebounds per contest, while also recording 26 blocks and 33 steals.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire