Softball schedule will be a challenge

By Mike Griffith
Published Monday, September 21, 2009

The Tennessee Lady Vols softball team won't need to go too far into next season to see where they stand among the nation's elite.

The schedule for the 2010 season shows UT opening in a tournament in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 12-14. The first opponent up is perennial powerhouse Michigan, with 11-time national champion UCLA and Big 12 powerhouse Oklahoma on deck.

Before the season is over, the Lady Vols will have faced four of the eight teams that played in last year's Women's College World Series, and seven teams that advanced to the Super Regionals (Sweet 16) of the NCAA softball tournament.

"This is the toughest schedule we've ever played during my time at Tennessee,'' said Ralph Weekly, who along with his wife, Karen, serves as the Lady Vols co-head coach. "Both Karen and I felt it was important to challenge our team early and often.

"We realize it's not so much where we are in February or March, but where we are in April and May that matters the most.''

UT sophomore pitcher Cat Hosfield said she's not intimidated by the schedule.

"I just think about last year, and we opened against Washington,'' said Hosfield, who pitched in the 2-1 loss to the eventual national champion Huskies. "We lost, but we played pretty good. We're working hard to be ready.''

The Lady Vols started fall team drills Saturday.

2010 Lady Vols Schedule

NTC Division I Elite Invitational

Date Opponent Location Time

Feb. 12- Michigan, Orlando Noon

Feb. 12- Florida Atlantic Orlando 2 p.m.

Feb. 13- UCLA Orlando 3 p.m.

Feb. 13- UCF Orlando 5 p.m.

Feb. 14- Oklahoma Orlando 11 a.m.

Feb. 16- Western Car. Knoxville 5 p.m.

New Mexico State Invitational

Mountain Times Listed

Feb. 20- Weber State Las Cruces 4:30p.m.

Feb. 20- Bradley Las Cruces 7 p.m.

Feb. 21- Cleveland St. Las Cruces 11:30 a.m.

Feb. 23- New Mexico St. Las Cruces 5 p.m.

Cathedral City Classic

Pacific Time Listed

Feb. 25- Pacific Cathedral City 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 25- Stanford Cathedral City 8 p.m.

Feb. 26- Syracuse Cathedral City 8 p.m.

Feb. 27- Ohio State Cathedral City 12:30 p.m.

Mar. 3- Tenn. Tech Cookeville 5 p.m. CT

First Tennessee Tournament

Mar. 5- Ohio Knoxville 6 p.m.

Mar. 6- Texas Knoxville 4 p.m.

Mar. 6- Illinois St. Knoxville 6:30 p.m.

Mar. 7- Ohio Knoxville 1:30 p.m.

Mar. 7- Illinois St. Knoxville 4 p.m.

Mar. 9- Miss St. (DH) Starkville 4 p.m. CT

Mar. 10- Miss. St. Starkville 1 p.m. CT

Second Tennessee Tournament

Mar. 12- Liberty Knoxville 6 p.m.

Mar. 13- Tenn. Tech Knoxville 12:30 p.m.

Mar. 13- Campbell Knoxville 5:30 p.m.

Mar. 14- Liberty Knoxville 3:30 p.m.

Mar. 14- Campbell Knoxville 5:30 p.m.

Mar. 17- Austin Peay Knoxville 6 p.m.

Mar. 20- Georgia (DH) Knoxville 1 p.m.

Mar. 21- Georgia Knoxville 1 p.m.

Mar. 23- Kentucky (DH) Knoxville 4 p.m.

Mar. 27- Ole Miss (DH) Knoxville 1 p.m.

Mar. 28- Ole Miss Knoxville 1 p.m.

Mar. 31- MTSU Knoxville 6 p.m.

April 2- South Carolina Columbia 5 p.m.

April 3- South Car. (DH) Columbia 1 p.m.

April 10- Auburn (DH) Auburn 1 p.m. CT

April 11- Aubrun Auburn 1 p.m. CT

April 14 Arkansas(DH) Fayetteville 3 p.m. CT

April 23- Florida (DH) Knoxville 5 p.m.

April 24- Florida Knoxville 1 p.m.

May 1 at Alabama (DH) Tuscaloosa 1 p.m. CT

May 2- at Alabama Tuscaloosa 1 p.m. CT

May 8- LSU (DH) Knoxville 1 p.m.

May 9- LSU Knoxville Noon