Lady Vols to host softball regional

UT No. 13 seed, faces Winthrop

By News Sentinel staff

Originally published 12:05 a.m., May 12, 2008
Updated 12:25 a.m., May 12, 2008

The Tennessee Lady Vols were picked to host a softball regional for the fourth consecutive year and received a familiar guest list.

UT (47-14), which was seeded 13th nationally, will play Big South tournament champion Winthrop (36-17) at Lee Softball Stadium on Friday. Atlantic Coast Conference tournament champion Virginia Tech (44-15) plays Louisville (30-21) in the other game. Game times are yet to be announced.

The 64-team field was announced Sunday night on ESPNU. Florida was named the top seed and the SEC led with eight teams in the field.

Winthrop played here last season and lost to Tennessee in the regional final, 7-0. Virginia Tech was sent to Knoxville in 2005 and 2006.

"All three teams are quality opponents who have been here to Knoxville before, and who have given us tremendous battles during previous regionals,'' UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "All three coaching staffs are very good and extremely experienced. This should be a very exciting regional for the fans."

The regional winner faces the winner from the Ann Arbor, Mich., regional.

Callahan Finalist: Tennessee senior Tonya Callahan is one of 10 finalists for the USA Softball national collegiate player of the year award.

Callahan was named SEC player of the year.

NCAA Regional schedule

Gainesville Regional

Friday-Sunday

No. 1 seed Florida (62-2) vs. Georgia Tech (31-29)

Central Florida (46-18) vs. South Florida (44-18)

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Fresno, Calif., Regional

Friday-Sunday

San Diego State (43-15) vs. California (40-24)

Sacramento State (32-19) vs. No. 16 seed Fresno St. (51-11)

*

Baton Rouge, La., Regional

Friday-Sunday

No. 9 seed LSU (42-16) vs. Mississippi Valley St. (28-26)

East Carolina (36-28) vs. La.-Lafayette (46-12)

*

Houston Regional

Friday-Sunday

Washington (28-23-1) vs. Texas (28-21-2)

Delaware State (29-23) vs. No. 8 seed Houston (50-9)

*

College Station, Texas, Regional

Friday-Sunday

No. 5 seed Texas A&M (49-7) vs. Stephen F. Austin (36-23)

Louisiana Tech (35-27) vs. Auburn (37-20)

*

Amherst, Mass., Regional

Friday-Sunday

Massachusetts (36-11) vs. Princeton (25-22)

Lehigh (38-15-1) vs. No. 12 seed Stanford (46-12)

*

Knoxville Regional

Friday-Sunday

No. 13 seed Tennessee (47-14) vs. Winthrop (36-17)

Louisville (30-21) vs. Virginia Tech (44-15)

*

Ann Arbor, Mich., Regional

Friday-Sunday

Notre Dame (37-20-1) vs. Kent State (44-10)

Wright State (33-24) vs. No. 4 seed Michigan (48-6)

*

Tuscaloosa, Ala., Regional

Thursday-Saturday

No. 3 seed Alabama (51-6) vs. Chattanooga (41-20)

Jacksonville St. (38-14) vs. Florida St. (37-26)

*

Iowa City, Iowa, Regional

Friday-Sunday

Missouri (44-15) vs. Iowa (40-18)

Creighton (43-15) vs. No. 14 seed Long Beach St. (39-15)

*

Evanston, Ill., Regional

Friday-Sunday

No. 11 seed Northwestern (37-13) vs. Western Illinois (14-31)

Drake (29-24) vs. DePaul (48-16)

*

Tempe, Ariz., Regional

Friday-Sunday

Mississippi St. (40-20) vs. Hawaii (38-18)

Stony Brook (33-21-1) vs. No. 6 seed Arizona St. (56-5)

*

Hempstead, N.Y., Regional

Friday-Sunday

No. 7 seed Arizona (36-16) vs. Canisius (38-12)

Long Island (34-15) vs. Hofstra (43-11)

*

Norman, Okla., Regional

Friday-Sunday

Arkansas (36-27) vs. Tulsa (34-23)

Oregon (33-27) vs. No. 10 seed Oklahoma (43-12)

*

Chapel Hill, N.C., Regional

Thursday-Saturday

No. 15 seed Georgia (43-22) vs. Campbell (41-23)

Brigham Young (42-18) vs. North Carolina (50-10-1)

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Los Angeles Regional

Friday-Sunday

Nevada (42-16) vs. Purdue (34-21)

Cal St. Fullerton (27-26-1) vs. No. 2 seed UCLA (45-7)