Huff not afraid to lead

The face of Tennessee softball has evolved over the eight-year tenure of co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly.

The baton has been passed from Kristi Durant to Sarah Fekete to Monica Abbott to Tonya Callahan and now Tiffany Huff.

Huff, a junior from Saugus, Calif., has responded well to her team-leader status, ranking in the top 10 of almost every offensive statistical category in the SEC.

"Tiffany is our go-to player,'' said Ralph Weekly, who bats Huff third in the lineup and plays her at catcher or first base. "She's the kind of player you build a program around, and we have.''

Huff is one of 27 players who have been invited to tryouts for the USA National Team this summer, which features Abbott.

International play would be nothing new for Huff, who played on the U.S. Junior National Team in 2006 and 2007.

But first things first, Huff is intent on keeping No. 15 Tennessee (35-11-1) on track when the Lady Vols play host to Appalachian State (22-23) at 7 tonight at Lee Softball Stadium.

"I don't look at my role as pressure, I look at it as an opportunity,'' said Huff, whose 60 RBIs put her on pace to challenge the school record (77) set by Durant (2005) and Bridget Jackson (1996).

"I just try to be there for everyone on the team, as a friend and as a leader.''

Huff said she has modeled herself after Callahan, a former UT All-American, respecting her composure and presence.

Now it's Huff setting the example.

"That's on and off the field,'' Weekly said. "On the field, she's the player we want up when the game is on the line.''

Huff's .434 batting average ranks third in the SEC and her 60 RBIs are second in the league.

"Slump'' is apparently a word that's not in Huff's vocabulary. She has been an impact player since arriving at UT, never batting less than .300, while striking out just nine times in 164 at-bats this season.

Huff's goals, however, are those of the team variety. She's determined to get the Lady Vols back to the Women's College World Series for the first time since her freshman year.

"That's what I know Tennessee softball to be,'' Huff said. "I know what it takes to get there, and I know the teams we can and need to beat.''

Huff said she chose the Lady Vols' program over Stanford's because of UT's success on and off the field.

"I grew up in a family where grades were the most important thing and then softball - it was very structured,'' Huff said.

"The Weeklys had a program with discipline and academics, and they had shown success with their system.''

Huff fits well, and just importantly, is leading the way for the Lady Vols promising freshman class. Jessica Spigner and Cat Hosfield will be well-prepared when their time comes to take over as face of the program.