University of Tennessee Athletics
CHALLENGING 2003 SCHEDULE AWAITS YOUTHFUL LADY VOL SOFTBALL SQUAD
July 11, 2002 | Softball
July 11, 2002
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
After directing the University of Tennessee softball team to its first winning season since 1999, co-head coaches Karen and Ralph Weekly have compiled a grueling 2003 slate for a squad that will be welcoming 12 new players to its roster. Once again, the Lady Volunteers will travel throughout the country to face top-notch competition to prepare for the rugged 30-game slate that the Southeastern Conference offers. Over the first five weekends of its eighth campaign, UT will participate in tournaments hosted by the University of California (Berkeley, Calif.), the University of Central Florida (St. Augustine, Fla.), Belmont University (Nashville, Tenn.), the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Florida International University (Miami, Fla.).
"We are excited about our 2003 schedule," stated Ralph Weekly. "Opening in Berkeley against defending national champion California will be a super challenge for all of our freshmen. Karen and I think that we have a nice blend of non-conference opponents who will test a talented young team. It is interesting to note that at least 25 of our 56 contests will be against teams that advanced to NCAA Regionals in May, including seven from the SEC."
Unlike last season, the Weeklys' team should be able to enjoy more of a home-field advantage within the friendly confines of Tyson Park. UT will host the First Tennessee Bank Classic at the end of March and is scheduled to have 33 home games on Rocky Top, compared to just 18 in '01. The club will also be aiming to reach the SEC Tournament for the first time in four seasons. The conference event will be contested in Plant City, Fla., over May 8-11 after two years at Jim Frost Stadium in Chattanooga. In addition, the NCAA field is expanding from 48 to 64 teams.
2003 TENNESSEE LADY VOL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
(tentative as of 7/10/02) DH -- doubleheader
| DATE | DAY | OPPONENT | SITE | TIME |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA INVITATIONAL (Cal, San Jose State, UT) | ||||
| Jan. 31 | Fri. | TBA | Berkeley, Calif. | TBA PT |
| Jan. 31 | Fri. | TBA | Berkeley, Calif. | TBA PT |
| Feb. 1 | Sat. | TBA | Berkeley, Calif. | TBA PT |
| Feb. 1 | Sat. | TBA | Berkeley, Calif. | TBA PT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA TRIPLE CROWN INVITATIONAL | ||||
| Feb. 8 | Sat. | TBA | St. Augustine, Fla. | TBA |
| Feb. 8 | Sat. | TBA | St. Augustine, Fla. | TBA |
| Feb. 9 | Sun | TBA | St. Augustine, Fla. | TBA |
| Feb. 9 | Sun. | TBA | St. Augustine, Fla. | TBA |
| Feb. 9 | Sun. | TBA | St. Augustine, Fla. | TBA |
| BELMONT UNIVERSITY ROUND ROBIN | ||||
| Feb. 14 | Fri. | Belmont | Nashville, Tenn. | 1 p.m. CT |
| Feb. 14 | Fri. | Lipscomb | Nashville, Tenn. | 3 p.m. CT |
| Feb. 15 | Sat. | Lipscomb | Nashville, Tenn. | 1 p.m. CT |
| Feb. 15 | Sat. | Belmont | Nashville, Tenn. | 3 p.m. CT |
| FEB. 16 | SUN. | MOREHEAD STATE (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 2 P.M. |
| FEB. 19 | WED. | APPALACHIAN STATE (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| UNLV TOURNAMENT (UL-Monroe, Syracuse, UNLV, UT) | ||||
| Feb. 21 | Fri. | TBA | Las Vegas, Nev. | TBA |
| Feb. 21 | Fri. | TBA | Las Vegas, Nev. | TBA |
| Feb. 22 | Sat. | TBA | Las Vegas, Nev. | TBA |
| Feb. 22 | Sat | TBA | Las Vegas, Nev. | TBA |
| Feb. 23 | Sun. | TBA | Las Vegas, Nev. | TBA |
| FEB. 26 | WED. | EAST TENNESSEE STATE (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| GOLDEN PANTHER INVITATIONAL (Buffalo, Fla A&M, FIU, Furman, UT) | ||||
| Feb. 28 | Fri. | TBA | Miami, Fla. | TBA |
| Feb. 28 | Fri. | TBA | Miami, Fla. | TBA |
| Mar. 1 | Sat. | TBA | Miami, Fla. | TBA |
| Mar. 1 | Sat. | TBA | Miami, Fla. | TBA |
| Mar. 2 | Sun. | TBA | Miami, Fla. | TBA |
| Mar. 2 | Sun. | Playoffs | Miami, Fla. | TBA |
| MAR. 5 | WED. | BELMONT (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 3 P.M. |
| Mar. 8 | Sat. | Louisiana State (DH) | Baton Rouge, La. | TBA CT |
| Mar. 9 | Sun. | Louisiana State | Baton Rouge, La. | TBA CT |
| MAR. 15 | SAT. | ALABAMA (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| MAR. 16 | SUN. | ALABAMA | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| MAR. 20 | THURS. | PRINCETON (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 3 P.M. |
| MAR. 22 | SAT. | MISSISSIPPI STATE (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| MAR. 23 | SUN. | MISSISSIPPI STATE | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| MAR. 26 | WED. | AUSTIN PEAY (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 3 P.M. |
| FIRST TENNESSEE BANK CLASSIC (Liberty, Samford, Western Kentucky, UT) | ||||
| MAR. 28 | FRI. | TBA | KNOXVILLE | TBA |
| MAR. 28 | FRI. | TBA | KNOXVILLE | TBA |
| MAR. 29 | SAT. | TBA | KNOXVILLE | TBA |
| MAR. 29 | SAT. | TBA | KNOXVILLE | TBA |
| MAR. 29 | SAT. | TBA | KNOXVILLE | TBA |
| Apr. 1 | Tues. | South Carolina (DH) | Columbia, S.C. | TBA |
| Apr. 2 | Wed. | South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | TBA |
| APR. 5 | SAT. | ARKANSAS (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| APR. 6 | SUN. | ARKANSAS | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| APR. 8 | TUES. | KENTUCKY (DH) | KNOXVILLE | TBA |
| APR. 9 | WED. | KENTUCKY | KNOXVILLE | TBA |
| Apr. 12 | Sat. | Auburn (DH) | Auburn. Ala. | TBA CT |
| Apr. 13 | Sun. | Auburn | Auburn, Ala. | TBA CT |
| Apr. 19 | Sat. | Florida (DH) | Gainesville, Fla. | TBA |
| Apr. 20 | Sun. | Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | TBA |
| STATE-LINE CLASSIC | ||||
| Apr. 23 | Wed. | Virginia Tech | Bristol, Tenn. | TBA |
| APR. 26 | SAT. | GEORGIA (DH) | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| APR. 27 | SUN. | GEORGIA | KNOXVILLE | 1 P.M. |
| May 3 | Sat. | Mississippi (DH) | Oxford, Miss. | TBA CT |
| May 4 | Sun. | Mississippi | Oxford, Miss. | TBA CT |
| May 8-11 | Thu.-Sun. | SEC Tournament Plant City, Fla. | TBA | |
| May 15-18 | Thu.-Sun. | NCAA Regionals Campus Sites | TBA | |
| May 22-26 | Thu.-Mon. | Women's College World Series | Okla. City, Okla. | TBA CT |
