University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOL MONICA ABBOTT CHOSEN FIRST-TEAM ALL-SOUTH REGION
May 19, 2004 | Softball
May 19, 2004
ANN ARBOR, Mich.
Tennessee freshman Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) added another accolade to her lengthy list of achievements on Wednesday when was named First-Team All-South Region by the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Having turned in a spectacular rookie campaign that ranks among the best in NCAA history, Abbott has been a driving force behind the 10th-ranked Lady Vols' initial appearance at Regionals since 1999. Chosen as the Southeastern Conference Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, Abbott is the first UT pitcher to achieve All-South Region status since Buffy Walker accomplished the feat in 1997.
With a record of 43-8, Abbott has already set an NCAA single-season mark for victories by a rookie and needs three strikeouts to eclipse Cat Osterman's freshman standard of 554 K established in 2002. Entering her start against Illinois-Chicago on Thursday at 12:30 p.m., Abbott has registered a 0.99 earned run average, hurled 42 complete games, twirled 22 solo shutouts and limited opponents to a .133 batting average. The fireballer has notched a remarkable 32 double-digit strikeout efforts, tossed four no-hitters (including a perfect game), seven one-hitters and 11 two-hitters. Her efforts have been instrumental in Tennessee claiming its first SEC Eastern Division crown since '99 and maintaining a consistent presence in the national rankings.
The Lady Vols (53-14), seeded second at NCAA Region No. 6, will face the seventh-seeded Flames of Illinois-Chicago (39-21) in their opening contest of the double-elimination event hosted by the University of Michigan. Live stats and audio of the contest can be found on utladyvols.com.
The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each of the nine Division I regions. As a first-team honoree, Abbott is now eligible for the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America teams that will be announced on Wednesday, May 26, at the opening ceremonies of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. Tennessee has never had an All-American in the sport of softball.
FIRST-TEAM ALL-SOUTH REGION
P Monica Abbott Tennessee
P Brooke Mitchell Louisiana-Lafayette
C Sara Dean Auburn
1B Jackie McClain Alabama
2B Cortney Mitchell Middle Tennessee
3B Jessica Rogers Texas-San Antonio
SS Lauren Delahoussaye LSU
OF Iyhia McMichael Mississippi State
OF LaDonia Hughes LSU
OF Kristen Zaleski Texas State
UT Holly Tankersley Louisiana-Lafayette
DP Lauren Castle LSU
SECOND-TEAM ALL-SOUTH REGION
P Kristin Schmidt LSU
P Kristen Keyes Auburn
P Lori Bayless Tennessee Tech
P Cheyenne Daries Centenary
P Dione Meier Nicholls State
P Sarah Pauley Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
P Lacey Swarthout Chattanooga
C Jennifer Waterman Mississippi State
1B Stephanie Hill LSU
2B Christy Brownlee Texas-San Antonio
3B Kristen Glowacz Houston
3B Melissa Ramirez Chattanooga
SS Dominique Acceturo Alabama
SS Diana Barreras Eastern Kentucky
OF Auriel Jenkins Southern Mississippi
OF Leslie Klein LSU
OF Ashley Courtney Texas State
UT Kate Jaspers Mississippi State
DP Megan Jezierski Jacksonville State
