University of Tennessee Athletics
Getting Into the Swing of Things
August 23, 2012 | Women's Golf
Aug. 23, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Lady Vols hit up the Mack and Jonnie Day Golf Practice Facility Thursday afternoon, focusing on the fundamentals of the game. The team has a little more than two weeks to prepare for their first tournament, the Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C., held Sept. 9-11. The Big Orange will face 10 of the top 15 teams from the 2012 NCAA Tournament at the event, including each of the top five squads.
"Everyone is just taking the opportunity to work on the things they need to work on," assistant coach Jan Dowling said. "We have qualifying coming up and we're leaving for our first tournament very quickly, so there's a lot going on the first week of school."
New to the Big Orange this season, Dowling had a chance to see the girls play the course yesterday, while interacting with the squad.
"I've obviously seen four of them play, just being in the SEC the last three years, but it was really nice to get up close and personal and get to know them a little bit," Dowling said. "I just love the energy of this team and I'm looking forward to working with them. I think we have a lot of potential, and a lot of talent and if we do the right things this year, I think we could have a really great season."
PREPPING FOR THE FINALE
Senior Erica Popson spent her summer prepping for her final year of collegiate golf. The Davenport, Fla., native competed as a member of the USA Curtis Cup Team, and captured the Pure Silk Women's Championship title with UT teammate AJ Newell.
"I'm just trying to prepare myself for my last year in school," Popson said. "I hope to play really well this year and accomplish more than I've ever accomplished."
Popson is a three-time All-America honoree and has earned All-SEC first-team accolades twice during her collegiate career. She shared her mixed feelings about entering her last season.
"It's exciting and frightening all at the same time being a senior," Popson said. "I feel like I just walked on campus yesterday as a freshman trying to figure out where to go and what to do. Now I'm a senior, it's my last year, and every trip will be closer to ending and that's kind of scary. It's a new chapter of my life. I'm excited to work hard and see what happens."
GETTING THE SWING OF THINGS
With two full days of college classes and practices now under her belt, freshman Emmie Pietila is getting the swing of being a collegiate student-athlete.
"It wasn't a whole lot different from high school except the players are a whole lot better," Pietila said. "But it went well."
Pietila won the Michigan Women's Amateur Championship this past July, and led the Brighton High School women's golf team to four MHSAA Finals appearances.
