University of Tennessee Athletics
25 Regionals and Counting
May 07, 2017 | Women's Golf
ATHENS, Ga. -- Starting Monday, May 8 at 7:30 a.m. ET in Athens, Georgia, Tennessee women's golf will be competing in the first round of the program's 25th consecutive NCAA Regional. Since the team's inception in 1992, the Volunteers have earned a bid to the national tournament every season.
At the helm of the program for 18 of those regionals, Head Coach Judi Pavon has witnessed the Orange and White succeed and set new expectations year after year.
"Making NCAA tournament play is an expectation we have for our program," explained Pavon. "Our players have so many great resources at Tennessee that allow them to be successful and we encourage them to utilize every area to be the best golfers and students they can be."
It's evident in the history of the program that Tennessee's golfers do just that.
In the classroom, 41 Vols have been honored for their academic success and 24 players have earned Academic All-American status.
Most recently, the program was recognized by the NCAA as part of the 2017 NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program. The recognition is given to teams that posted multi-year APRs in the top 10 percent of all teams in their respective sports. Women's golf has earned the honor five times over the last eight seasons.
UT's success in the classroom has transitioned to the course as the Vols have won 27 tournament titles and placed in the NCAA Championships 13 times. Under Pavon, the Big Orange has collected 20 titles and 11 national championship appearances.
This week, the starting five look to add one more win and appearance to that total. Between seniors Hannah Pietila and Lucia Polo and juniors Anna Newell and Blakesly Warren, the squad owns a combined 27 rounds of experience in regional play. Although true freshman Micheala Williams is experiencing her first NCAA postseason, the newcomer has had an immediate impact in the lineup, posting the third-best average on the team.
"I expect our team to play with confidence and determination this week and to advance through to the NCAA Championship," said Pavon. "This tournament is always a very high pressure event so their experience will definitely be something that will help them manage it."
The low six teams and the low three individuals not on those teams will advance from each of the four regional sites (for a total of 24 teams and 12 individuals) to the NCAA National Championship on May 19-24 at Rich Harvest Farms, in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee women's golf team, visit UTSports.com/w-golf, follow @Vol_WGolf on Twitter and like the Vols at Facebook.com/VolWomensGolf.
