No. 8/8 Lady Vols To Tackle One Of The Nation's Toughest Schedules

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8/8 Tennessee softball embarks on one of the nation's toughest 2019 schedules this week as the Lady Vols are poised to take on 18 teams who are ranked or received votes in the preseason polls.

Of Tennessee's 33 opponents, 10 were ranked in the NCAA's final Top 25 RPI poll and 20 were selected to NCAA Regionals in 2018.

"One of the things that Pat Summitt told us is to schedule tough out of conference," co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "We have found that in the past that the RPI is the main thing that decides if you go to the World Series. We are hoping to get our kids seasoned early and get them ready for a tough conference schedule."

Every Southeastern Conference school fielding a softball team qualified for regional play while No. 5/5 Florida and No. 6/7 Georgia both advanced to the 2018 Women's College World Series.

In all, the Lady Vols will face four 2018 WCWS teams this season, including reigning national champion No. 1/3 Florida State.

UT begins the season on the road at the Kickin' Chicken Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., facing UIC, Coastal Carolina, Boston University and Rider. The tournament runs from Feb. 8-10.

After a short turnaround, Tennessee heads to Clearwater, Fla., on Feb. 15 for ESPN's St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational. The Big Orange will take on Notre Dame (who received votes in both major polls), No. 21/23 Minnesota, No. 23/22 James Madison, Utah and No. 1/3 Florida State.

A game at ETSU on Feb. 19 rounds out Tennessee's 11-game road trip to start the year.

The Lady Vols host Kansas, Virginia, Bradley, Louisville (RV) and Tennessee State in their home opening weekend tournament, the Tennessee Classic, on Feb. 22-24.

UT then heads west to face five teams in the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., on Feb. 28-March 2. The Orange and White will play UTSA, Fresno State (RV), New Mexico, No. 19/14 Michigan and No. 25 Oregon.

Tennessee is on the road again from March 8-10 as it plays No. 5/5 Florida in Gainesville before versing Middle Tennessee in a neutral site game in Columbia, Tenn.

The Lady Vols host their second tournament of the season on March 14-17, playing BYU and No. 16/16 Texas in the Tennessee Invitational.

The Big Orange next take a Spring Break trip east as they are set for a doubleheader at Liberty (RV) on March 19 followed by a single-game matchup at North Carolina on March 20.

Opening SEC play at home, Tennessee welcomes No. 14/t-12 Arkansas to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for a March 22 weekend series before heading to Missouri (RV) on March 30-April 1.

UT then has back-to-back home series against No. 17/17 Auburn (April 6-8) and No. 24 Mississippi State (April 12-14) prior to consecutive away series at No. 6/7 Georgia and Ole Miss (RV) on April 19-21 and April 26-28, respectively.

The Lady Vols close out the regular season at home against No. 20/20 Texas A&M.

University of Tennessee Athletics

No. 8/8 Lady Vols To Tackle One Of The Nation's Toughest Schedules

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