University of Tennessee Athletics
Softball America Names Tennessee No. 2 in 2024 Preseason Poll
January 11, 2024 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball checks in at No. 2 in Softball America's 2024 preseason poll, released by the outlet Thursday morning. It is the Lady Vols' highest preseason ranking since the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) tabbed the program at No. 1 in 2014.
The Big Orange return 17 players from its 2023 squad that reached the Women's College World Series and won both the SEC regular season and SEC Tournament titles.
Last year's club also secured its first 50-win season and reached the national semifinals at the WCWS for the first time since 2013. The WCWS trip was the program's first since 2015 and its eighth all-time.
The Lady Vols also return seven of nine starters from last season's lineup that averaged 6.87 runs per game – best in the SEC and third nationally. Tennessee also ranked third in the country in on-base percentage (.419), 14th in home runs per game (1.30) and 17th in slugging (.516).
Consensus first-team All-American Kiki Milloy returns in 2024 for her final season on Rocky Top, while NFCA second-team All-American McKenna Gibson looks to build on a breakout sophomore season. Veterans Zaida Puni, Giulia Koutsoyanopulos and Rylie West are back as well and are among a handful of returners who will vie for significant roles this season.
Tennessee will have to replace NFCA Pitcher of the Year Ashley Rogers but bring back graduate pitcher Payton Gottshall and sophomore Karlyn Pickens. The duo helped guide Tennessee's pitching staff to a 1.75 ERA – ranking No. 1 in the SEC and 10th-best in the NCAA – and 23 shutouts.
Gottshall finished last season with a 16-2 record, while Pickens was named SEC Freshman of the Year and earned D1Softball Freshman All-America recognition.
UT will head to Texas as it begins its 2024 campaign with a season-opener at UT-Arlington before playing a three-game series against Baylor in Waco. The Bears enter the season at No. 11 in Softball America's preseason poll.
The Big Orange return 17 players from its 2023 squad that reached the Women's College World Series and won both the SEC regular season and SEC Tournament titles.
Last year's club also secured its first 50-win season and reached the national semifinals at the WCWS for the first time since 2013. The WCWS trip was the program's first since 2015 and its eighth all-time.
The Lady Vols also return seven of nine starters from last season's lineup that averaged 6.87 runs per game – best in the SEC and third nationally. Tennessee also ranked third in the country in on-base percentage (.419), 14th in home runs per game (1.30) and 17th in slugging (.516).
Consensus first-team All-American Kiki Milloy returns in 2024 for her final season on Rocky Top, while NFCA second-team All-American McKenna Gibson looks to build on a breakout sophomore season. Veterans Zaida Puni, Giulia Koutsoyanopulos and Rylie West are back as well and are among a handful of returners who will vie for significant roles this season.
Tennessee will have to replace NFCA Pitcher of the Year Ashley Rogers but bring back graduate pitcher Payton Gottshall and sophomore Karlyn Pickens. The duo helped guide Tennessee's pitching staff to a 1.75 ERA – ranking No. 1 in the SEC and 10th-best in the NCAA – and 23 shutouts.
Gottshall finished last season with a 16-2 record, while Pickens was named SEC Freshman of the Year and earned D1Softball Freshman All-America recognition.
UT will head to Texas as it begins its 2024 campaign with a season-opener at UT-Arlington before playing a three-game series against Baylor in Waco. The Bears enter the season at No. 11 in Softball America's preseason poll.
Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballFriday, May 22
Thursday, May 21
Sunday, May 17
Saturday, May 16
