Tennessee Vols Top 30 Memorable Moments of the Adidas Era
22. The Monica Abbott Softball Years
Since Ralph and Karen Weekly have taken over the Tennessee Lady Vols Softball program, which started in 1996, the team has enjoyed a tremendous level of success, reaching the NCAA Tournament every year since 2004 and the Women’s College World Series seven times in that same span along with a conference championship and two conference tournament championships.
But the highlight of this run was from 2005 to 2007, the sophomore through senior seasons of All-World pitcher Monica Abbott. Abbott, carried the team to three straight Women’s College World Series appearances, and she did pretty much everything she possibly could to win a national championship for her school.
But even without a title, the run was an amazing period for the softball team, which culminated with the 63-8 2007 team. Like many Tennessee Vols moments during the Adidas era, this is marked by what could have been.
The Lady Vols were a game away from winning the national title, and Abbott pitched perfectly until she ran out of ammo the last two games. But they still made an amazing and memorable run, and for that, her years belong on this list. The softball program is now another one of the great Tennessee athletic programs.
Next: 2001 College World Series Appearance