Former Tennessee Vols basketball players making a splash at the 2019 NBA Combine lead our Volunteers news for Friday, May 17, 2019.
Happy Friday! As we enter the third weekend in May, the Tennessee Vols are in the midst of a ton of happenings across numerous sports, some of which have already begun postseason play. But we start today off with news of former players.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with a couple of Tennessee basketball players turning heads at the NBA Combine. It’s probably not good news for UT fans if they want those players to return, but it’s certainly good for the players.
We also have postseason play beginning in two women’s sports along with coverage of the wind down of the regular season in a men’s sport. Individual recognitions are also news of the day. But let’s start with these former players.
Grant Williams, Jordan Bone impress at NBA Combine – Austin Nivison, GoVol247
Tennessee Vols basketball juniors Grant Williams and Jorden Bone both made a huge impact at the NBA Combine. Bone became a surprise star by putting up results better than that of players like Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook when they were at the combine years ago.
"Bone was the fastest players in the lane agility drill, the shuttle run, and the 3/4 court sprint. He also had the highest leap in the standing vertical leap with 36.0 inches. He was second in the max vertical leap with 42.5 inches. Williams didn’t quite have the type of day Bone had, but he did show NBA teams that he is a competitor and can contribute even when things aren’t working for him on the offensive side of the floor."
Softball Vols begin NCAA Regionals – ESPNW.com
At 39-14, the Tennessee Lady Vols softball team is set to host an NCAA Regional Friday. They are the No. 12 overall seed and will face the Longwood Lancers on Friday. Joining them in the double-elimination bracket are the North Carolina Tar Heels and Ohio State Buckeyes, who will also face each other in Knoxville Friday. Tennessee faces Longwood at 1:30 p.m.
"Tennessee is one of three programs to host a regional every season since the tournament expanded in 2005, but it is looking for its first trip to Oklahoma City since 2015. Aubrey Leach is batting .401 to lead the Lady Vols. Haley Bearden has 14 home runs."
Baseball wins first game against Ole Miss – Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com
The No. 23 ranked Tennessee Vols baseball team moved to 37-15 overall and 13-15 in the SEC by winning the first game in a three-game series against the No. 15 ranked Ole Miss Rebels Thursday. With two more games scheduled in Knoxville for Friday and Saturday, they will take the series with one more win, and they can finish .500 in the SEC for the year by completing a sweep. Both would be significant accomplishments on the season.
"Garrett Stallings pitched a complete-game, four-hit shutout against Ole Miss. The UT junior struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Following the Vols’ shutout win against Ole Miss, Tennessee tied the 1994 team’s program record for shutouts in a single season with ten."
Three Softball Vols earn All-Region – NFCA.org
The Tennessee Lady Vols had three players make the Southeast Region of the 2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Region Teams. Ashley Rogers and Aubrey Leach made First Team, and Haley Bearden made Third Team.
"The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association’s 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all the honorees now become eligible for the 2019 NFCA Division I All-America squads."
Women’s golf to begin NCAA Championships – Brian Mull, NCAA.com
The Tennessee Lady Vols golf team will begin play at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Friday. Tennessee was one of six teams to make it out of the Auburn Regional, and the events last through next Wednesday.
"The first round of stroke play competition begins at 8:15 a.m. EDT on Friday. After 54 holes, the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team play one more round of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match play and the 72-hole individual champion. The top eight teams compete in match play Tuesday and Wednesday to determine the national champ."
Joey Reilman makes Academic All-District – AcademicAllAmerica.com
Tennessee swimming and diving senior Joey Reilman made the 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District 3 At-Large Team. The selections were made by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), and Reilman earned the honor by graduating with an industrial engineering degree and a 3.94 GPA.
"First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the Google Cloud Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and thirdteam (if applicable) Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in June."