Tennessee Vols morning report: Baseball wins SEC, softball hosting regional
A jam-packed weekend surrounding Tennessee Vols spring sports included conference play, NCAA postseason play, postseason awards and a regular season championship being clinched. Yes, in the middle of May, UT sports are going strong. It’s also strong for former Vols, as Grant Williams went off to win Game 7 for the Boston Celtics Sunday.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with what happened on the diamond. Baseball won another series, and that brought about huge implications, which we’ll get to. Meanwhile, softball completed its SEC Tournament and now knows where it’s going in the NCAA Tournament.
Beyond the diamond, we have awards in softball and men’s golf to bring you. Then we have recaps of conference tournaments in rowing and outdoor track and field. Ongoing coverage of the men’s tennis team in the NCAA Tournament along with a preview of the men’s golf NCAA Tournament rounds out our day.
Tony Vitello recaps Georgia series as baseball wins SEC – Wes Rucker, GoVols247
Last Friday, the Tennessee Vols baseball team clinched a share of the SEC regular season title by winning its second game against the Georgia Bulldogs in a three-game series. UT lost to them 8-3 Saturday, but they still clinched the SEC outright after the Arkansas Razorbacks lost Sunday. Tony Vitello recapped the UGA series. Here’s a bit of what he said.
"“You know, again, this time of year, you’ve got to go play whenever they say you go play, but it’s kind of nice, the way it worked out. Next weekend is a Thursday, Friday, Saturday series for everybody in the league, and we have the good fortune of being in a rhythm with that.”"
Softball to host NCAA Regional – NCAA.com
Despite an upset loss to the Missouri Tigers in the SEC Tournament semifinals Friday, the Tennessee Lady Vols softball team earned a No. 11 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. At 39-16, they will host a regional this weekend with the Campbell Lady Camels, Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon State Beavers.
"Regionals will be held May 20-22 on 16 campus sites. At each campus site, a four- team, double-elimination tournament will be conducted, and the 16 winning teams advance to the super regionals."
Five Lady Vols earn softball All-SEC – Ken Lay, VolsWire.com
Although nobody earned First Team, the Tennessee Lady Vols softball program still had numerous players win SEC awards. Ivy Davis, Erin Edmoundson, Kelcy Leach, Kiki Milloy and Zaida Pun all earned Second Team All-SEC, and Davis made SEC All-Defense.
"Puni, a transfer from Oklahoma, Edmoundson, a transfer from Texas Tech, Davis and Leach were selected to the all-conference team for the first time. Milloy received all-SEC honors for the second consecutive season."
Rowing finishes third at Big 12 Championship – Big12Sports
With a total of 68 points, the Tennessee Lady Vols rowing team finished behind the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns at the Big 12 Championships, with Texas coming in first. Rocky Top had four All-Big 12 rowers: Jaimie Armitage, Katie Rice, Emma Seawright and Madelyn Walsh.
"Big 12 squads will learn their NCAA fate on Tuesday, May 17 at 4 p.m. CT in a selection show on NCAA.com. The NCAA Championship will be held May 27-29 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida. Texas is the defending national champion."
Outdoor track and field wraps up SEC Championships – SECSports.com
The Tennessee Vols men’s track and field program finished third at this past weekend’s Outdoor Track and Field SEC Championships. Meanwhile, the Lady Vols came in ninth.
"The Arkansas men and the Florida women claimed the 2022 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at the Ole Miss Track and Field Complex."
Men’s tennis reaches NCAA Quarterfinals – Eric Woods, UT Daily Beacon
This past weekend, the Tennessee Vols men’s tennis team beat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 4-0 Friday and the Duke Blue Devils 4-1 Saturday at NCAA Regionals. They then beat the Florida State Seminoles 4-0 Sunday at the NCAA Super Regionals to reach the NCAA Championships.
"The Vols will face No. 3 Baylor at the University of Illinois in Champaign at 4 p.m. EST. There is a lot of history in this matchup, as the Vols fell to Baylor in last years’ Final Four and then beat the Bears in this years’ ITA Indoor Semifinal."
NCAA Regionals begin for men’s golf – Austin Price, VolQuest
As the No. 4 seed, the Tennessee Vols men’s golf team is set to begin the Bryan NCAA Regionals, hosted by the Texas A&M Aggies. Regionals will last Monday through Wednesday. Here’s what head coach Brennan Webb said about the course.
"“It’s pretty difficult. We’ve got to keep the ball in play. The greens are pretty small, small targets, so I think overall it sets up pretty well for us. We need to keep our patience and play what the golf course gives you.”"
Two Vols earn men’s golf All-SEC – UTSports
Senior Spencer Cross and redshirt sophomore Bryce Lewis of the Tennessee Vols men’s golf team both earned All-SEC. Cross earned first team, and Lewis earned second team.
"Cross and Lewis’ selections mark the second time under the direction of Webb in which the Vols have had two All-SEC selections—joining 2020, when Cross and Rhys Nevin were both second team honorees."