Tennessee Vols morning report: Tony Vitello, players talk Super Regional loss
It’s not a happy day for Tennessee Vols fans. What was supposed to be a magical season in baseball came to a shocking end this past weekend during the NCAA Super Regionals, as UT was upset by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish despite being the top overall seed.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with continuing coverage of that event. We’ll discuss the press conference that ensued as the program failed to reach back to back College World Series, something it still has never done. That wasn’t the only sport that came to an end this weekend.
Track and field also came to an end, which signaled the end of all sports for the 2021-2022 UT athletics season. We’ll cover the postseason there. A cross country hire and an exclusive women’s basketball interview also made news, but we start with baseball.
Tony Vitello, players talk Super Regional loss – Ben McKee, VolQuest
After the Tennessee Vols baseball team lost two of three at home over the weekend to miss out on the College World Series, Tony Vitello recapped what happened along with Luc Lipcius and Redmond Walsh. Vitello shouldered the blame for the loss. Here’s what he said.
"“Congratulations to Notre Dame. I’d say they have a lot to do with what I’m at fault for as far as decision-making, and the job of a coach is, once the game starts, put your guys in a position to succeed, and I didn’t do that.”"
Kellie Harper goes one-on-one – Maria M. Cornelius, GoVols247
On the heels of adding five elite newcomers, including four transfers, to fill out her scholarships and welcome back preseason national championship expectations, Tennessee Lady Vols basketball head coach Kellie Harper talked about the arrival of the new talent with summer sessions in. Here’s what Harper said about the roster management that’ll come.
"“I think for sure that’s going to be the biggest challenge because we have a lot of players that can be productive when they step out on the court. And although I’d like to petition the NCAA for either more minutes per game or an extra quarter, we’re still only at 40 minutes.”"
Men’s track and field finishes third at NCAAs – Stan Becton, NCAA.com
While the Florida Gators took home the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field national championships, the Tennessee Vols men’s track and field team had its best outing since winning the title in 2002. UT came in third with 34 points, behind UF and the Texas Longhorns.
"The Gators totaled 54 total points, with Texas finishing second with 38 points. The championship for Florida marks the program’s 5th outdoor title and 10th overall."
Two Lady Vols earn All-American honors – Ken Lay, VolsWire.com
Over the weekend, two members of the Tennessee Lady Vols outdoor track and field program took home three All-American honors at the NCAA. Sydney Seymour earned Second Team in the 5,000-meter run, and Joella Lloyd earned honors in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
"Lloyd, a native of St. John’s Antigua and Barbuda, earned first-team All-America honors in the 200-meter dash, finishing eighth (22.80 seconds)."
Cross Country hires new head coach/director – UTSports
Sean Carlson has been hired as head coach and director of the Tennessee Vols men’s and women’s Cross Country and Distance program. Danny Whire announced the hire over the weekend.
"Carlson comes to Rocky Top after spending the last 10 years at Notre Dame, transforming its distance group into one of the nation’s elite. During his stay in South Bend, Indiana, he guided athletes to four American collegiate records, 13 school records, 29 NCAA All-America performances, two NCAA records and three NCAA championships."