For Tennessee’s tradition-rich softball program, hosting the Knoxville Regional and winning the Knoxville Regional suddenly have become two different things.
Achieving the comfort of a Knoxville Regional for a 17th consecutive NCAA tournament, the Lady Volunteers shredded Campbell 9-1 Friday night and blanked Oregon State 3-0 Saturday afternoon to earn two opportunities to collect one win against Oregon State on Sunday. The Beavers didn’t comply, erupting for an 8-3 whipping and then ending Tennessee’s season with a 3-1 triumph.
Karen Weekly’s Lady Vols, who were the NCAA tournament’s No. 11 overall seed, finished with a 41-18 record.
“This is one of the closest teams I’ve ever been a part of, and I really wanted to see this group advance,” said Weekly, who co-coached Tennessee with her husband, Ralph, from 2002 through last season. “I just know how much we wanted to spend another day together.
“I have an office in the clubhouse that’s right off the main hallway. The door is always open, and I constantly hear laughter.”