UT Debuts Season Ranked Ninth

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Lady Vol golf team will begin its 2012-13 campaign among the top 10 teams in the nation as GolfWeek ranked UT ninth in its preseason poll.

"We are excited to be starting the season ranked in the top 10," head coach Judi Pavon said. "This ranking is a reflection of the strength of our team, but of course we haven't hit a shot yet. Because we have four strong players returning it's a fair assessment of where our team is and should be. We have a long season ahead of us and will be striving to maintain and improve upon this early ranking."

Tennessee returns four letterwinners in seniors Sara Monberg and All-American Erica Popson, junior Chessey Thomas and sophomore AJ Newell. In addition to the four returnees, the Big Orange welcomes two newcomers in Ashlee Pickerell and Emmie Pietila.

Since the 1999-2000 season, the Lady Vols have been ranked in the top 25 of GolfWeek's preseason polls. UT debuted at No. 7 a year ago, the highest preseason ranking for the team. The Lady Vols closed out the 2011-12 campaign ranked 15th after finishing 19th at the NCAA Championships.

Tennessee is one of eight SEC schools to debut so far in GolfWeek's preseason countdown.

UT opens action this weekend at the Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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