University of Tennessee Athletics
Thursday, February 6
Clearwater, Fla.
7 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Nebraska
SB Preview: NFCA Leadoff Classic
February 05, 2025 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 6/5-ranked Lady Vols are set to open their 2024 campaign in Clearwater, Florida, as they play in the NFCA Leadoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Complex Feb. 6-9.
Tennessee will face No. 19 Nebraska, Bethune-Cookman, Iowa, Notre Dame, No. 21 Northwestern and Pittsburgh during the four-day tournament. UT opened its 2023 campaign at the same tournament, going 3-0 and winning the tournament title. The Lady Vols closed the 2023 edition with a 6-0 win over No. 6 Northwestern.
BROADCAST INFO
All six games will be available to stream on the GameChanger App. Saturday's game versus Northwestern will air nationally on MLB Network.Analysts for the weekend include Carol Bruggeman, Joey Lye, Aleshia Ocasio, Maria Trivelpiece, Natasha Watley. Doing play-by-play is Bobby Allen and Mike Gill.
Fans can also listen to Charley Collier call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
Streaming, live stats and radio links can be found by visiting the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com.
NOTABLE
PRESEASON RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the 2025 season ranked in the top six in the four major polls – coming in at No. 6 (NFCA), No. 5 (USASB), No. 6 (D1S) and No. 6 (SA).
PRESEASON HONORS
Nine Lady Vols garnered preseason award honors from various outlets during the month of January. Junior pitcher Karlyn Pickens led the group with six honors. A consensus first team All-American after her sophomore campaign, Pickens was named to D1Softball and Softball America's preseason All-America squads.
The Weaverville, North Carolina, native was also tabbed to USA Softball's Top 53 Watch List for Collegiate Player of the Year and was named the No. 4 player in the nation by D1Softball and Softball America. Her final preseason recognition came from the SEC as it named her to its preseason All-SEC team.
Senior McKenna Gibson earned preseason All-SEC honors and was named the nation's No. 67 player by D1Softball.
Catcher Sophia Nugent landed top 100 recognition from D1Softball, coming in at No. 96.
Redshirt sophomore Taylor Pannell - a 2023 All-SEC First Teamer - was named the No. 58 and No. 80 player by Softball America and D1 to begin the 2024 season.
Transfer pitcher Sage Mardjetko also picked up top 100 honors from Softball America, landing at No. 68.
Freshmen Emma Clarke, Amayah Doyle and Erin Nuwer were recognized on D1Softball and Softball America's Freshmen Watch List, while SA also named Peyton Tanner to its list.
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past two seasons, the Lady Vols have gone 25-5 in true road games and 22-8 at neutral sites for a combined record of 47-13. That run includes three conference sweeps at No. 10 LSU (2023), at No. 16 Kentucky (2023) and at No. 23 South Carolina (2024).
MAGIC NUMBER
In 2024 the Lady Vols' magic number was three (3). Tennessee went 41-0 when scoring three or more runs last season. It also won its third SEC Regular Season Championship in program history - which was the third title in two seasons (2023 SEC Regular Season + Tournament Champions, 2024 SEC Regular Season Champions).
OPENING WEEKEND
Tennessee has been strong on opening weekend's since 2022, holding a record of 10-0 and out-scoring opponents 80-11. Entering the 2025 season, UT has made opening in Florida a habit as it has played on opening weekend in the Sunshine State in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
On Saturday, the Lady Vols will play Northwestern in primetime on MLB Network. It will be Tennessee's first time appearing on Major League Baseball's exclusive channel.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Head Coach (Record at Nebraska): Rhonda Revelle (1,127-665)
2024 Record: 30-23
Series Record: Tennessee leads 5-1
Last Meeting: W, 5-0, on 2/24/17
SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Head Coach (Record at Bethune-Cookman): Laura Watten (511-472)
2024 Record: 20-32
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
Last Meeting: W, 7-1, on 2/22/18
SCOUTING IOWA
Head Coach (Record at Iowa): Brian Levin (interim)
2024 Record: 18-28
Series Record: Tennessee leads 3-1
Last Meeting: W, 2-0, on 3/18/11
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
Head Coach (Record at Notre Dame): Kris Ganeff (1st season)
2024 Record: 27-23
Series Record: Series tied 3-3
Last Meeting: W, 11-3 (6), on 2/17/22
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Head Coach (Record at Northwestern): Kate Drohan (780-426-1)
2024 Record: 35-13
Series Record: Tennessee leads 8-6
Last Meeting: W, 6-0, on 2/12/23
SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
Head Coach (Record at Pittsburgh): Jenny Allard (17-32)
2024 Record: 17-32
Series Record: Tennessee leads 2-0
Last Meeting: W, 5-0, on 2/14/14
DUE UP
Tennessee will split its weekend between Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Texas, Feb. 14-16. UT will face McNeese State in doubleheader action on Valentine's Day in Lake Charles before facing Tulsa, Lamar and Nicholls in Beaumont over the following two days.
Tennessee will face No. 19 Nebraska, Bethune-Cookman, Iowa, Notre Dame, No. 21 Northwestern and Pittsburgh during the four-day tournament. UT opened its 2023 campaign at the same tournament, going 3-0 and winning the tournament title. The Lady Vols closed the 2023 edition with a 6-0 win over No. 6 Northwestern.
BROADCAST INFO
All six games will be available to stream on the GameChanger App. Saturday's game versus Northwestern will air nationally on MLB Network.Analysts for the weekend include Carol Bruggeman, Joey Lye, Aleshia Ocasio, Maria Trivelpiece, Natasha Watley. Doing play-by-play is Bobby Allen and Mike Gill.
Fans can also listen to Charley Collier call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
Streaming, live stats and radio links can be found by visiting the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com.
NOTABLE
PRESEASON RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the 2025 season ranked in the top six in the four major polls – coming in at No. 6 (NFCA), No. 5 (USASB), No. 6 (D1S) and No. 6 (SA).
PRESEASON HONORS
Nine Lady Vols garnered preseason award honors from various outlets during the month of January. Junior pitcher Karlyn Pickens led the group with six honors. A consensus first team All-American after her sophomore campaign, Pickens was named to D1Softball and Softball America's preseason All-America squads.
The Weaverville, North Carolina, native was also tabbed to USA Softball's Top 53 Watch List for Collegiate Player of the Year and was named the No. 4 player in the nation by D1Softball and Softball America. Her final preseason recognition came from the SEC as it named her to its preseason All-SEC team.
Senior McKenna Gibson earned preseason All-SEC honors and was named the nation's No. 67 player by D1Softball.
Catcher Sophia Nugent landed top 100 recognition from D1Softball, coming in at No. 96.
Redshirt sophomore Taylor Pannell - a 2023 All-SEC First Teamer - was named the No. 58 and No. 80 player by Softball America and D1 to begin the 2024 season.
Transfer pitcher Sage Mardjetko also picked up top 100 honors from Softball America, landing at No. 68.
Freshmen Emma Clarke, Amayah Doyle and Erin Nuwer were recognized on D1Softball and Softball America's Freshmen Watch List, while SA also named Peyton Tanner to its list.
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past two seasons, the Lady Vols have gone 25-5 in true road games and 22-8 at neutral sites for a combined record of 47-13. That run includes three conference sweeps at No. 10 LSU (2023), at No. 16 Kentucky (2023) and at No. 23 South Carolina (2024).
MAGIC NUMBER
In 2024 the Lady Vols' magic number was three (3). Tennessee went 41-0 when scoring three or more runs last season. It also won its third SEC Regular Season Championship in program history - which was the third title in two seasons (2023 SEC Regular Season + Tournament Champions, 2024 SEC Regular Season Champions).
OPENING WEEKEND
Tennessee has been strong on opening weekend's since 2022, holding a record of 10-0 and out-scoring opponents 80-11. Entering the 2025 season, UT has made opening in Florida a habit as it has played on opening weekend in the Sunshine State in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
On Saturday, the Lady Vols will play Northwestern in primetime on MLB Network. It will be Tennessee's first time appearing on Major League Baseball's exclusive channel.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Head Coach (Record at Nebraska): Rhonda Revelle (1,127-665)
2024 Record: 30-23
Series Record: Tennessee leads 5-1
Last Meeting: W, 5-0, on 2/24/17
SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Head Coach (Record at Bethune-Cookman): Laura Watten (511-472)
2024 Record: 20-32
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
Last Meeting: W, 7-1, on 2/22/18
SCOUTING IOWA
Head Coach (Record at Iowa): Brian Levin (interim)
2024 Record: 18-28
Series Record: Tennessee leads 3-1
Last Meeting: W, 2-0, on 3/18/11
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
Head Coach (Record at Notre Dame): Kris Ganeff (1st season)
2024 Record: 27-23
Series Record: Series tied 3-3
Last Meeting: W, 11-3 (6), on 2/17/22
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Head Coach (Record at Northwestern): Kate Drohan (780-426-1)
2024 Record: 35-13
Series Record: Tennessee leads 8-6
Last Meeting: W, 6-0, on 2/12/23
SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
Head Coach (Record at Pittsburgh): Jenny Allard (17-32)
2024 Record: 17-32
Series Record: Tennessee leads 2-0
Last Meeting: W, 5-0, on 2/14/14
DUE UP
Tennessee will split its weekend between Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Texas, Feb. 14-16. UT will face McNeese State in doubleheader action on Valentine's Day in Lake Charles before facing Tulsa, Lamar and Nicholls in Beaumont over the following two days.
Players Mentioned
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