SB Preview: #1 Lady Vols Set for Home-Opening Weekend

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After three weeks on the road, the No. 1-ranked Lady Vols are set for their home-opening weekend as they play host to the Tennessee Invitational Feb. 27-March 1 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Tennessee (14-0) welcomes Appalachian State, Penn State and North Carolina Central to Rocky Top for the weekend.

A full Tennessee Invitational tournament schedule can be seen below:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27
G1: 10:00 a.m. – NC Central vs. App State
G2: 12:30 p.m. – Penn State vs. NC Central
G3: 3:00 p.m. – Tennessee vs. App State
G4: 5:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Penn State

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
G5: 10:00 a.m. – App State vs. NC Central
G6: 12:30 p.m. – Penn State vs. App State
G7: 3:00 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Penn State
G8: 5:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. NC Central

SUNDAY, MARCH 1
G9: 10:00 a.m. – NC Central vs. Penn State
G10: 12:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. App State

PARKING AND TRAFFIC
As improvements are underway to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (SPL) and surrounding areas this season, fans will notice that parking near SPL is extremely limited this year. We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation as upgrades are being made to enhance the gameday experience and ensure our program continues to compete at the highest level nationally. Please note that these are challenges only for the 2026 season, and we look forward to delivering an enhanced gameday experience for Lady Vol Nation in 2027 and beyond!

Parking is available for FREE on Stephenson Drive on a first-come, first-serve basis for all games this season in Lot CR25 to the south of Regal Soccer Stadium and along Stephenson Drive, parallel to the train tracks. (see parking map).

When parking has been filled to capacity on Stephenson Drive, fans will be directed to park for FREE at the Ag Campus in Lot CC1. If Lot CC1 reaches capacity, overflow parking will be available in the G7 Garage near the Allan Jones Aquatics Center.

Regardless of whether fans park at Lot CC1 or G7 Garage, a FREE shuttle will pick up fans pregame and drop them off postgame on the corner of Joe Johnson Dr & River Dr, adjacent to Lot CC1. The shuttle will drop off fans in front of Joan Cronan Volleyball Center on Stephenson Drive pregame, and will pick up fans at the same location postgame.

ADA shuttles will also be available from the Ag Campus, picking up fans pregame and dropping them off postgame at the corner of Joe Johnson Dr & River Dr. The shuttle will drop off fans pregame and pick them up postgame at the main entrance of Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

All shuttles will begin running 2 hours prior to first pitch and will stop running once the stadium has been cleared by Event Staff following the conclusion of the game (approximately 45-60 minutes after the game).

BROADCAST INFO
All Tennessee games throughout the weekend will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Michael Wottreng (play-by-play) will be on the call Friday and Saturday, with Jill Jelnick taking over Sunday. They will be joined in the broadcast booth by LVFL Rylie West (analyst).

Fans can also listen to Brian Rice and 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 are available on the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com.

NOTABLE
RANKINGS
Tennessee enters Week 4 holding on to its unanimous No. 1 ranking across the NFCA, USA Softball, D1 and Softball America polls.

STARTING STRONG
At 14-0, Tennessee is off to its best start since also opening up 14-0 in 2014. With three more wins, the 2026 team could lay claim to the third-best start in program history, surpassing the 2005 squad that began 16-0. UT's best start to a season was in 2006 at 24-0.

MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 145-9 when scoring three or more runs over that span.

RING OF FIRE
The Lady Vols have adopted a staff approach to pitching since 2023 and this season is no different. Over the first three weekends, five different pitchers started in the circle - Mardjetko (5), Pickens (3), Nuwer (3), Rutan (2) and Hardenburger (1). Nuwer has made seven total appearances with Pickens appearing six times. The staff has combined for 116 strikeouts over 87 innings of work with an ERA of 0.32. They have allowed five runs in 14 games. Only the 2005 squad was better - allowing just two runs through 16 games.

SUSTAINED SUCCESS
Head coach Karen Weekly is now in her 25th season on Rocky Top with a record entering the weekend standing at 1,146-357-2. Her career win total (1,369-454-2) ranks third among active coaches and is eighth all-time in Division I collegiate softball history. Weekly is four wins away from moving into seventh place, passing Donna Papa (1,372).

SCOUTING APPALACHIAN STATE

Head Coach (Record at App State): Whitney Jones (33-29)

2026 Record: 11-2

Series Record: Tennessee leads, 11-0

Last Meeting: W, 8-0 (5), on 3/4/23

SCOUTING PENN STATE

Head Coach (Record at Penn State): Clarisa Crowell (143-121)

2026 Record: 13-2

Series Record: Tennessee leads, 1-0

Last Meeting: W, 9-1 (5), on 2/10/07

SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL

Head Coach (Record at NC Central): Now-Allah Jones (14-45)

2026 Record: 1-12

Series Record: First Meeting

DUE UP
Tennessee continues its homestand with a Tuesday night showdown against Belmont on March 3 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Rylie West

University of Tennessee Athletics