University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, May 15
Knoxville
5:30 PM ET
University of Tennessee
vs
Northern Kentucky
SB Preview: 2026 Knoxville Regional
May 14, 2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball opens the NCAA Tournament this weekend as the seventh-seeded play host to the 21st consecutive Knoxville Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. UT welcomes Virginia, Indiana and Northern Kentucky to Rocky Top for the postseason showcase.
Limited walkup tickets are available at the Sherri Parker Lee ticket office when gates open to the public one hour prior to first pitch of the first game each day. Fans should note that Tennessee Athletics' clear bag policy will be in effect.
Fans are encouraged to visit the Tennessee softball gameday information page before making their way to Sherri Parker Lee to familiarize themselves with gameday policies and procedures.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The four-team regional will take place Friday to Sunday as a double-elimination tournament, with the winner advancing to the Super Regional round. Tennessee will play Horizon League champion Northern Kentucky on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Virginia will take on Indiana on Friday at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
Friday, May 15
SPL gates open at 4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. – Game 1 (Northern Kentucky vs. Tennessee)
8:00 p.m. – Game 2 (Indiana vs. Virginia)
Saturday, May 16
SPL gates open at 2:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. – Game 3
5:30 p.m. – Game 4
8:00 p.m. – Game 5
Sunday, May 17
SPL gates open at 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – Game 6
4:30 p.m. – Game 7 (if necessary)
PARKING
Fans, please be advised; it is graduation weekend at the University of Tennessee and traffic will be heavy around Neyland Drive and UT's campus.
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).
HOSTING IS A HABIT
The Lady Vols will make their 23rd overall and 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this weekend. Tennessee has advanced to the postseason every year since 2004 and has hosted 21 straight regional rounds in Knoxville.
UT is one of just two teams to host regionals every season since the NCAA switched to a regional and super-regional format in 2005.
NOTING THE FIELD
Tennessee owns a 22-2 combined record all-time against Virginia, Indiana and Northern Kentucky.
vs. Virginia: 13-2 – last meeting, 5-19-24: W, 6-0 in 2024 Knoxville Regional
vs. Indiana: 6-0 – last meeting, 5-21-23: W, 7-3 in 2023 Knoxville Regional
vs. NKU: 3-0 – last meeting, 5-19-23: W, 12-0 (5) in 2023 Knoxville Regional
Virginia (38-13, 13-10 ACC)
Head Coach: Joanna Hardin (Record at Virginia: 249-249)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 13-2
Indiana (42-14, 17-7 BIG TEN)
Head Coach: Shonda Stanton (Record at Indiana: 286-173)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 6-0
Northern Kentucky (26-23, 11-7 Horizon)
Head Coach: Morgan Gerak (Record at NKU: 48-50)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 3-0
DUE UP
The winner of the Knoxville Regional will take on the winner of the Athens Regional in the Super Regional round next weekend, May 21-24.
Limited walkup tickets are available at the Sherri Parker Lee ticket office when gates open to the public one hour prior to first pitch of the first game each day. Fans should note that Tennessee Athletics' clear bag policy will be in effect.
Fans are encouraged to visit the Tennessee softball gameday information page before making their way to Sherri Parker Lee to familiarize themselves with gameday policies and procedures.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The four-team regional will take place Friday to Sunday as a double-elimination tournament, with the winner advancing to the Super Regional round. Tennessee will play Horizon League champion Northern Kentucky on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Virginia will take on Indiana on Friday at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
Friday, May 15
SPL gates open at 4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. – Game 1 (Northern Kentucky vs. Tennessee)
8:00 p.m. – Game 2 (Indiana vs. Virginia)
Saturday, May 16
SPL gates open at 2:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. – Game 3
5:30 p.m. – Game 4
8:00 p.m. – Game 5
Sunday, May 17
SPL gates open at 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – Game 6
4:30 p.m. – Game 7 (if necessary)
PARKING
Fans, please be advised; it is graduation weekend at the University of Tennessee and traffic will be heavy around Neyland Drive and UT's campus.
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).
HOSTING IS A HABIT
The Lady Vols will make their 23rd overall and 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this weekend. Tennessee has advanced to the postseason every year since 2004 and has hosted 21 straight regional rounds in Knoxville.
UT is one of just two teams to host regionals every season since the NCAA switched to a regional and super-regional format in 2005.
NOTING THE FIELD
Tennessee owns a 22-2 combined record all-time against Virginia, Indiana and Northern Kentucky.
vs. Virginia: 13-2 – last meeting, 5-19-24: W, 6-0 in 2024 Knoxville Regional
vs. Indiana: 6-0 – last meeting, 5-21-23: W, 7-3 in 2023 Knoxville Regional
vs. NKU: 3-0 – last meeting, 5-19-23: W, 12-0 (5) in 2023 Knoxville Regional
Virginia (38-13, 13-10 ACC)
Head Coach: Joanna Hardin (Record at Virginia: 249-249)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 13-2
Indiana (42-14, 17-7 BIG TEN)
Head Coach: Shonda Stanton (Record at Indiana: 286-173)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 6-0
Northern Kentucky (26-23, 11-7 Horizon)
Head Coach: Morgan Gerak (Record at NKU: 48-50)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 3-0
DUE UP
The winner of the Knoxville Regional will take on the winner of the Athens Regional in the Super Regional round next weekend, May 21-24.
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