KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Two more dominant efforts in the circle and a number of timely hits propelled the No. 21 Tennessee softball team past Kennesaw State in Wednesday’s twin bill at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
After falling behind, 1-0, in game one Tennessee (23-5) scored 13 unanswered runs across the remainder of the doubleheader to send Kennesaw State (9-16) home with a pair of losses.
Game One Tennessee 9 Kennesaw State 1 F/6
A one-run complete game outing from sophomore Callie Turner was the story in the circle.
The Land O’Lakes, Florida native fanned four batters and gave up just the single run on four hits.
At the plate, senior Ivy Davis and sophomore Kiki Milloy combined to drive in seven of the Lady Vols nine runs, with Davis bringing around a season-high five runs, while Milloy brought around a pair.
Overall, the Orange & White tallied 13 hits in the run-rule victory.
After the Owls plated the game’s opening run in the top of the first, the Lady Vols exploded for a four-spot in the home half of the inning.
Ayala, Hannon and Milloy opened things up with back-to-back-to-back singles, with Milloy driving in Ayala to tie things up.
Two batters later, Ivy Davis roped a three-run shot over the wall in left field, giving UT an early 4-1 lead.
The next two innings were business as usual, before Tennessee posted its second crooked number of game one with a three-run fourth.
Milloy added her second RBI on a single to left, while Davis added her fourth and fifth RBIs on a smoked single up the middle to extend UT’s lead to 7-1.
The Lady Vols ended things in the sixth when Rylie West tripled to deep right center, bringing home Ashley Morgan to make it 8-1.
Two pitches later, West walked things off when she scampered home on a pass ball to improve UT to 22-5 with another game still to play.
Game Two Tennessee 4 Kennesaw State 0
A complete game shutout for junior Ashley Rogers led Tennessee to a victory in Game Two.
Rogers fanned 12 batters and conceded just a single hit in seven full innings of work. Eight of her 12 strikeouts came in the final 11 batters she faced to conclude the night.
Sophomore Madison Webber finished game two as the only player on either side to log multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with an RBI that drove in the fourth run to put the nail in the coffin.
The first five innings of game two could be described as nothing short of a pitcher’s duel with Rogers and Owls slinger Melanie Bennett going pitch-for-pitch.
Tennessee plated the only run in that five-inning span when Milloy ran home on a dropped third strike in the fourth inning.
In the home half of the sixth, the Orange & White added three insurance runs to take a 4-0 lead heading into the night’s final inning.
Senior Ashley Morgan started the inning off with a bomb to right center to double the Lady Vol lead at the time.
Ally Shipman and Webber followed Morgan’s homer with RBI’s of their own to further double UT’s lead heading into the seventh frame.
Rogers struck out the side to slam the door on Kennesaw State and cement the game two score line.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols return to action this weekend with the Lady Vol Challenge on Saturday and Sunday. Tennessee will host Furman and Troy for six total games in two days at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – NFL scouts and coaches will converge on the Anderson Training Center Thursday morning as Tennessee football holds its annual Pro Day in conjunction with the league.
Members of the 2020 Volunteers squad participating include offensive linemen Trey Smith and Brandon Kennedy, defensive back Bryce Thompson and wide receiver Josh Palmer. Smith, Thompson, Palmer all received NFL Combine invites, and Thursday will feature added importance as no in-person workouts were held in Indianapolis due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The NFL has worked with individual schools to achieve consistency in the drills and testing that takes place with each NFL team. Pro Day invitees participated in virtual media availabilities on Wednesday.
Players will have an opportunity to go through measurable drills of their choosing – 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and shuttle run – and then conclude the day with position workouts on site.
Smith, a 2020 All-American, enters Pro Day as one of the elite offensive line prospects on the board for next month’s NFL Draft. Smith saw action on over 2,500 snaps during his Tennessee career, and he allowed only one combined sack in his final two seasons. A Tennessee graduate and recipient of the Torchbearer Award, Smith was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference recipient and winner of the 2020 Fritz Pollard Trophy and 2019 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year.
Palmer’s stock continues to rise as an explosive wide receiver. He capitalized on his 2021 Senior Bowl invitation by hauling in two passes and a touchdown in the contest after an outstanding week in Mobile. Palmer, a native of Brampton, Ontario, concluded his career with 99 catches for 1,514 yards and seven touchdowns with 16 of those catches being 25 or more yards.
Thompson proved to be a lockdown corner for the Vols during his three seasons. He still remains tied for the school single-game record for interceptions with three, and he finished his career with eight total picks. Thompson forced 10 turnovers, tallied 19 passes defended and made 102 tackles, including eight for loss.
Kennedy, a 2020 National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete, served as a team captain and leader during his time in Knoxville. Kennedy started 22 games at center for the Vols and played 507 snaps during the COVID-19 shortened season of 2020, allowing only one sack. Kennedy earned a pair of master’s degrees from Tennessee.
The NFL Draft is scheduled April 29-May 1 in Cleveland, Ohio.
On which positions NFL teams have mentioned when discussing his future and his preparation for the NFL Draft…
“There have been a lot of teams that have talked to me about multiple positions, whether I like playing on the left or the right side, tackle or guard. Quite frankly, I can pretty much play either one, whatever the team needs me to play. I’m going to do what I have to do for my team to succeed. In terms of training, I spent most of my draft process training in Dallas at Michael Johnson Performance (MJP) with a lot of guys like Drew Little, Duke Manyweather and Ryan McCall. Those guys have helped get me ready for the draft.”
On his plan to help others with his bench press during Thursday’s Pro Day…
“(I was) scrolling through social media and seeing guys like Rashawn Slater, Creed Humphrey, guys that I train with. I saw the causes that they put on their social media. They reached out to me asking if I would be willing to make a post to help out with different types of diseases. So, first and foremost, it’s something that costs me very little. I simply just make a social media post. I think within an hour or two hours, the targeted amount of money that we wanted to raise was already raised. I think it was something that was easily done and for them, it means the world. For us as athletes, with the platform we have, I think it’s something that we should do. In terms of how many reps of bench press, I’m shooting for 30.”
On how his workouts have changed leading up to Pro Day and the NFL Draft…
“Pro Day focus and pre-Draft Combine focus is more so making sure that your body is at its optimum, peak shape. It’s what are you doing every day that’s helping to optimize your performance. Are you getting better? So, a lot of times in the morning at MJP, we’d go for about two hours. It could be a speed training or a simple lift. Then we’d take an hour or two-hour break before going back to lift again or it may be a speed focused day. Then, it’s maximizing your recovery for the rest of the day. At Tennessee, most of the time, we would have meetings. You’d get one lift in or maybe it’s more of an agility day. In terms of getting ready for a season, after this pre-Draft process of over, I’ll start focusing on building a lot more muscle mass and a lot more power in preparation for the NFL.”
On receiving Tennessee’s Torchbearer award and his impressions of Tennessee’s new coaching staff, led by head coach Josh Heupel…
“With the Torchbearer award, it is a great honor. I’m humbled and really blessed to receive it. You’re talking about a kid who came to Tennessee’s campus wide-eyed and a little unsure of himself. God’s good. Here I am standing here today, a Torchbearer recipient. I can’t do anything but just praise God and thank him for that. With the new coaches, I’ve been able to meet with Coach Heupel one time. I was actually walking in the weight room to meet Coach Kurt (Schmidt). I have a really good feeling about them. They’re really good people. I’m excited to see where Tennessee football is going to go.”
On how the Senior Bowl helped him during his Draft process…
“The Senior Bowl was huge. That’s a prestigious bowl and a prestigious event. Just being able to participate in it was an honor in itself. I would say that in the Senior Bowl, there were a lot of learning lessons that I had, especially with technique. I feel like as the week progressed, I got a lot better with it and I was able to master some of the things that I had been struggling with. I was extremely blessed to be in the Senior Bowl. It was a great opportunity to help myself and be better as a player.”
On the feedback he has received from NFL teams on his game…
“Meeting with different teams via Zoom and in that nature, I try to end every Zoom that I have with, ‘What can I do better as a player? What can I get better at?’ I’ve been getting feedback on hand placement, body balance, control and over aggression. At the end of the day, it’s about getting better as a player. I love getting the feedback because those are the people that are going to be my future employers. It’s been really helpful, in terms of my development.”
On what he will bring to an NFL team…
“I’m definitely going to be a tone-setter. I’m going to be a guy that when things aren’t going our way, I’m trying to be the most violent dude out there. I’m trying to set the tone from play one to the end of the game. I’m going to try to be a mainstay on the offensive line for years and years and years to come. I’m not trying to give my position up either.”
On what areas he thought he grew at the Senior Bowl and how much he thought it benefited him throughout this process …
“Just definitely being able to go and compete against the best players in the country. There were a lot of great guys down there and it definitely was a great experience for me to get my feet wet with an NFL offense. So, just being able to show that I can grasp plays and concepts and schemes.”
On the process so far overall and how does he not get too high with the success and not get too low with criticism …
“It’s just keeping my head down and going to work every day. Training at XPE, I was surrounded by a lot of great coaches – Anquan Boldin, Tony Villani, Matt Gates and just around a group of guys that were ready to work. In terms of not getting ahead of myself, I’ve never really been that type to let the outside media get to me. I always try to focus on things I can improve on. The success will speak for itself eventually. So, I just go in to every day trying to learn something new, and just embracing the whole experience.”
On what NFL teams tell him they like about his game when talking to them and what feedback does he get as far as improvement moving on to the pros…
“It’s all the same things – just my ability to get defenders moving, being able to stop to improve my game, the transition of running after the catch, blocking techniques and really just becoming a better overall player. That’s also something I have to improve on too, is just small improvements that will create big changes in my game.”
On if he has reached out to Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway for any advice on what look to look for in his rookie season in the NFL as a receiver…
“I talked to both of them a lot last year and just seeing what it was like. I got the same thing being in the playbook and just really understanding what you’re doing and what everybody else is doing and just taking care of your body because it’s a long season and you have to be able to sustain.”
On declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior season …
“The last game of the season I felt confident in my skills, felt I put good film throughout the whole year and I was consistent. I think I’m ready for that next level and I’m excited to see what it’s going to bring. Towards the end of the year when it came time to think about declaring for the draft, that’s when I started to weigh that option and go pro.”
On what position he thinks he can adjust to and play the best at the next level …
“I still say I’m a cornerback but I just love to be on the field. I’m always willing to play any position just to get on the field. Any NFL team can play me anywhere, put me where they choose because I am going to make plays there regardless.”
On what NFL teams like about his game …
“My versatility has been one of the key things NFL teams have told me that they liked about my game. They’ve told me how they like that I can play nickel, corner or safety. My ball skills are another trait because I believe I have some of the best ball skills in the country.”
On what he wants to accomplish during his Pro Day …
“I just want to go out there and do the best I can. I’m not going to set any specific goals for myself because I don’t want to put more pressure on myself. It’s great to be back on the field in front of coaches so I just want to enjoy this process and do the best I can.”
“Two main things that I’ve been working on is flexibility and explosiveness. I think those are the two main things that I really look back on during the season and thought I could improve on going into this part of my career. Tomorrow, I just want to go out there and have fun. This is something that I’ve done my whole life as far as playing football. Tomorrow, I just want to treat it just like that. I don’t want to make it too big of a deal.”
On where he has been training and his best attributes …
“I’ve been training here in Knoxville at D1. I’ve been down there and having a blast. I’m working very hard. The three things that I bring to an NFL team would probably be intelligence, work ethnic and toughness. Those three things, as far as intelligence in this offense last year, I set the protections and ID mike (linebacker) in the run game. For work ethic, a guy like me that comes into the building, I would be the first one there and last one to leave every day. As far as the toughness, early in my career, I battled some injuries. These past two years I’ve been healthy so I feel like those are things that I can bring to the NFL team.”
On what’s the process like in terms of meeting with NFL teams…
“It seemed daunting at first. At the end of the season, I was able to go to the all-star games, one in Orlando and one in Hawaii. So, I had those opportunities to showcase my abilities. Being able to talk with teams is just like talking to anyone else. They ask you about yourself, tell you what they think about you. It went easier as I went on but at first, I was a little nervous because it’s the NFL. You dream about things like that. To have the opportunity, I feel like I’m blessed.”
On when someone is in your situation, a late round guy or an undrafted free agent…
“Throughout your childhood, your goal is to be drafted. Either way, I just wanted an opportunity to be able to go in there and showcase my abilities. From being a kid, I always had this dream of going and playing in the NFL. So just to even be able to get my foot in the door and getting an opportunity is what I’m really focused on.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced the region finalists for the 2021 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Team, and Tennessee senior Rennia Davis is on that list for the third-consecutive season.
The selection committee will choose the 10-member Coaches’ All-America Team from these 52 finalists. The 2021 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Team will be announced on April 3.
Davis, a 6-foot-2 forward from Jacksonville, Fla., averaged 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to pace Tennessee in both categories this season. She shot 48.0 percent from the field and 85.3 percent at the free-throw line. Her worksheet also included 10 double-doubles and 10 games of 20 or more points, leading UT to a 17-8 final record, a third-place mark of 9-4 in SEC play, a No. 13 AP national ranking and advancement to the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the first time since 2018.
Even better in SEC play, Davis put up 20.0 ppg. and 9.0 rpg. while shooting 52.3 percent from the floor and 85.2 at the charity stripe. She earned All-SEC accolades for the third time in her career, including first-team honors the past two seasons.
From a career standpoint, Davis concluded her UT tenure fourth all-time among Lady Vols in double-doubles with 39, trailing only Chamique Holdsclaw (57), Mercedes Russell (46) and Candace Parker (45). She was fifth in career 20-point scoring games with 23.
In the Lady Vol record book, Davis wound up ninth in scoring (1,815) and points per game (15.4), 10th in rebounds (947) and sixth in rebounds per game at 8.03 rpg. Additionally, she finished sixth in free-throw percentage (.816), eighth in field goals attempted (1,477) and ninth in field goals made (696).
Trey Lipscomb (far right) & UT Baseball / Credit: UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A productive night on the offensive end and solid efforts on the mound from eight different pitchers powered No. 9 Tennessee to a 13-5 win over Eastern Kentucky Tuesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Tennessee (18-4) tallied 12 hits on the night from nine different players, led by a three-hit, four-RBI performance from Trey Lipscomb. Lipscomb’s totals in hits and RBIs tied career-highs. The junior had a single, double and his first home run of the season, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
The Vols jumped in front quickly with three runs apiece in the first and fourth innings before blowing the game open with a seven-run inning in the fifth, powered by home runs from Lipscomb and Cortland Lawson. Lawson’s home run was the first of his career and came in just his fourth-career at bat.
After a three-run first inning to open the night, the Vols have now scored in the first inning in four consecutive games.
Drew Gilbert gave Tennessee its second multi-hit performance of the night, recording a single and a double while scoring two runs.
Eight different pitchers saw action for UT on the night, with Zander Sechrist getting credited with his first-career win after throwing four strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Jake Fitzgibbons got his first-career start and pitched two innings, allowing one run on two hits.
The Vols will play their first SEC series at home this weekend when No. 14 LSU comes to town. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. and all three contests will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus and the ESPN app.
NOTABLE
LAWSON, LIPSCOMB GO YARD: Both with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Cortland Lawson and Trey Lipscomb each recorded their first home run of the season. The Vols now have 24 total home runs on the year through 22 games.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 21 Tennessee softball team returns to action for a midweek doubleheader with Kennesaw State on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
BROADCAST INFO
Wednesday’s first game can be seen online on SEC Network+, while game two will be broadcasted on SEC Network. Fans can stream both contests using WatchESPN either through the ESPN app, or online at espn.com/watch. Anish Shroff and LVFL Madison Shipman will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate or on UTsports.com to hear Brian Rice describing the action.
QUICK HITS ROGER THAT
Junior pitcher Ashley Rogers was stellar in the circle again this weekend, helping lead the Lady Vols to a series opening victory over Alabama on Friday night.
The Athens, Tennessee native tossed a complete game, giving up just three runs on three hits and fanning seven batters as UT walked away with the 4-3 dub.
In the SEC Rogers leads the league in strikeouts with 116 and ranks second in opposing batting average (.119), innings pitched (74.0) and batters struck out looking (30), while also holding the conference’s 13th-best ERA (1.23).
OFFENSIVE NOTES FROM ALABAMA
Seniors Ashley Morgan and Amanda Ayala were the most consistent Lady Vols at the dish in Tuscaloosa combing to go 10-for-21 in the series. Morgan was 5-for-10 with a double and six total bases, while Ayala was 5-for-11 with a run scored and an RBI.
Both players also finished with a perfect fielding percentage on the defensive side of things.
SHE’S ONE TOUGH COOKIE
Redshirt-senior third baseman Chelsea Seggern was plunked with a pitch during last Tuesday’s doubleheader, marking the sixth time she’s been hit by a pitch this season and the 35th time in her career. That number places her in a tie for first on UT’s all-time HBP list with LVFL Cheyanne Turango.
SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE 2021 Record: 9-14 Overall, 2-1 ASUN Series Record: Tennessee Leads, 2-0 Last Outing: An 8-0 run-rule victory for the Lady Vols in five innings on April 5, 2016. Key Player/Stat: Kennesaw State is led by senior outfielder Brea Dickey who’s hitting .353 with 10 extra base hits and holds a .443 on-base percentage through 23 games.
UP NEXT
This weekend, the Lady Vols will host the Lady Vol Challenge, welcoming Troy and Furman to Knoxville for six total games on Saturday and Sunday.
Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper and guard/forward Rennia Davis spoke in the postgame press conference after 3-seed UT lost to 6-seed Michigan 70-55 in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament in San Antonio.
