KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball found itself back in the preseason top 25 for the 18th consecutive year, ranking 23rd on the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll, announced by the organization on Tuesday.
The SEC is again the most represented league in the top 25 chart, tabbing 10 teams on the poll with LSU ranked the highest at No. 5.
Last season, the Lady Vols finished 14-9 and fell out of the rankings during the shortened 2020 season after a competitive nonconference slate that pitted them against six Power-5 programs including a then No. 5 Arizona, No. 6 Texas and No. 22 Arizona State.
However, with the return of ace and 2019 NFCA All-Region and All-SEC first teamer Ashley Rogers, among the 17 total returnees for UT, the Lady Vols are poised to be compete among the nation’s best teams.
Additionally, having a healthy Ally Shipman, who was ranked the No. 13 best junior in the nation and No. 37th overall best player in the country by Softball America, provides a competitive spark for the Lady Vols as well. Shipman co-led Tennessee in 2020 with .403 batting average, 25 hits and seven doubles along with returning redshirt senior Chelsea Seggern.
Tennessee, which is receiving votes on the USA Today/NFCA DI Coaches poll, opens its season on Feb. 12 in Conway, S.C., in a first-time matchup with UConn. The Lady Vols will also play host-team Coast Carolina and Akron during the three-day tournament.
-UT Athletics
