Ready For Regionals: Lady Vols claim #7 seed

by Griffin H.

Is seven a lucky number? Some might think so, and the Lady Vol Softball team sure hopes so. In the NCAA Softball Selection Show last night, the Lady Vols found out they would be the #7 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. This means they will be able to host Regional and Super Regional games (Top-8 seeds get this advantage). This is really helpful  for the team, as co-head coach Ralph Weekly said Sunday, “We’re seeded number seven, which means you can stay home all the way to the World Series.”

Here is a video depicting the reaction the team had about their seeding:

Miami (OH), UAB, and Virginia Tech will join the Lady Vols in the Knoxville Regional. Tennessee will play Miami (OH) Friday at 6 p.m., and UAB and Virginia Tech will play earlier at 3:30p.m. The Regional is set up in a double-elimination style (meaning you have to lose twice to get eliminated). As the Lady Vols know all too well, hosting a regional isn’t an automatic win. They aren’t any walk in the park. Last year, Oklahoma State upset the Lady Vols, winning the Knoxville Regional. “Anyone can beat you. We’ve got to take care of the region,” says Weekly.

If things play out according to plan, Georgia (the #10 seed) will find themselves matched up with their SEC rival, the Lady Vols in a Best-of-3 series known as the Super Regionals, with the winner advancing with seven other teams to the College World Series in Oklahoma City.

California received the #1 overall seed, while the SEC Champions (Alabama Crimson Tide) snagged the #2 seed. Florida (who beat the Lady Vols in the SEC Tournament, see “A Walk Around Campus” for more) snatched the #5 seed.

Are sevens lucky? The Lady Vols hope so, I hope so, and anyone setting their eyes on that trophy better watch their backs.

Factoid of the Day: 9 of the 11 SEC teams made the NCAA Tournament.

Griffin can be reached at teens4tn@gmail.com, or leave a comment. Follow @teens4tn on twitter, like us on Facebook, or subscribe in the sidebar! ->