The Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team took another confident step toward Oklahoma City with a dominant performance in the 2025 Knoxville Regional, sweeping through the competition and stamping their ticket to the NCAA Super Regionals. On a weekend filled with electric crowds, timely hitting, stellar pitching, and a strong sense of purpose, the Lady Vols showcased why they remain one of the premier programs in college softball. With a roster full of veteran leadership and youthful energy, Tennessee did not just survive the regional—it controlled it from start to finish.
Entering the regional as a top national seed, the Lady Vols were expected to handle business on their home turf at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. They had spent the season preparing for this moment, navigating one of the toughest schedules in the country and proving time and again that they could rise to the occasion. With standout performances from their star players and clutch moments from unexpected heroes, Tennessee took care of business with three consecutive wins, outscoring their opponents by a wide margin and leaving no doubt about who belonged in the next round.
Game one set the tone. Tennessee faced off against a gritty mid-major opponent looking to pull off an upset. From the very first pitch, however, the Lady Vols made it clear that this was their regional to win. Senior ace Payton Gottshall, who has anchored the Tennessee pitching staff all season, delivered a complete-game gem, striking out ten and walking none. Her control, poise, and ability to change speeds kept the opposing lineup off balance. She mixed her rise ball with pinpoint location, forcing weak contact and racking up strikeouts when needed. Offensively, Tennessee jumped on the board early with a leadoff home run from Kiki Milloy, whose leadership and clutch play have defined her storied career in Knoxville. Milloy added a double and a stolen base later in the game, energizing the crowd and her teammates.
The middle innings saw Tennessee build its lead with smart, aggressive base running and timely hits from the bottom of the order. Freshman shortstop Addy Lawson turned heads with a two-run single in the fourth, flashing the kind of talent that has the coaching staff excited about the program’s future. By the end of the game, Tennessee had posted a convincing 6-1 win and sent a message to the rest of the regional field: beating the Lady Vols in Knoxville would be no easy task.
Saturday’s winner’s bracket game brought a tougher opponent, but Tennessee once again rose to the occasion. The offense exploded early, thanks to a three-run blast by cleanup hitter McKenna Gibson, who continues to thrive in high-pressure postseason environments. Her home run came on a 2-2 pitch with two outs, the kind of moment that breaks games open and demoralizes opposing teams. In the circle, Karlyn Pickens took the ball and delivered a masterclass in control and resilience. Though she faced some trouble in the third inning, loading the bases with one out, she pitched her way out of it with a strikeout and a groundout to preserve the lead. Her ability to pitch through adversity without letting the moment become too big highlighted just how much she’s matured this season.
On defense, Tennessee looked sharp and composed. Lawson made a spectacular diving play in the hole to rob a base hit, and center fielder Reese Chapman threw out a runner at the plate to preserve the lead. These were not just highlight-reel plays; they were tone-setting moments that underscored Tennessee’s attention to detail and intensity. Every player on the field seemed locked in and focused on the task at hand. As the game progressed, the Lady Vols extended their lead with more power hitting, including a solo shot by Katie Taylor and a two-RBI double from Ashley Rogers, who has continued to be a versatile weapon both at the plate and off the bench.
With a 9-3 win in hand and a place in the regional final secured, the Lady Vols entered Sunday with one goal in mind—close it out and avoid a winner-take-all rematch. Facing a team fighting to stay alive and playing with house money, Tennessee did not flinch. Gottshall was back in the circle, and once again she delivered, throwing six innings of shutout softball while striking out eight. She kept hitters guessing with a devastating changeup and had full command of the strike zone. Her experience and leadership were palpable throughout the game, particularly in big moments when the crowd leaned in and tension filled the stadium.
Offensively, Tennessee leaned on small ball and base running to manufacture early runs. Milloy reached base three times, scoring twice and creating chaos on the basepaths. Gibson continued her torrid weekend with a line-drive double that plated two, and senior catcher Giulia Koutsoyanopulos added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly. It was not the flashiest offensive performance of the tournament, but it was smart, efficient, and more than enough to get the job done. By the seventh inning, with Tennessee leading 5-0, fans were already beginning to celebrate. When the final out was recorded—a ground ball to Lawson at short—players stormed the field in joy. They had done it. They had taken care of business on their home turf and were now just one series away from the Women’s College World Series.
The celebration that followed was emotional and deserved. For seniors like Milloy, Gottshall, and Koutsoyanopulos, it was a moment of validation—a culmination of years of work, sacrifice, and leadership. For younger players, it was a taste of what postseason softball is all about and a reminder of the legacy they’re now part of. Head coach Karen Weekly, who has shepherded the program to national prominence, was quick to credit her team’s preparation, mental toughness, and relentless belief in one another. In her postgame comments, she praised the team’s focus and maturity, noting that the way they carried themselves throughout the regional was a reflection of the program’s culture.
Indeed, culture is what continues to separate the Lady Vols from many of their peers. From the way they prepare in practice to the way they support each other during games, there is a clear sense of unity and purpose. Every player knows her role, and every coach trusts her players to execute. That trust has been earned over a season of ups and downs, of dramatic walk-offs and learning moments. Tennessee didn’t just roll through the regular season. They faced adversity, suffered tough losses, and made the necessary adjustments to be ready for the postseason grind. Those lessons paid off this weekend.
Looking ahead, Tennessee will now host a Super Regional matchup that promises to be one of the most anticipated showdowns of the tournament. Their opponent has yet to be finalized, but whoever it is will face a red-hot Lady Vols squad playing with confidence and purpose. The pitching staff, led by Gottshall and Pickens, is deep and experienced. The lineup can hurt teams in a variety of ways—home run power, gap-to-gap doubles, speed on the bases. The defense is among the best in the country. But more than anything, this team believes. That belief, forged in the tough moments of the season and strengthened by the dominant regional performance, could be the difference-maker as they try to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City.
As fans poured out of the stadium on Sunday night, many lingered, taking photos, cheering one last time, and soaking in the atmosphere. This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement—a declaration that Tennessee softball isn’t going anywhere and that this year’s squad has what it takes to make a deep run. The Knoxville Regional may be over, but the journey continues. And with the way the Lady Vols are playing, there’s no telling how far they might go.
One thing is certain: if this weekend was any indication, the road to the Women’s College World Series might very well run through Knoxville. And for a program with its eyes set on a national title, that’s exactly the way they want it.
