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Oct. 13, 2006

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 678-2444

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Memphis softball team will take on four teams in the annual Tennessee Lady Vol Fall Classic on Saturday and Sunday at Tennessee Field at Tyson Park. Admission is free to all the games.

The Lady Tigers will face two 2006 NCAA Tournament teams in Tennessee Tech and tournament host Tennessee. The Lady Vols came one game short of reaching the World Series Championship game last season. Memphis will also compete against 2006 NAIA Championship Tournament team Lee University and NAIA affiliate Milligan College.

"Three of those teams won 50-plus games last year," said Memphis head coach Windy Thees. "That's where we want to be as a program here at Memphis. I'm excited to play early this fall and have our girls go over there and compete against some tough competition."

Memphis will open the tournament at 1 p.m. (CST) on Friday against Tennessee Tech on Field 1, before facing Milligan College on Field 2 at 3 p.m. On Saturday, the Lady Tigers will play both Lee University at 9 a.m. and Tennessee at 11 a.m. on Field 1.

After finishing the 2006 inaugural season with a 28-26 record, Memphis returns eight of nine starters and 12 letterwinners. The squad returns all of its pitching experience, including team leader senior Jenna Kubesch who ended the season with a 13-12 record and a 1.87 ERA with 158 strikeouts. Also back from last year is senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty who earned All-Conference USA Second Team last season after hitting .354 with a team leading 12 home runs and 42 RBI. Memphis also returns two All-Conference Freshman Team selections in sophomore utility/pitcher Leila Dolfo and catcher Kimmi Hayden.

"We have a great mix of personalities on this team," Thees said. "I really look forward to seeing them all on the field. It's nice this year to have returners. They kind of know what I expect from them, and they are teaching the freshman without it all having to come from the coaches like last year."

Lady Vol Fall Classic
October 14-15, 2006
Tyson Park

Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006

Field 1:
9 a.m. Tennessee vs. ETSU
11 a.m. Tennessee vs. Lee University
1 p.m. Tennessee Tech vs. Memphis
3 p.m. Tennessee Tech vs. ETSU
5 p.m. Tennessee vs. Vol State
7 p.m. Vol State vs. Milligan College

Field 2:
11 a.m. Tennessee Tech vs. Vol State
1 p.m. ETSU vs. Lee University
3 p.m. Milligan College vs. Memphis

Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006

Field 1:
9 a.m. Memphis vs. Lee University
11 a.m. Tennessee vs. Memphis
1 p.m. Tennessee vs. Milligan College
3 p.m. ETSU vs. Vol State
5 p.m. Walters State vs. Tennessee

Field 2:
11 a.m. Vol State vs. Lee University
1 p.m. ETSU vs. Walters State
3 p.m. Milligan College vs. Walters State

Game Times are CST