March 29, 2011

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - After capturing her second tournament victory of the season over the weekend at the Bryan National Collegiate in Browns Summitt, N.C., Tennessee Lady Vol sophomore golfer Erica Popson was named the Co-SEC Women's Golfer of the Week on Tuesday.

The Davenport, Fla., native also earned the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week award.

She fought through conditions featuring temperatures that topped out at just 37 degrees to overcome a four-shot deficit in Sunday's final round to capture the Wake Forest and UNCG-hosted competition at the Bryan Park Golf and Enrichment Center. Popson fired a 1-over 73 on the final day for a 4-over 220 total to lead the Lady Vols to a runner-up placement. She edged Wake Forest's Michelle Shinn by one stroke for the medalist award.

Popson is the fifth Lady Vol ever to win multiple tournaments joining current teammate Nathalie Mansson (two), Marci Turner (three), Violeta Retamoza (three) and Katharina Larsson (two).

Popson also won the Mercedes-Benz Women's Collegiate Championship in October with a three-day score of 9-under 207, which set a new Lady Vol record.

Popson is ranked No. 25 in the Golfstat Cup and first in the country in both eagles (five) and par-5 scoring (4.63).

She shares the SEC Golfer of the Week Award with Arkansas freshman Emily Tubert, who won her third event of the season at the Mountain View Collegiate from March 25-26 in Tucson, Ariz.

Popson edged a host of Lady Vols for the Big Orange weekly honor after an exceptional week of competition.

Annie Alexander opened the outdoor track and field season with victories in the shot put and discus, softball sophomore Lauren Gibson batted .562 against No. 1 Alabama and South Carolina, junior tennis player Natalie Pluskota went 3-0 at No. 1 singles, basketball freshman Meighan Simmons led the basketball team to the Elite Eight with a pair of 18-point performances and the second varsity eight `A' boat picked up a victory in rowing.

Popson will look to capture her third victory of the season this weekend at the Rebel Intercollegiate in Oxford, Miss. The Lady Vols tee off Friday morning.