Sept. 25, 2010

EDWARDS, Colo. - The 12th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vol golf team will look to rebound from its season-opening performance during its trip to Edwards, Colo. for the Golfweek Conference Challenge from Sunday to Tuesday.

The Lady Vols are one of 18 teams - each representing a different conference - competing at the 54-hole tournament at the Red Sky Golf Club.

Tennessee finished 18th at the highly-competitive NCAA Fall Preview to open the season earlier this month, with no Lady Vol finishing in the top 40 of the competition. Despite the disappointing performance, the Lady Vols expect to bounce back in a big way at the Centennial State event.

"We are going to the Golfweek Conference Challenge to win," Lady Vol head coach Judi Pavon said. "We had a great 10 days at practice and worked on our weaknesses from last week, so we are prepared to give our best effort in Colorado."

"This tournament has a great field and will give us the opportunity to play some teams we rarely see. I think it's a great concept, and we are proud to be representing the SEC. We will do our best to make our conference proud."

In the lineup for the Lady Vols this week will be junior Nathalie Mansson, sophomores Leigh Henderson, Sara Monberg and Erica Popson, and freshman Chessey Thomas.

Mansson, Henderson, Monberg and Thomas all will be looking to bounce back from their efforts at the season-opener, while Popson will be making her season debut.

Popson averaged a 71.10 at the final three tournaments of 2009-10 and nearly captured the SEC Championship medalist award, tying for the lead through three rounds before earning runner-up in a playoff.

"Erica is crucial to our team's success," Pavon said. "She is a great player capable of winning tournaments, so to have her back in the lineup should be a big help to us."

Also capable of winning tournaments is Mansson, the Stockholm Sweden native and two-time All-American. She won a pair last year and led the Big Orange at the Fall Preview in College Station, Texas, with a tied-for-42nd placement.

Monberg tied for 46th, Henderson tied for 76th and Thomas was 81st at the competition that featured nine teams ranked in the top 10.

Follow live results of the Golfweek Challenge at golfstat.com and updates at twitter.com/utladyvols.