Feb. 27, 2012

By Brian Davis, Assistant Media Relations Director

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - For their outstanding efforts at this past weekend's NFCA Leadoff Classic over Feb. 24-26 in Clearwater, Fla., Tennessee Lady Vol junior third baseman Raven Chavanne and sophomore pitcher Ellen Renfroe have received numerous accolades.

Returning with a vengeance from a thumb injury that cost her the opening two weekends of the 2012 campaign, Chavanne was chosen as both the Southeastern Conference's Player of the Week (Feb. 27) and the Most Valuable Player of the NFCA Leadoff Classic after posting a staggering .632 batting average (12-for-19) with four runs scored, four stolen bases and a pair of RBIs over five match-ups. The Thousand Oaks, Calif., native registered at least two hits in each of Tennessee's contests at the tournament, with identical 3-for-4, run scored, RBI efforts in victories over #20/17 Georgia Tech and Illinois State. By reaching safely in all five games during the event, Chavanne also extended her streak of reaching base safely to 13 consecutive contests dating back to the end of the 2011 campaign.

Renfroe continued her impressive start to the 2012 season by posting a perfect 3-0 record with a 0.56 ERA, three complete-game shutouts, a save and 25 strikeouts in 25 innings of work while allowing opponents to hit at only a .161 clip on the way to Most Valuable Pitcher accolades at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Jackson, Tenn., native remains unblemished this season at 8-0 overall with a 1.34 ERA, six complete-game blankings and 85 strikeouts over 68 frames of effort. After firing a four-hit shutout with eight K's via an efficient 93 pitches in a 9-0 win over #20/17 Georgia Tech, Renfroe tossed a two-hitter while reaching the 10-strikeout mark for the fourth time this year as UT rolled by Illinois State, 6-0. She picked up her second save of the campaign by hurling three frames of relief in a 3-2 victory over Hofstra and finished the NFCA Leadoff Classic by scattering five hits during a 5-0 blanking of Massachusetts.

Tennessee now readies to christen its 2012 home slate at Lee Softball Stadium by hosting a doubleheader on Wed., Feb. 29, beginning at 3 p.m. ET versus Georgia Southern. UT will then welcome in Memphis, Louisville, ETSU, Murray State, Middle Tennessee, Boston University and the Dutch National Team to the Tennessee Classic over March 1-4. For the most up to date info on Lady Vol softball visit UTLadyVols.com or Twitter (@LadyVol_Sftball).