May 3, 2010

By Brian Davis, Assistant Media Relations Director

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - With the nation's top-rated recruiting class, according to ESPN/RISE Magazine, already prepping to venture to Rocky Top for the 2011 campaign, the University of Tennessee softball program and co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly have added yet another decorated student-athlete to the fold as Ashley Holmes (Whittier, Calif./La Serna High School/So Cal Crunch & So Cal Explosion Gold) has agreed to join the Lady Vols.

"Ashley is an outstanding catcher/infielder with great athleticism and the ability to hit the long ball," Lady Vol co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "We love her competitiveness and determination to excel as both a student and athlete at the collegiate level. We are excited Ashley chose Tennessee and look forward to coaching her."

A native of Whittier, Calif., Holmes helped lead her La Serna High School squad to the 2008 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division III championship while posting an outstanding 27-4 overall record. The 6-0 catcher/infielder posted a .420 batting average during the '08 campaign with three home runs, eight stolen bases and 19 RBIs and was responsible for the eventual game-winning, two-run homer during the opening inning of the CIF title tilt. Holmes was tabbed as a 2008 first team All-CIF selection, a two-time first team All-Del Rio League choice (2007 & 2008) and was included on the 2008 Whittier Daily News All-Area squad. She has played Gold ball for the powerful "Golden State" squads, the So Cal Crunch and So Cal Explosion.

Previous signees for the 2011 Tennessee class include Melissa Davin (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East H.S./Haning's OC Batbusters), Tory Lewis (Chattanooga, Tenn./Girls Preparatory School/Tennessee Fury), Chelsea O'Connor (Eaton, Colo./Windsor H.S./Triple Crown Stars), Ellen Renfroe (Humboldt, Tenn./Trinity Christian Academy/Illinois Southern Force & Tennessee Fury), Madison Shipman (Valencia, Calif./Valencia H.S./So Cal Choppers) and Kourtny Thomas (Warner Robins, Ga./Houston County H.S./Georgia Knockouts).