May 11, 2011

By Brian Davis, Assistant Media Relations Director

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Tennessee sophomore outfielder Raven Chavanne has been selected as one of 10 national finalists for the prestigious 2011 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year award, according to a Wednesday release from the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA).

The Top 10 finalists represent nine schools and five different NCAA Division I Conferences, while the list is comprised of three seniors, four juniors and three sophomores. The honor will be presented on May 31 at the athlete banquet of the 2011 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. For Tennessee this marks the sixth top 10 finalist for the trophy in Big Orange softball program history as Chavanne joins former Lady Vol All-Americans Monica Abbott (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) and Tonya Callahan (2008) in reaching the illustrious final 10.

Chavanne has wreaked havoc on opposing teams throughout her sophomore campaign in the Orange & White. The Thousand Oaks, Calif., native led the Southeastern Conference in both overall batting average at .455 and total hits (80), was second in steals (29), tied for third in runs scored (59) and was fourth in on-base percentage (.525). The 2011 first team All-SEC selection posted two or more hits in a game in seven straight contests from April 19 - May 1 and led off Tennessee's initial at-bat of the game by reaching safely 25 times. She finished the conference season ranked third in the SEC in batting average counting league games only at .421. She posted a UT-best 26 multi-hit games in 2011, 11 of those boasting three or more hits, while hitting safely in 43 of her 54 contests and reaching by base knock or walk in 48 of 54 games. During a career-long 15-game hitting streak that stretched from April 8 - May 6, Chavanne hit at a .577 (30-of-52) clip.

Abbott was the recipient of the 2007 USA National Player of the Year trophy on the basis of an outstanding season that saw her record a 50-5 mark with a 0.68 ERA and a national single-season record 724 strikeouts. During the year the Salinas, Calif., native also broke the career NCAA records for wins, appearances, innings pitched, shutouts and strikeouts while guiding the Big Orange to a national runner-up finish at the Women's College World Series. Callahan was a top three finalist for the prestigious trophy in 2008 after tallying a .465 batting average, to lead the Southeastern Conference, a school, single-season record 16 home runs and 62 RBIs.

2011 USA Softball Player of the Year Top 10 Finalists

Name (School) - Year - Position - Hometown

Katelyn Boyd (Arizona State) - Junior - Infield - Phoenix, Ariz.

Kayla Braud (Alabama) - Sophomore - Infield - Eugene, Ore.

Megan Bush (Florida) - Senior - Utility - Anaheim Hills, Calif.

Raven Chavanne (TENNESSEE) - SOPHOMORE - OUTFIELD - THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF.

Kelsi Dunne (Alabama) - Senior - Pitcher - Port Orange, Fla.

Ashley Hansen (Stanford) - Junior - Infield - Chandler, Ariz.

Blaire Luna (Texas) - Sophomore - Pitcher - Austin, Texas

Christi Orgeron (ULL) - Junior - Utility - New Orleans, La.

Jordan Taylor (Michigan) - Senior - Pitcher - Valencia, Calif.

Chelsea Thomas (Missouri) - RS-Sophomore - Pitcher - Pleasantville, Iowa