KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fifth-ranked and fourth-seeded Tennessee Lady Vols are set to face the seventh-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks, the fifth seed, on Thursday at approximately 2 p.m. ET, kicking off their participation in the 2025 SEC Tournament.
Fans can tune in to the live broadcast on the SEC Network, featuring play-by-play by Kevin Brown, analysis from Amanda Scarborough, and sideline reporting from Taylor McGregor. Additionally, Brian Rice, the Voice of the Lady Vols, will offer a free audio stream available via UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app, with more listening options on AM 990.
As the Lady Vols enter the tournament, they are recognized in all four major polls, standing at No. 5 in the NFCA, D1 Softball, and SA rankings and No. 3 in USASB. They currently hold a position at No. 10 in the RPI and No. 9 in the KPI.
This marks the Lady Vols’ 25th appearance in the SEC Softball Tournament, where they boast an all-time record of 33-27. Their winning percentage ranks fourth in the conference, behind LSU, Alabama, and Florida, all of whom are making their 28th tournament appearance this year.
Tennessee has been dominant in recent conference play, winning 22 of their last 25 league series, posting an impressive overall record of 56-19, including nine series sweeps.
The upcoming match against Arkansas will be their fourth meeting this season. The Razorbacks emerged victorious in their previous series in Knoxville from March 22–24, winning two out of three games. Since the start of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols have had difficulty against Arkansas, losing two out of the three SEC series played against them.
In their last contest, the Lady Vols faced another tough opponent, losing their second SEC series of the season in a matchup against No. 2 Texas A&M, marking a shift as it was the first time since 2022 that Tennessee has dropped more than one series in a single season after going undefeated in league play in 2024 and losing just one series in 2023.
Arkansas comes into this matchup with a solid 2025 record of 38-11, including a 14-10 mark in SEC play, under the guidance of Head Coach Courtney Deifel, who has an overall coaching record of 353-176 at Arkansas.
The Lady Vols have historically performed well against Arkansas, leading the all-time series 43-23, with a particularly strong performance on home turf, where they are 25-7 against the Razorbacks.
As the SEC Tournament unfolds, Tennessee has the opportunity to capitalize on their strong tournament history and competitive spirit, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting matchup.