For the third weekend in a row, the No. 1-ranked Lady Vols are on the road, traveling south to Birmingham, Alabama, for the UAB Green and Gold Classic at Mary Bowers Field.
Tennessee (10-0) will face Missouri State (5:30 p.m. ET) and UAB (8 p.m.) on Friday, Mercer (8 p.m.) on Saturday and will close out its weekend in the Magic City against Southern Illinois (12:30 p.m.) on Sunday.
Following a 10-0 start to the 2026 season, including six wins over NFCA Top- 25-ranked opponents, the Lady Vols have been named the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation. It is the first time all four major polls (NFCA, USA Softball, D1Softball and Softball America) have tabbed Tennessee as No. 1 at the same time. It is the first time Tennessee has been No. 1 in the NFCA poll since Feb. 11, 2014.
Redshirt sophomore infielder Ella Dodge has wasted no time asserting herself as one of the Lady Vols' top hitters this season. Dodge is batting .333 with nine runs, four doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs. She has 18 total bases through the first two weekends and has drawn nine walks in 10 games. Dodge is second on the team with four stolen bases and has an OPS of 1.293.
The second baseman is riding a six-game reached base streak and a 19-game reached base streak. The Bradenton, Florida, native, has also been rock solid at second base with a 1.000 fielding percentage in 36 chances while ranking second on the team with 18 assists. Dodge has helped turn four double plays.
Junior outfielders and twins Gabby Leach and Alannah Leach have continued to shine for the Lady Vols, following breakout postseason performances in 2025.
Gabby is hitting .423 while leading the team in runs (12). She has added four doubles, a home run and seven RBIs. The right fielder has six putouts, one assist and helped turn a 9-4-6 double play in the opening weekend of the season.
Alannah is batting a team-leading .429 with eight runs, two home runs and four RBIs. She has an OPS of 1.436 and has three stolen bases. Over in left field, Alannah has nine putouts.
The twins hail from The Woodlands, Texas, and are the third and fourth Leach sisters to play for the Lady Vols. Their older sisters - Aubrey (2016-19) and Kelcy (2022) - also played under coach Karen Weekly. The family has a rich history in baseball and softball as their grandmother, Wilma Ann Williams-Leach, played professional baseball for the Rockford Peaches in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Aubrey Leach is currently Tennessee's Director of Player Development.