Tennessee softball is gearing up for appointment-viewing television.

After a 5-0 start, the Lady Vols will return to Clearwater, Florida, for another set of five games in three days, though this series should present a clear step up in competition. Among the teams the Lady Vols will face are Nebraska, UCLA and Florida State — all of which are top 10 teams.

Those contests are compelling enough on their own, with each of those games featuring a wealth of talent. But there will be vengeance on the minds of both the Cornhuskers and Bruins – the Lady Vols knocked both teams out of last year’s NCAA tournament after all.

While she said that her team will not place too much stock on the rematch with Nebraska, Weekly nonetheless understands the challenge they will pose.

“We all know that ESPN is gonna put rematches together that had some intrigue to them,” head coach Karen Weekly said.

“They did ask us if we would be able to stay late on Sunday and play that primetime, 8 o’clock game on ESPN,” Weekly said. “So I didn’t know who our opponent was, but yeah, we jumped at that chance to be on ESPN for sure.”

That game, of course, will be against the sixth-ranked Seminoles of Florida State. In taking the opportunity to put her team in primetime, she gave her team another opportunity to test themselves against one of the nation’s best teams. Such games will provide coach Weekly with plenty of data about where her team is at, and where they need to improve as the season progresses.

One of the big storylines for the Lady Vols entering the weekend is the pitching staff, which Weekly said was the part of her team with the most depth and experience during her preseason availability. In her press conference earlier this week, Weekly said that everything starts from the circle. Across the team’s five games, the pitching staff has surrendered just two runs, and they have combined for three shutouts.

Karlyn Pickens will grab all the headlines with her excellence in her first two starts, but Erin Nuwer was arguably as dominant and delivered strong innings for the team all weekend long.

“What stuck out to me was that she did it in different roles,” Weekly said. “She started the first game, she came in a pretty tight situation against Boston College, runners on first and third, we’re holding a two-run lead, and shuts them down to get us out of the inning.”

Not only has she not given up a run through her three appearances, but she is yet to allow a hit this season.

“You can just look at her and tell that she’s confident, she’s focused, she’s locked in, and she’s ready to go,” infielder Emma Clarke said.

Certainly, her early-season brilliance is not sustainable, but the question that remains is the degree of regression that she will face as the season goes on.

Tennessee’s outfield is also a key point of discussion, but more so for the defensive work they have produced early on. Gabby Leach sparked a key double play in the win over Oregon with a running catch onto the warning track, a play that Weekly said very few players in the country can make.

“I think the outfield is a strength of our team, really, really solid defenders, people who can run, people who can track balls well and have really, really strong, accurate arms,” Weekly said.

Both Leach and freshman outfielder Taelyn Holley recorded an outfield assist last weekend, and Sophia Knight has tremendous speed and range. Such a range of qualities could play into Weekly’s hands as the season progresses.

The Lady Vols fired on all cylinders last weekend and went 5-0. The task this weekend will be far more difficult, yet one that should prove fruitful in the long run. But despite the quality of the slate, coach Weekly said she is focused on one thing: the response.

“Fail fast, recover faster,” Weekly said.

While it is easy to get caught up in wins and losses and how these games will be viewed at season’s end, Weekly said she wants her team to focus on their process and their response. That mentality will be put to the test when her team takes the field to face Jordy Frahm and eighth-ranked Nebraska.

How to watch Tennessee softball

Friday
– vs. No. 8 Nebraska: 12 p.m. EST, ESPN2
– vs James Madison: 5 p.m. EST, ESPN+

Saturday
– vs Florida Atlantic: 12 p.m. EST, ESPN+
– vs. No. 7 UCLA: 4 p.m. EST, ESPNU

Sunday
– vs. No. 6 Florida State: 8 p.m. EST, ESPN