Athletes

Monica Abbott is an Olympic silver medalist (2008), a Pan American gold medalist (2007), a two-time World Cup champion (2006 and 2007), and a world champion (2006). She is also the winner of Women’s Sports Foundation’s Team Sportswoman of the Year award (2007). At the 2008 Olympic Games, Monica Abbott was perfect, pitching a five inning 8-0 against the Netherlands.

In 2006, during the World Cup Championship, she posted a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA. She struck out 10 batters in 6.0 innings pitched while allowing just one hit. In the same year, Abbott earned the gold medal at the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships. In 2005, she made her first appearance with the U.S. national team at the World Cup of Softball. In 2004, Abbott was the gold medalist at 1st World University Softball Championships and became a member of USA Schutt Elite Team at Canada Cup and Champions Cup.

Prior to her appearance on the national team, Abbott was a dominating force on the softball field. In 2003, she was a the silver medalist at the ISF Junior Women’s World Championships in Nanjing, China, and the Canada Cup 18-Under MVP-All-Star Pitcher (2003). In 2002, she was the gold medalist at Junior Pan Am Championships-MVP of Championships.

During her senior season with the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers (2003-2007) softball team, Abbott won the 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year trophy in May and was named the 2006-2007 Roy F. Kramer Southeastern Conference (SEC) Female Athlete of the Year in June. Also in June, she won the prestigious Honda Award for softball after registering a national-best 50-5 overall record with a 0.68 ERA and 29 shutouts to go along with a NCAA Division I single-season record 724 strikeouts during her senior season. Abbott led her team to the 2007 Women’s College World Series, a runner-up national finish, and the 2007 SEC regular-season title. She ended the 2007 season having set new NCAA Division I career records for wins (189), strikeouts (2,440), shutouts (112), appearances (253) and innings pitched (1448.0). Abbott is also the Lady Vols’ first four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association First-Team All-American, as well as being a three-time SEC Pitcher of the Year winner and four-time All-SEC pick. Abbott is best known as one of the most sought-after pitchers in the nation. (9/08)