ANN ARBOR — Considering how infrequently Super Regional underdogs have been able to pull upsets in the NCAA softball tournament, historically speaking, most considered it just a matter of time before No. 2 seed Michigan sent 15th-seeded Tennessee packing.

The Wolverines did send the Volunteers packing, indeed — packing for an unexpected trip to the Women’s College World Series, after the Vols pulled off a stunning, two-game sweep of host U-M, clinching it with Friday’s 4-3 win.

After the game, the young Volunteers even joked about buying a new set of footwear for co-coach Ralph Weekly to pack: a pair of slippers.

“People were saying when we came up here, we were a Cinderella team, you know, and I told our kids today, if we’re a Cinderella team, let’s put on that gold slipper, or silver slipper, and let’s go to the dance,” said Weekly, whose team put Michigan on the edge of elimination with a 5-0 win in Game 1 of the best-of-three series on Thursday.

Now, the Volunteers (47-13) are the first of eight teams to punch their tickets for Oklahoma City, while the Wolverines (49-8) are just packing for home.



For the rest of the story, click here.

Even with the other game going to extra innings, No. 2-ranked Michigan (49-6) only had to wait mere minutes after its regional-clinching win over Notre Dame to find out who it would face in next weekend's Super Regional. No. 15 Tennessee (42-13) finished off Louisville in eight innings Sunday, earning a trip to Ann Arbor for the best-of-three series to contest one of eight spots in the Women's College World Series.

(For the full story of the Wolverines winning their seventh straight regional title, click here.)

In a rematch of the 2006 Super Regional — and in somewhat of a makeup for the rained out opener from this season — Michigan and Tennessee will play at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (televised on ESPN) and at 4:30 p.m. on Friday (ESPNU), with the third game later Friday, if necessary.

Tickets go on sale at the U-M ticket office on Tuesday for season ticket holders and Wednesday for the general public.