The Tennessee Lady Vols are set to open the Knoxville Regional this Friday, and they'll be facing a familiar opponent in the Northern Kentucky Norse. With a No. 7 national seed and a stellar 42-10 record, Tennessee is looking to continue its postseason push on home turf at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EDT, and fans can catch all the action on SEC Network. This matchup marks the third meeting between these two programs, but history heavily favors the Lady Vols, who hold a perfect 3-0 record in the all-time series dating back to 2015.

The series got started on February 8, 2015, when Tennessee dominated Northern Kentucky 15-2 in a neutral-site game in Kennesaw, Georgia. The Lady Vols then welcomed the Norse to Knoxville for the first time on February 28, 2021, earning an 8-0 shutout victory at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Their most recent encounter came under the bright lights of the NCAA Tournament on May 19, 2023, where Tennessee cruised to a 12-0 win, also in Knoxville. That postseason experience could give the Lady Vols an extra edge as they prepare for Friday's rematch.

For Tennessee, this regional opener is a chance to build on its dominant history against Northern Kentucky while taking the first step toward a deep tournament run. With a packed crowd expected at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium and the team's trademark orange jerseys on full display, it's shaping up to be an exciting start to the postseason.