VIDEO: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield has announced the signing of three student athletes for the 2017 season as well as a mid-year transfer who will join the program in 2016.
The Eagles add centerfielder Andi Smith (Knoxville, Tenn. – Union County) as a midyear transfer who will compete in this upcoming 2016 season, as well as Taylor Scott (Huntington, W. Va. – Spring Valley), Abby Fiessinger (Marshall County, Ky. – Marshall County) and KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn. – Siegel) who will enroll next fall and join the team in 2017.
"All these ladies have the potential to come in and make an immediate impact for us," Kazee-Hollifield said. "That's what we've looked for this class, well-rounded athletes who are the whole package and can help us offensively and defensively."
Andi Smith (5-5, centerfielder, L/L) – Twitter: @andi_babey
Smith comes to Carson-Newman from Union County High School where she hit .484 with five home runs, seven triples and 15 doubles in her senior season.
She earned TNCA All-State honors in 2014 and 2015 and All-State honors from the Tennessee Sportswriters Association from 2013-2015. She was named her team's most valuable player.
The daughter of Julie and John Smith, she is undecided on a major at Carson-Newman.
Abby Fiessinger (5-7, catcher/OF, R/R) – Twitter: @abigail_lee26
Fiessinger has been a varsity starter for the Lady Marshals Softball team since seventh grade and a leader both on and off the field, receiving multiple awards including 2015 Region 1 Player of the Year, 2014 and 2015 All-Region Teams, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Defense and Offense Awards and a member of the Junior West All-Star Team.
"She can play multiple positions," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She can play the outfield and she can catch. She has an explosive bat and can certainly belt the long ball."
Fiessinger currently holds several Marshall County High School records including highest season batting average, highest on-base percentage, most hits in a season, most doubles in a season, most RBI in a season with a current career batting average of .479.
She is the daughter of Heather and Jason Fiessinger and plans to study mathematics while pursuing a teaching certificate.
Taylor Scott (6-0, first baseman, R/R) – Twitter: @tbs_veryfunnny
Scott makes her way to Mossy Creek from Spring Valley High School where she batted .415 with five dingers and 30 RBI in 26 games during her junior season. She earned second team All-MSAC honors as a sophomore before being picked all-state as a junior.
"She's an incredible athlete and hard worker," Kazee-Hollifield said. "I'm looking forward to her because she's a strong effective hitter and has a smooth glove at first."
She helped the Timberwolves to an MSAC championship her sophomore season and a sectional title her junior year.
A member of the National Honor Society, the Health Occupation Students of America and MU Alpha Theta, Scott is the daughter of Brian and Carmen Scott. She plans to study nursing at Carson-Newman.
KaraLynne Levi (5-5, catcher, R/R)
Levi joins Carson-Newman from Siegel High School, the same high school that produced C-N basketball standout Charles Clark. Levi is a fourth generation Carson-Newman student athlete. She follows in the footsteps of her great grandfather James Newman (football), grandfather Michael Levi (football) and father Jon Levi (football).
"She's a strong catcher with a strong arm with a great presence behind the plate," Kazee-Hollifield said. "I think she can conduct and take charge of the infield."
Levi batted .333 with a .725 slugging percentage as a junior and drilled four home runs. She was named the 7AAA District defensive player of the year her freshman through junior years and also earned all-district honors those seasons. She's helped Siegel to the final four in the state her junior year and regional and sectional titles that season as well.
A member of the national honors society and Beta Club, she is the daughter of Jon and Kristi Levi and plans to study exercise science at Carson-Newman.
