In the best-of-three championship series beginning today, the Lady Vols (62-6) will face defending champion Arizona, which advanced by beating sixth-seeded Washington twice yesterday by scores of 2-0 and 8-1.

Abbott (49-3), the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, struck out 17 in a two-hitter to help Tennessee reach the championship series for the first time.

The Volunteers knocked off Hawai'i in a best-of-three series in Knoxville, Tenn., to advance to the Women's College World Series.

Tonya Callahan had an RBI groundout and Tiffany Huff added a sacrifice fly in the first inning as Tennessee took an early 2-0 lead against Eileen Canney (33-11). Northwestern (52-13), last year's runner-up, couldn't mount a rally.

To win the championship, the Wildcats will have to get past Abbott. The hard-throwing lefty threw her 23rd career no-hitter in the opening round and has allowed only eight hits in 21 innings in the World Series. She allowed six hits in a 1-0 win against Arizona earlier in the tournament.

Washington starter Danielle Lawrie (31-13) had been as dominant as Abbott, throwing a no-hitter and allowing only two hits in 17 shutout innings at the World Series before top-seeded Arizona (48-13-1) rallied for two runs in the sixth inning of the first game.

Jenae Leles singled and Laine Roth drew a two-out walk before Sam Banister doubled to right center to make it 2-0.