April 11 update: In the days since Rachel Skoza published this entry, the Tennessee Lady Vols won their second straight NCAA women's national title (eighth overall), defeating Stanford 64-48, and superstar Candace Parker was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft.

For the past few years since I discovered their true brilliance, the Tennessee Lady Vols have awed me like no other female athletes.

The Lady Vols are so amazing, they deserve as much respect as any men's college team. With seven NCAA titles, head coach Pat Summitt has made excellence a habit.

What's even cooler is that I've seen the team up close, and played on their home court. This summer will be my third trip to one of many Lady Vol camps, located right on the Knoxville campus.

The first time I saw Candace Parker, a 6-foot-4 Lady Vol All-American, I was impressed. She is the epitome of baller, and one of the few women who constantly brings down a nice dunk.

Unsurprisingly, the Lady Vols have battled their way through the Final Four to make it to the NCAA championship game once again. Sunday night, Parker duked it out against respected rival Sylvia Fowles of LSU in a very close game. The Vols beat the Tigers, earning a spot in the championship game for the fifth time.

Near the end of the contest, though, Fowles blocked the crap out of Parker.

I'm excited for the Vols and want them to beat Stanford for the NCAA title. The big game is Tuesday night, but unfortunately I have a track meet. But of course I'm being distracted from my homework this Monday night by the men's championship game. Still rooting for Tennessee's Memphis!

Lady Vols basketball is as close to perfection as you can get in the world of women's sports. Sure, it would be a dream to play there, but I'm afraid I don't have near the commitment level needed.

Camp is still an amazing experience, though. It's hard, but it's fun.

I'm still really mad I lost my orange Lady Vol basketball shorts I got at camp two summers ago.