Monica Cecilia Abbott (born July 28, 1985) is a retired American professional softball player. Abbott was an All-American pitcher for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in college before starting a professional career in the NPF and in the Japan Softball League. In international competition, she has played for Team USA from 2005 including the national softball team winning a silver medal at the 2008 and 2020 Summer Olympics. Abbott is the NCAA Division I leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and innings. Early life and education Abbott was born in Santa Cruz, California and grew up in Salinas, California. Abbott attended North Salinas High School from 1999 to 2003; her parents are Bruce and Julie Abbott, and her siblings are Jessica (born 1984), Jared (born 1988) and twins Bina and Gina (born 1991). While at North Salinas, Abbott led the Vikings to three CIF Central Coast Section Division I titles, averaging more than 300 strikeouts per season. Abbott won the Cal-Hi Softball Athlete of the Year, the Sports Focus Athlete of the Year, the state's large school Player of the Year, and the MVP trophies from her high school, conference, county and section. She was also a two-time recipient of The Salinas Californian Athlete of the Year. University of Tennessee Much sought after by many colleges, Abbott decided to go to the University of Tennessee, with their treatment of female athletes an influencing factor. Abbott pitched for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team from 2004 to 2007 and majored in communications. Freshman Abbott became Tennessee's first All-American when selected as a Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-American. In 59 appearances, Abbott was 45–10, compiled a 1.03 earned run average with 44 complete games and 24 solo shutouts, four no-hitters and a perfect game. She struck out 582 batters in 352 innings. Following the season she was named SEC Freshman of the Year. Abbott became the third pitcher in NCAA history to notch 500 strikeouts in a season. Sophomore Abbott became a two-time first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American and All-South Region selection after going 50–9 with a 0.52 ERA in 392.0 IP. She broke her own record for single season wins with 50 and had 603 strikeouts thus becoming the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to record 500 strikeouts in a season twice in her career. She helped lead UT to its first WCWS and was named to the WCWS All-Tourney