University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Picked Fifth In Preseason BIG EAST Poll
12/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
PROVIDENCE, RI (December 18, 2001)– The University of Connecticut softball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2002 BIG EAST regular season standings, according to a poll of conference head coaches released today. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams or players. Senior Lisa Girolamo (Ashby, MA) and junior Barb Cook (Conklin, NY) represented UConn on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Notre Dame and Villanova each totaled 94 points as they tied for first. The Irish received six first-place votes after finishing the 2001 season with a 54-7 record and a trip to the championship round of the NCAA No. 7 regional. The Irish were undefeated in regular season league play to capture their sixth consecutive BIG EAST regular season title. Villanova received four first-place votes after a 43-10 season last year to go along with a second-place BIG EAST finish. The Wildcats’ Sara Carlson, who had a league-leading batting average of .455 in 2001, was named the Preseason Player of the Year. Teammate Theresa Hornick was tabbed the Preseason Pitcher of the Year after she recorded a 0.90 ERA, 155 strikeouts and eight shutouts en route to All-BIG EAST Second Team honors last season.
Defending BIG EAST Tournament champion Connecticut finished fifth in the voting with 64 points. The Huskies will be led by Girolamo and Cook who was the 2001 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player.
2002 BIG EAST Softball Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
P Barb Cook, Jr., Connecticut
P Theresa Hornick, Jr., Villanova
C Jarrah Myers, Sr., Notre Dame
IF Andria Bledsoe, Jr., Notre Dame
IF Lisa Girolamo, Sr., Connecticut
IF Kim Jackson, Sr., Seton Hall
IF Andrea Loman, Jr., Notre Dame*
OF Christina Holowich, Jr., Syracuse
OF Jenny Kriech, Sr., Notre Dame
OF McKenzie Richards, So., Seton Hall
OF Mary Carroll Smith, So., Seton Hall
U Sara Carlson, Jr., Villanova
DP Lisa Mattison, Jr., Notre Dame
*-indicates unanimous selection
Due to a tie in the voting, there are four outfielders on the 2002 preseason team.
Team
Points
2001 Record
BIG EAST 1T. Notre Dame (6) 94 54-7 20-0 1T. Villanova (4) 94 43-10 15-5 3. Seton Hall 73 29-16 13-7 4. Virginia Tech (1) 68 36-23 12-8 5. Connecticut 64 36-23 14-6 6. Boston College 55 31-24 7-13 7. St. John's 50 30-31 8-12 8. Syracuse 41 19-28 6-14 9. Rutgers 35 22-27 5-15 10. Pittsburgh 19 14-39 6-14 11. Providence 12 23-28-1 4-16
