University of Connecticut Athletics
Softball NCAA Bound
5/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 15, 2001
STORRS, Conn. - Nothing could have prepared for such a magical season as the University of Connecticut softball team makes its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance this week and travels to South Regional action in Tallahassee, Florida.
Guided by UConn coach Karen Mullins, an 18-year coaching veteran of the program, Connecticut surpassed expectations by claiming the 2001 BIG EAST Conference Championship Tournament title on May 12 to capture the league's automatic bid to the tournament.
The Huskies went from a 9-18 mid-season overall record to a 22-game winning streak that tied the school record for most consecutive wins and was second best among NCAA Division I stat leaders. A 14-6 conference record also sealed UConn's late season date with destiny.
No. 5 seed Connecticut (35-21) will face No. 2 seed California (49-14) in first round action on Thursday, May 17 at 12:30 p.m. This will only be the second meeting between both schools with UConn holding the all-time series advantage at 1-0. The Huskies last defeated the Golden Bears, 2-1, in 1995 at the Capital Classic in Sacramento, California.
Top-seed and host Florida State (54-10), No. 3 seed Florida Atlantic (45- 19), No. 4 seed Florida (36-25) and No. 6 seed Bethune-Cookman (45-21) round out the rest of the teams in the regional field. Ironically, UConn has already played three of the six schools earlier this season (Florida Atlantic on March 2, Florida, Feb. 24 and FSU on March 20).
The NCAA Tournament features 48 teams seeded in eight regionals with six teams in each bracket. The regionals are based on double-elimination play and will run from May 17-20 at host campus sites and the winner of each regional will advance to the Women's College World Series on May 24-28 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
A GLANCE AT CONNECTICUT The University of Connecticut softball team is making its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament under the guidance of UConn coach Karen Mullins, who is in her 18th season. The Huskies finished the regular season with a 35- 21 overall record and were ranked No. 2 in the final NCAA East Region rankings.
WHUS TO BROADCAST GAMES
WHUS 91.7 FM, a commercial-free college and community-based radio station, broadcasting from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, extends its coverage of UConn Softball in the postsesason. Sports Directors Ernie Bertothy and Mike Cosgrove will broadcast the Huskies' NCAA first round game versus California live from the Seminole Softball Complex on Thursday, May 17 at 12:30 p.m. WHUS will also cover additional games of the tournament with times to be announced after the first day of competition. The broadcast can be accessed via the web at www.whus.org or from a real audio link on the UConn Softball homepage at www.UConnHuskies.com.
2001 BIG EAST CHAMPIONS
UConn won the 2001 BIG EAST Conference Championship Tournament on May 10-12 in Villanova, PA, to receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The third-seeded Huskies went 3-0 in the tournament with wins against second-seeded Villanova and a pair of victories against fourth-seeded Seton Hall. Thanks to Seton Hall and Villanova, top-seeded Notre Dame made an early exit out of the tournament and the Huskies would never have to meet the nationally-ranked Fighting Irish. UConn used a 3-0 five-hitter shutout against the Pirates to take its seventh BIG EAST title in the championship game on May 12.
WHAT'S COOKIN'?
Sophomore ace Barb Cook (Conklin, NY) pitched three complete games in the BIG EAST Conference Championship Tournament for a 1.00 ERA to receive the Most Oustanding Player Award. She collected her 18th win in the circle in the championship game and continues to be solid on the mound. In 2000, the righthander won 22 games for the Huskies as a rookie.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Senior shortstop Jessica Yanosy (Milford, CT) has posed a double threat to opponents this season. She currently leads the Huskies in batting with a .335 average and is second all-time in career doubles with 43. Yanosy is softball's Ironwoman as she has played and started in 202 consecutive games to-date. She is one of the best players to ever don a UConn softball uniform and is one of the premier shortstops in the nation. Yanosy has also been a part of seven double plays turned this season.
22 STRAIGHT WINS!
Connecticut tied its school record for most consecutive wins with 22 straight victories from April 9 through May 5. The Huskies took sweeps against Pittsburgh, Long Island, Syracuse, Central Connecticut, Quinnipiac, Boston College, Providence, Rutgers, Villanova and single games against No. 22 UMass, Boston U. and Hofstra to extend their streak in that period. A split with St. John's ended UConn's magnificent run.
DUBIOUS DUBOVIK
Sophomore Nicole Dubovik (Coral Springs, FL) is the second leading hitter for UConn with a current .317 batting average. She was named to the 2001 All-BIG EAST Second Team and was previously honored on the 2000 BIG EAST All- Rookie Team as a freshman. Dubovik has been consistent all year long at the plate and has 14 stolen bases on the season.
FREQUENT FLYER MILES
With its preseason tournament travels to Tucson, Arizona, Miami, Tallahassee, Florida, and Atlanta combined, UConn logged more than 5,570 miles one way from Storrs and back, for a grand total of 11,140 miles. No wonder the Huskies are used to "going the distance" this season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL
Senior Abbie Link (Chalfont, PA) has received 26 walks this season to put her second all-time in career batting records with a career total of 67 bases on balls. She ranks second in the BIG EAST Conference in the category, to prove that she never takes her eye off the ball. The Huskies' first base also is the all- time career leader in fielding with 1,709 putouts.
HOME RUN DIVAS
Senior designated player Megan Biddle (Bear, DE) and senior co-captain Mandy Simjian (Wallingford, CT) each hit more than one out-of-the-park home run this year. Biddle currently has six, while Simjian has three. In the current statistics, Biddle is Connecticut's top slugger with a .447 percentage.
AWARDS, AWARDS, AWARDS
Connecticut had five of its own receive top All-BIG EAST Conference honors at the annual softball awards banquet on May 10.
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Player (School) Pos.
Jennifer Sharron (Notre Dame) P
Kristin Schmidt (Notre Dame) P
Amy Voorhees (Virginia Tech) C
Lisa Girolamo (Connecticut) IF
Andrea Loman (Notre Dame) IF
Melanie Alkire (Notre Dame) IF
Jackie Pasquerella (Villanova) IF
Jenny Kreich (Notre Dame) OF
Lizzy Lemire (Notre Dame) OF
Sara Carlson (Villanova) OF
Lisa Mattison (Notre Dame) DP
Jennifer Asbury (Boston College) UT
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Player (School) Pos.
Misty Beaver (Seton Hall) P
Theresa Hornick (Villanova) P
Jarrah Myers (Notre Dame) C
Jessica Yanosy (Connecticut) IF
Mandy Simjian (Connecticut) IF
Alexis Madrid (Notre Dame) IF
Heather Garboden (Villanova) IF
Nicole Dubovik (Connecticut) OF
Marlena Kotynski (Seton Hall) OF
Christina Holowich (Syracuse) OF
Vickie Lamb (Seton Hall) DP
Karen Niwinski (Villanova) DP
Megan Biddle (Connecticut) UT
PLAYING THE NATION'S BEST
The 2001 regular season marked UConn's second toughest schedule in school history. Connecticut played then second-ranked Arizona, No. 16 Florida State, No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 22/23 UMass for a total of six games this season against a USA TODAY/NFCA Top 25 team. Connecticut's 2-1 upset of UMass on April 25 was its first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent this season. In 2000, the Huskies finished 37-17 with a final RPI rating of 28 and placed second behind the Fighting Irish in league play.
FOLLOWING THE HUSKIES
UConn Softball scores after each game can be accessed through the SNET Husky Sports Hotline by dialing 860-486-5050 from a touch tone phone. When prompted by the selection menu, press *3 for the latest UConn Softball news. For a more detailed game recap, log on to the Internet at www.UConnHuskies.com. Live game stats and play-by-play throughout the regional will be available via a link on www.seminoles.com.
