Feb. 6, 2001
Storyline: The Rebels begin the 2001 campaign with high hopes for the season. With a solid nucleus returning in the infield and seven new players that all could make an immediate impact early in the year, the Rebels look to make more noise on the national and conference scenes. The Rebels open the 2001 season with a pair of games against St. Mary's, Tuesday. The Rebels will then spend the weekend in Phoenix, Ariz., competing in the Arizona State Fiesta Bowl Classic. The 2001 edition of this tournament has a great selection of teams. Out of the 17 teams in the tournament, 10 are either in the NFCA Preseason Top 25 or are receiving votes. The Rebels play three teams in the Top 25, (LSU 8th, Nebraska 12th, and Texas 24th and UMass is receiving votes).
UNLV Head Coach Shan McDonald: Coach McDonald enters her 15th year at the helm of the Rebels, a program she has taken to previoously unreachable heights. With steady improvement each season, the Rebel coach took a program that won just 15 games in her first season and guided it to its first-ever postseason appearances and three trips to the College World Series.
McDonald's credentials as both a player and a coach are impressive. She came to UNLV after serving for three years (1894-86) as an assistant coach at Texas A&M. Her coaching career with the Aggies was caped in 1986 as A&M earned a second-place finish at the College World Series.
During her tenure at UNLV, McDonald has received numerous awards and honors. Following the Rebels' third place finish at the 1995 College World Series, she was named the Speedline/NSCA West Region Coach of the Year for the second time, (the first being in 1991), as well as the Big West Conference Coach of the Year. In addition, she received the 1994 Big West Conference Co-Coach of the Year.
About St. Mary's: The Gaels enter the week with a 4-2 record after splitting a pair of games last week. St. Mary's dropped a 6-3 decision to Oregon State and defeated Southern Utah, 11-4. Eight of the Gales are batting over the .300 mark this season. Leading the way is freshman Janelle Yousef, who is batting a sizzling .550 through the first six games of the season. Yousef also leads the team in the stolen base department with ten swipes and has yet to be thrown out. On the mound, freshman Jennifer Eaton leads the team with a 3.21 ERA and a 2-0 record in 14 innings of work. Eaton has fanned eight batters and walked seven. The Rebels have a 2-0 record against St. Mary's and haven't played each other since 1989.
Head Coach Chelle Putzer enters her fourth year at the helm of the Gaels, compiling a 64-105 record in her previous three years. St. Mary's finished the 2000 campaign with a 24-33 record. The Gaels return 3 starters from last season and six letterwinners.
About UMass: UMass begins its season at the Arizona State Fiesta Bowl Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. on Friday against Missouri and the Rebels. Last season, UMass finished 35-22-1 and a NCAA Regional bid. The Minutewomen return 12 players from last season, including sophomore Brandi Cross who had a team-leading freshman year. Cross led the team with a .383 batting average, 62 hits, 13 doubles, nine homeruns and second on the team with 37 RBI's. On the hill for UMass, sophomore Kaila Holtz also had an outstanding freshman year, finishing with a 2.13 ERA, a 16-8 record in 29 appearances and seven shutouts. Also junior Jen Hadley had a good season, finishing with a 2.40 ERA and a 12-6 record in 27 appearances. Hadley also had five shutouts. The Minutewomen return eight starters and 13 letterwinners from 2000. The Rebels have an 8-0 record against UMass including a 4-3 victory last season.
Head Coach Elaine Sortino enters her 20th season as skipper of the Minutewomen. She has compiled a 653-291-3 record all-time at UMass. Sortino ranks in the top 20 among active coaches in victories (14th) and winning percentage, .691, (13th).
About Nebraska: The Huskers enter the 2001 season on the heels of one of its most successful seasons in school history. Las season the Huskers finished 52-21 which was good for second in the conference (15-2). Nebraska then proceeded to win the conference tournament (5-1). Nebraska finished 2-2 in the NCAA Regional Tournament with a pair of victories over Illinois State and South Carolina and lost to Arizona twice to end the Huskers' run at the Women's College World Series. Eight starters return from 2000, including sophomore, outfielder Kim Ogee who batted .335, 24 RBI, 21-30 in steals and nine doubles. Ogee was named as a member of the 2000 Second-Team All-Midwest Region. The Huskers return a pair of good pitchers this season including junior LeighAnn Walker who tallied a 1.58 ERA in 172 innings of work and a 21-6 record in 40 appearances. Walker led the team with 233 strikouts. Walker was named Second-Team All-America, First-Team All-Midwest and All-Big 12.
Head Coach Rhonda Revelle enters her ninth year as coach of the Huskers. Revelle has compiled a 292-177 record in her tenure at Nebraska.
About Texas: The Longhorns open the 2001 season against St. Edward's on Wednesday in Austin. Texas will then travel to the Arizona State Fiesta Bowl Classic, this weekend for a date with the Rebels on Saturday. Texas finished the 2000 regular season with a record of 29-25-1 and a 6th place finish in the Big 12. The Longhorns finished the season in the NCAA Regional, losing to Cal State Fullerton, defeating Maryland-Baltimore County and losing to Florida to end the season. Six starters return from last season including sophomore, infielder Lindsay Gardner who earnd NFCA Third-Team All-American honors, First team All-Midwest Region, 2000 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big 12. Gardner batted an impressive .421, 28 RBI, and was 19-24 in the stolen base department. Hurling for the Longhorns this season will be senior Charla Moore who earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors for her team leading 1.70 ERA, a 21-14 record and struckout a team leading 137 batters.
Head Coach Connie Clark had compiled a 154-84-1 record in her four years as coach of the Longhorns. Clark has led the Longhorns to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, a Big 12 Conference title (1999) and a birth in the Women's College World Series (1998).
About Missouri: The Tigers enter the 2001 season this week at the ASU Fiesta Bowl Tournament. Missouri finished the 2000 campaign with a 34-27 record and a 6-12 record in the Big 12. The Tigers return nine starters from last season, including sophomore, outfielder Sara Vassmer who batted a team-leading .346 with 54 hits in 156 at bats. Vassmer also stole 12 bases in 18 attempts. In the pitching department, two starters return including sophomore Ingrid Werner who led the team with a 1.53 ERA and a 12-10 record in 142 innings of work. Also returning to the mound is senior Stephanie Falk who had a 1.66 ERA and a 19-16 record in 44 appearances. Falk led the team in innings pitched (244.2) and in strikeouts with (268). Both pitchers compiled five shutouts each. The Rebels own a 4-0 record against the Tigers
Head Coach Jay Miller enters his 14th year at Missouri and 19th season overall. Miller has recorded a 496-248 record at Missouri, establishing himself as Missouri's all-time winningest coach and an overall mark of 647-354. Miller is the 11th active coach to reach the 600 wins club.
About LSU: The Tigers begin the 2001 season rated 8th in the NFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll. LSU finished the 2000 season with a 59-13 record and a first place finish in the SEC (26-4). LSU finished postseason with a 3-2 record in the NCAA Regional Tournament. Six starters return for the Tigers' including senior, shortstop Stephanie Hastings who finished second on the team in batting average (.361) and 17-22 in stolen bases. On the mound for LSU returns both pitchers, including senior Ashley Lewis who led the team with a 0.84 ERA and a 22-5 record in 35 appearances. Lewis pitched 174 innings with 142 strikeouts. Also returning and equally dangerous, junior Britni Sneed who compiled a 1.14 ERA and a 27-7 record with 278 strikeouts, eight shutouts in 42 appearances. Sneed led the team in innings pitched with 239.1.
Head Coach Yvette Girouard enters her 21st season coaching and first year at LSU. Girouard has compiled a 758-252 record, which ranks her as the 8th active winningest coach. Girouard comes to LSU from a 20 year stint at Louisiana-Lafayette. Girouard took the Lady Cajuns to three Women's College World Series appearances.
