The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Holly Krzan Named To Preseason All-Conference USA Team
1/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 21, 2005
IRVING, Texas - UAB sophomore Holly Krzan was selected to the preseason all-Conference USA team and the UAB softball team was picked to finish seventh in the Conference USA standings in 2005, it was announced on Friday following a vote by the nine league coaches.
The Blazers, who finished 20-36 last season and 7-17 in conference play, return seven starters and 17 letterwinners this season. Five true freshmen will also join the squad this season. Head coach Marla Townsend also returns for her sixth season at the helm. UAB missed qualifying for the C-USA Tournament for the first time in school history last season, finishing seventh in the conference.
"We can't expect to be picked much higher in the preseason after a below average season, but this group is focused and is intent on finishing in the top half of the conference standings this season," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend.
Louisville, who finished second in the conference last season with a 41-19 overall record, was chosen to win the 2005 regular-season title. The Cardinals, 19-5 in conference play last season, finished a mere half game behind Southern Miss in last season's overall conference race. The Cardinals placed four players on the preseason all-conference team. Louisville's Aja Sherman was chosen as the preseason Pitcher of the Year after a junior season in which she posted a 16-7 record with a 1.40 ERA.
Houston placed three players on the preseason all-conference squad while DePaul landed two. DePaul's Saskia Roberson was chosen as the preseason Most Valuable Player. Roberson hit 13 homeruns last season and had 55 RBIs while carrying a .340 career batting average.
Krzan was the lone Blazer selected to the preseason team. The West Richland, Wash., native had a solid debut last season as she hit .247 and tied for the team lead in homeruns with five and was second on the squad with 20 RBIs. Krzan started all 56 games and was named to the C-USA all-freshman team.
"It is a well-deserved honor for Holly, and if she performs this season the way she has the first three weeks of practice then she will make the all-conference team at the end of the season," said Townsend.
"She is recovering quite well from her shoulder surgery that she had at the end of last summer and she really is the epitome of what a college athlete should be," said Townsend.
The Blazers open their season Feb. 4-6 at the Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, Ala. UAB faces Georgia Southern at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4 in its season-opener.
2005 Conference USA Preseason Standings Predicted Order of Finish 1. Louisville 2. Houston 3. USF 4. DePaul 5. Southern Miss 6. East Carolina 7. UAB 8. Charlotte 9. Saint Louis
2005 C-USA Softball Preseason All-League Team C: Lacy Wood, Louisville IF: Ashley Davis, Southern Miss IF: Kristen Glowacz, Houston IF: Carmela Liwag, USF IF: Audrey Rendon, Louisville IF: Saskia Roberson, DePaul OF: Sara Bausher, Louisville OF: Holly Krzan, UAB OF: Samantha Ray, USF OF: Linda Secka, DePaul P: Aja Sherman, Louisville P: Crystal Briscoe, Houston UT: Kimberly Riker, USF DP: Jenilee Skender, Houston
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Saskia Roberson PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Aja Sherman
