The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Voted Seventh in Conference USA Preseason Softball Poll
2/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 3, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB has been selected seventh in the 2006 Conference USA preseason softball poll in a voting conducted by the league's head coaches. The Blazers are picked to finish ahead of UTEP and Memphis, despite returning seven players from last year's squad. UAB junior Lindsay Stanley and sophomore Jennifer Nelson were both named 2006 Players to Watch.
"We are going to look at this as a challenge," said Blazer head coach Marla Townsend. "We understand that we have to earn the respect of C-USA. We truly expect to finish in the top half of the conference. We have a goal of advancing to the conference tournament and I believe we can get there. Stanley and Nelson are definitely the driving force behind this team and hopefully we will have several other players become a factor as the season progresses."
UAB returns a solid group of experienced players including senior Chelsea McCall, Stanley and sophomore Leigh Walker. The Blazers are poised and ready to make a run at a conference championship. UAB returns two all-conference performers in Stanley and Amanda Antonovich.
Houston has been selected to win the regular season softball title. The Cougars earned 67 points to edge out East Carolina (64) and league newcomer Marshall (63) for the top spot in the preseason coaches' poll.
Following Marshall in the coaches' poll is Southern Miss - the only school among the nine in the league this season that has previously won the regular season title. The Golden Eagles captured the regular season crown in 2004 and also won the regular season and tournament crowns in 2001.
Two newcomers follow the Golden Eagles as UCF was picked fifth and Tulsa sixth in the poll. The Golden Knights, an NCAA Tournament participant last season, join Conference USA after winning the 2005 Atlantic Sun tournament crown. The Golden Hurricane finished third in the WAC standings a year ago and will host the 2006 Conference USA Softball Championship, May 11-13.
UAB, UTEP and Memphis round out the final three spots in the coaches' poll. The Blazers are one of four teams, who have previous experience in C-USA softball, while the Miners joined the league from the WAC and Memphis is making its softball debut this season under head coach Wendy Thies.
2006 CONFERENCE USA SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
(2005 Overall, Conference Records)
1. Houston (30-28, 11-12 C-USA)
2. East Carolina (55-19, 17-7 C-USA)
3. Marshall (38-20, 20-4 MAC)
4. Southern Miss (29-32, 10-14 C-USA)
5. UCF (47-29-1, 13-7 A-SUN)
6. Tulsa (31-30, 11-7 WAC)
7. UAB (23-37, 7-16 C-USA)
8. UTEP (16-38, 3-15 WAC)
9. Memphis (0-0, 0-0)
2006 PLAYERS TO WATCH
East Carolina Krista Jessup, Sr., Catcher Keli Harrell, Jr., Pitcher - Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Houston Angel Shamblin, So., Pitcher Barbie Love, So., Pitcher
Marshall Rachel Folden, So., Utility - Preseason Player of the Year Abigail Harter, Jr., Pitcher
Memphis Nicki Johnson, Jr., Pitcher Kara Ross, Jr., Catcher
Southern Miss Ashley Davis, Sr., First Baseman Jessica Huerta, Sr., Shortstop
Tulsa Katie Torres, Sr., First Baseman Maren Genow, Sr., Pitcher
UAB Lindsay Stanley, Jr., Outfielder Jennifer Nelson, So., Pitcher
UCF Allison Kime, So., Pitcher Amber Lamb, Jr., Shortstop
UTEP Sarah Ramirez, Sr., Outfielder Megan Barber, Sr., Pitcher
