Jan. 23, 2002
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - - The Mountain West Conference announced Wednesday that the San Diego State softball team was picked third in a vote of the league's six head coaches. Utah is the favorite to win the 2002 Mountain West Conference title after earning two first-place votes and 21 points. BYU followed closely with three first-place votes and 20 points. San Diego State claimed third with 18 points followed by New Mexico in fourth with 17 points and one first-place nod. UNLV (nine points) and Colorado State (five points) rounded out the voting in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
San Diego State returns 11 letterwinners (seven starters) to a team that finished 2001 with its first ever 40-win season and the first-ever NCAA Regional berth, finishing one win away from the Women's College World Series. Despite losing Sandra Durazo, Mountain West Conference pitcher-of-the-year, the Aztecs return conference selections Sarah Hershman at second base and Kellie Nordhagen in the outfield.
"We are looking forward to the 2002 season with a solid team of returners and a versatile bullpen" said San Diego State head coach Kathy Van Wyk.
The Aztecs will travel to Cal State Northridge for the Early Bird Softball Classic, Feb. 1-3. State will play Cal State Northridge, San Jose State, Long Beach State, Washington and UCLA in the three-day tournament. The Aztecs closed out the 2001 season with a loss to the Bruins at the NCAA Regionals in Los Angeles.
Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll Pl. Team (1st place votes) Points 1. Utah (2) 21 2. BYU (3) 20 3. San Diego State 18 4. New Mexico (1) 17 5. UNLV 9 6. Colorado State 5