Jan. 28, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The defending and four-time Mountain West Conference champion San Diego State softball team has been picked to finish in a tie for first in 2009 in a preseason poll voted on by the league's coaches on Wednesday.
The Aztecs, who went 15-5 last season in MWC play to claim their second regular season championship in three seasons, and Brigham Young each picked up 23 points, including three first-place votes apiece. SDSU and BYU were followed by UNLV (15 points), Utah (14), Colorado State (10) and New Mexico (5), respectively.
San Diego State, which is ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA preseason poll and receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, return eight starters from a year ago, including two-time all-league performer and 2006 All-American Erin Floros (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS). Other former all-conference selections who will add to the mix in the 2009 campaign include Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Peninsula HS) (2006), Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) (2007) and Lindsey Marquez (Tustin, Calif./Lutheran HS) (2007).
Last season, the Aztecs set school records in 11 categories, including wins (44) and win percentage (.721, 44-17), en route to their fourth NCAA appearance.
Other seniors who will be counted on to provide leadership for SDSU this year include Taryin Casillas (San Diego/Grossmont HS), Christine Kulick (Aliso Viejo, Calif./Iowa State), Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif./Syracuse Univ.) and Dani Sidoti (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic HS).
San Diego State begins its season Feb. 6-8 at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament at UCLA when it takes on Indiana, Cal Poly, Pacific and the host Bruins.
2009 Mountain West Conference Preseason Softball Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
1. San Diego State (3) - 23
1t. Brigham Young (3) - 23
3. UNLV - 15
4. Utah - 14
5. Colorado State - 10
6. New Mexico - 5