Michigan Voted Among Nation's Elite in Preseason Polls
1/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball program was afforded inclusion into both preseason top-25 polls this past week and was the top-ranked Big Ten school in both listings, placed No. 8 in the nation according to the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 and checking in at No. 12 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
With the No. 8 listing by the USA Today/NFCA poll, the Wolverines have now appeared in that poll's preseason top 10 for three straight seasons. The Wolverines were tabbed No. 7 in last season's ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason poll, which proved prophetic when the Maize and Blue made its seventh Women's College World Series appearance in 10 seasons and finished tied for seventh.
Justification for Michigan's lofty preseason status is a returning core of players that includes three All-Americans and the top three hurlers from a pitching staff that finished fifth in the nation in ERA (0.99) while helping Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to her ninth Big Ten Conference regular-season title and seventh trip to the WCWS.
Senior co-captain Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) headlines three returning All-Americans after a junior campaign that saw her earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors, set the Michigan single-season home run record with 15 and lead the Big Ten with a .739 slugging percentage.
Joining Merchant as a returning All-American second-team selection and co-captain is reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS). The Florida native became a 20-game winner for the second time in her career with 22 victories last season and an ERA of 0.81, which rated No. 12 in the nation. Combining with Merchant to from one of the nation's best shortstop-second base combos is 2B Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS). Haas evolved into one of the nation's best leadoff hitters, hitting .354 last season and finishing second in the Big Ten with 75 hits.
The Wolverines begin another run to the WCWS with their season-opening tournament at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic hosted by UNLV on Feb. 11-13 in Las Vegas, Nev. Michigan opens its season vs. No. 14/13 Tennessee on Feb. 11 (11:15 a.m. PST) in Ulmer Stadium.
USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Top 25
1. California 2. UCLA 3. Arizona 4. Oklahoma 5. LSU 6. Stanford 7. Georgia 8. MICHIGAN 9. Louisiana Lafayette 10. Florida State 11. Washington 12. Alabama 13. Oregon 14. Tennessee 15. Texas 16. Oregon State 17. Baylor 18. Nebraska 19. Fresno State 20. Long Beach State 21. South Florida 22. Illinois 23. Georgia Tech 23. Southern Illinois 25. Hofstra
ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Top 25
1. California 2. Arizona 3. UCLA 4. Oklahoma 5. Stanford 6. Texas 7. Louisiana Lafayette 8. LSU 9. Washington 10. Georgia 11. Florida State 12. MICHIGAN 13. Tennessee 14. Oregon 15. Alabama 16. Oregon State 17. Fresno State 18. Baylor 19. Long Beach State 20. Nebraska 21. Georgia Tech 22. South Florida 23. Texas A&M 23. Southern Illinois 25. Illinois
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
