Softball Set to Open NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Friday
5/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 14, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama softball team (47-9) enters the 2009 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional as the No. 1 seed in the tournament for the fifth straight year. The Crimson Tide, who won the SEC Western Division Championship with a 21-6 SEC record, earned the No. 4 national seed in the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. The Tide will open the regional on Friday at 6:00 p.m. CDT against Mississippi Valley State (37-14) at the Alabama Softball Complex on the UA campus.
Last Time Out
Alabama returns to the Capstone after falling to the Florida Gators in the SEC Tournament Championship in a hard fought game in Knoxville, Tenn. After jumping out on the Gators 2-0 in the top of the first inning, Florida clawed their way back in the bottom frame of the same inning scoring one run before Meghan Bush hit a grand slam on pitch number 13 of her at bat. In the end, the grand slam would be the difference in the game as Alabama fell 8-5. The Crimson Tide did find success in Knoxville though, defeating Arkansas 8-0 in five innings in the opening round. Lauren Parker led the Tide at the plate in the first game with a 3-for-3 performance, while Charlotte Morgan shutdown the Hogs offense with a one-hit shutout gem from the circle in four innings, striking out four and while only allowing one walk and earning her 15th victory of the season. Morgan also helped the Tide offensively with three RBI in the game. After crushing the Razorbacks, Alabama edged out Kentucky 2-1 in the tournament semifinal by way of a Whitney Larsen walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth.
Who's Hot
In Alabama's last 15 games, in which the Tide have won 14, senior catcher Ashley Holcombe has shined for the Crimson Tide going 18-for-37 at the plate for a .486 batting average. Holcombe leads the team in RBI (24), runs scored (12), doubles (3), total bases (32), slugging percentage (.865) and is tied with Kellie Eubanks for home runs (4) in the stretch. Junior Charlotte Morgan has picked up 18 hits in 35 at-bats to lead the team with a .514 batting average, over the 15-game span. The SEC Player of the Year has also collected 14 RBI, with three home runs, including one in the SEC Tournament Championship game - the first given up by SEC Pitcher of the Year Stacey Nelson all season. Morgan has also led the Tide from the circle through the 15-game stretch going 7-0 with a 0.69 ERA. Sophomore hurler Kelsi Dunne has also picked up seven wins for Alabama, although she was charged with the loss to Florida in the SEC Tournament Championship game. Freshman pitcher Amanda Locke has been lights out in her brief appearances over the stretch with a 0.00 ERA, while allowing no hits and no walks. Together the three Tide pitchers sport a 1.03 ERA in 95 innings and has allowed only 19 runs, 14 earned, and 26 walks, while striking out 94 batters.
Scouting the Competition
Chattanooga: The Lady Mocs make the trip to West Alabama for the Tuscaloosa Regional for the second time in as many years. Chattanooga, the Southern Conference regular season champions, defeated Georgia Southern 7-2 Saturday to win the SoCon Tournament Championship. The team sports an overall record of 30-22, including a 15-5 mark in conference play. All-Southern Conference players Tiffany Baker and Michelle Fuzzard lead the team at the plate. Baker, who's .368 batting average was third best in the Southern Conference, leads the Lady Mocs in most offensive categories including batting average, hits (57), doubles (11), home runs (12), total bases (104) and slugging percentage (.671). Her 57 hits were best in the Southern Conference. Fuzzard, a key two-way player for Chattanooga, has had a solid season both at the plate with a .350 batting average, scoring 31 runs, with 56 hits, nine doubles and 39 RBI and in the circle throughout the season, sporting an 8-7 record with a 3.51 ERA, 102 strikeouts in 107.2 innings pitched. Fuzzard hit the game winning walk-off home run against Samford in the semifinal of the SoCon Tournament to send Chattanooga into the championship game. Brooke Loudermilk leads the Lady Mocs in the circle with a 2.01 ERA which is second best in the SoCon and sports a 7-1 record. Her 104 strikeouts are a team best. While Loudermilk has emerged as Chattanooga's clear ace, the team has three other pitchers, Kandice Irwin, Michelle Fuzzard and Kaity Holloway, who have combined to pitch over 250 innings and have an overall record of 22-21.
Mississippi Valley State: The Devilettes will make the 170-mile trip across US-82 to Tuscaloosa for the second time this year, after facing Alabama in a twin bill non-conference series in March. Mississippi Valley State brought home the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship to Itta Bena this year with a perfect 17-0 conference record. The team's overall record of 37-14 is the best in school history. MVSU defeated Southern University 16-5 in five innings in the SWAC Tournament Championship in April. Mississippi Valley sports a balanced overall lineup with the lowest batting average of a starter at .297. Junior Ta'Niya Wallace leads the team in batting average (.413), triples (5), slugging percentage (.674) and walks (14). Junior center fielder Rashundra Brass leads the Devilettes in hits (59) and runs scored (49), while SWAC Tournament MVP Angelia Jones leads the team with nine home runs and 37 RBI. Jones hit two home runs in the SWAC tournament. All-SWAC junior pitcher Lisa Jansen leads MVSU in the circle with a 2.85 ERA and a record of 14-7, striking out 134 batters in just 110.2 innings pitched. The Devilettes have a deep pitching staff, with three other starting pitchers all with an ERA under 3.00. The other three starters (Lauren Derting, Nikki Stouder and Brittany Franklin) have an impressive 23-7 combined record, while pitching over 200 innings.
Texas: The Longhorns make their first ever trip to Tuscaloosa after falling 6-2 to rival Oklahoma in the semifinal of the Big 12 tournament. Texas finished the season with a record of 38-18 and an 11-7 conference mark, good enough to tie for third in the Big 12, a conference that placed seven teams in the NCAA tournament, second only to the SEC with nine. The Horns are lead at the plate by freshman All-Big 12 star Courtney Craig. Her team leading .420 batting average is the second best in the Big 12. Craig is also tied with Desiree Williams for the most stolen bases on the team with 16, although Craig has achieved the feat in just 18 attempts. Williams shines in a number of other statistical categories as well, leading the Longhorns in runs scored (48), home runs (12) and walks (47). The senior first baseman is second in the Big 12 in runs scored and third in home runs. Texas has another big bat in junior All-Big 12 designated player Loryn Johnson who leads the team with 68 hits, a mark that is second best in the Big 12, 106 total bases, again second best in the Big 12 and 49 RBI which is third best in the Big 12. Sophomore hurler Brittany Barnhill leads the Horns from the circle, sporting a record of 24-13 with an ERA of 2.78. In 211.1 innings pitched Barnhill has struck out 154, walked 93, surrendering 209 hits and 100 runs, 84 earned. Texas frequents reliever Erin Tresselt when in need of reliable relief. Tresselt who has a record of 5-2 with three saves, sports a team-best 2.48 ERA. In 22 appearances Tresselt has pitched a total of 62 innings, in which she has struck out 24 batters and only surrendered nine walks.
Series History
Chattanooga: Chattanooga is no stranger to the Tuscaloosa Regional as this will be Lady Mocs second straight trip to Tuscaloosa for the first round of the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. Alabama defeated Chattanooga 8-0 in the first game of the 2008 Tuscaloosa Regional. The powerful Alabama offense beat around Loudermilk and Irwin in that event, including Brittany Rogers 3-for-4 performance, scoring three runs. Morgan earned the victory for the Tide in the game, striking out six in 5.1 innings. Alabama owns the all-time series record at 5-2.
Mississippi Valley State: MVSU will make its second trip to the Alabama Softball Complex this year to take on the Crimson Tide. Alabama took two from the Devilettes in a twin bill on March 12, winning game one 8-5 and leaving no doubt in the game two beat down, winning 11-2 in five innings. Amanda Locke pitched both games for the Tide, giving up six earned runs in 12 innings pitched, while striking out 12. Mississippi Valley State will be making its third Tuscaloosa Regional appearance, also participating in the event in 2005 and 2006. Alabama holds a perfect 6-0 record over the Devilettes, including a 2-0 mark in Tuscaloosa Regionals.
Texas: The Longhorns will be facing off against the Crimson Tide for the first time since the 2005 College World Series. The No. 7 national seed Texas knocked off Alabama 3-0 in the first game of the 2005 WCWS. Those who follow Alabama softball closely might notice Desiree Williams who had an RBI single and a stolen base for that Texas team in 2005, is still playing for the Longhorns. Williams was granted an NCAA waiver (redshirt) for the 2007 season after missing all but eight games. Other than the 2005 WCWS game, Alabama and Texas have only faced each other twice, both where during the Texas Invitational in Austin. The teams split those two games, putting the overall series record at 1-2 in Texas' favor. If the two face each other this weekend, it will be the first game played in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama in NCAA Tournament Regionals
The Crimson Tide earned their 11th consecutive NCAA tournament bid in 2009 with a 47-9 overall record and a SEC Western Division Championship. In just 13 years of existence, the Alabama softball program will be playing in their 12th NCAA Regional this weekend. The Tide has advanced to an NCAA Regional in every season under head coach Patrick Murphy. The Crimson Tide have a 26-9 record in NCAA Regional action (not including super regionals and the College World Series) and have won six NCAA Regional titles (2000, '03, '05, '06, '07 & '08). UA will be hosting their seventh NCAA Regional at the Alabama Softball Complex this weekend. It is the fifth consecutive year Alabama has been selected to host an NCAA Regional. The Tide is 19-3 in regional games played at the Alabama Softball Complex.
Crimson Tide Garner No. 4 National Seed
Alabama was awarded the No. 4 national seed for the 2009 NCAA Division I Tournament. The Crimson Tide was second in the most recent RPI released by the NCAA on May 5. Alabama is 13-6 against top 25 teams this season and 7-4 against top 10 teams. The Tide has earned wins over No. 1 Florida and No. 1 Washington.
Alabama against the 2009 NCAA Tournament Field
The Tide played an impressive 17 teams in 2009 that were selected for the NCAA Tournament. Alabama played 38 games against those NCAA Tournament teams and posted a 31-7 (.820) record. The 38 games against tournament teams represented 68 percent of Alabama's 2009 schedule. The Crimson Tide also faced seven of the teams that received the No. 1-16 national seeds, holding a 10-5 (.670) record against those teams.
Alabama in the NCAA Tournament
Alabama earned its 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid in 2009. In just its 13th year of existence, the Crimson Tide program has garnered 11 appearances in NCAA Regional play. The Tide has a 36-21 record in the NCAA Tournament (including regionals, super regionals and the WCWS). Alabama has won six NCAA Regional titles (2000, `03, `05, `06, `07 & `08) and three NCAA Super Regional championships (2005, `06 & `08). UA made its fifth appearance in the Women's College World Series this past season, including its third trip in the past four years.
Six Named to NFCA All-Region Team
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has announced the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region teams, honoring student-athletes from 10 NFCA regions. A total of 264 players from 121 different institutions comprise the regional teams. Alabama had a school record six players named to the South Region team. The honorees included: pitcher Kelsi Dunne, catcher Ashley Holcombe, third baseman Kelley Montalvo, outfielder Brittany Rogers, utility player Charlotte Morgan and utility/non-pitcher Cassandra Reilly-Boccia.
Three Named to SEC All-Tournament Team
Alabama had three players named to the SEC All-Tournament team. Seniors Ashley Holcombe and Lauren Parker garnered the honors along with junior Charlotte Morgan. Holcombe led all Crimson Tide hitters with a .500 average, adding a home run and three RBI. Parker closely followed with a .444 mark and paced UA with four hits. Morgan batted .429, hit a home run and drove in four. The Southpaw also went 2-0 in the circle with a perfect 0.00 ERA.
Morgan Named SEC Player of the Year
Alabama junior Charlotte Morgan was named the SEC Player of the Year. Morgan, who was named to the first team for the second consecutive season becomes the first member of the Crimson Tide softball program to be named the SEC Player of the Year. The Moreno Valley, Calif. native led the league in hitting (.447) and RBI (34), and helped guide Alabama to a 21-6 SEC record and the Western Division title. Morgan was also a threat in the circle. The pitcher/utility player made eight starts and recorded a 6-4 record in 62 innings pitched with 63 strikeouts while only walking 10. At the plate, the USA Player of the Year candidate recorded 34 RBI on 34 hits in 76 at bats during league play.
Locke Named SEC Freshman of the Year
Alabama freshman Amanda Locke was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. This marks a SEC best sixth Freshman of the Year honor for the Crimson Tide and second straight. Locke, a utility/pitcher, who was also named to the all freshman team, hit .321, with 14 RBI and a team-leading five home runs in conference play. The Mesquite, Texas native also made four SEC pitching appearances and in 4.2 innings did not allow a run. Locke joins teammates Brittany Rogers (2006) and Kelsi Dunne (2008) as newcomer award recipients.
Seven Earn All Conference Accolades
Alabama had seven players garner accolades from the SEC. On the first team from the Crimson Tide were Brittany Rogers, Charlotte Morgan, Kelsi Dunne and Kelley Montalvo. Rogers is just the third player in Alabama history to be named to the first team in all four seasons. Montalvo and Morgan earn the honor for the second straight season while Dunne is on the first team for a career first. Amanda Locke and Cassandra Reilly-Boccia were named to the All-Freshman team while Ashley Holcombe joins, Rogers and Montalvo on the All-Defensive team.
Morgan in Final 10 for USA Player of the Year
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, has selected its 10 Finalists for the 8th Annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award and Alabama junior Charlotte Morgan is on the list for the second consecutive season. This award, which is considered the most prestigious honors in Division I women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.
Strength of Schedule
Alabama posted the toughest schedule in America according to warrennolan.com, ahead of Arizona and Washington. The Crimson Tide played 35 games against 2008 NCAA tournament participants and posted a 28-7 record. Alabama is 12-7 against top 25 teams this season and 6-5 against top 10 teams. Alabama has earned wins over No. 1 Florida and No. 1 Washington. Against teams that made the 2009 field the Crimson Tide sports a 31-7 overall record.
SEC Stats
Alabama checks in at first in the Southeastern Conference in stolen bases (159), steal attempts (183), hit by pitch (63) and opposing runners picked off (10). The Tide is third in batting average (.316), slugging percentage (.492), hits (428) and home runs (52). Bama checks in at second in the conference in on base percentage (.428), runs scored (352), runs batted in (307), and walks (213). The Tide pitching staff ranks second in the SEC in ERA (1.56), runs allowed (95), earned runs allowed (78) and wins (47). Kelley Montalvo leads the conference in walks (47) and checks in at third in doubles with 13. Charlotte Morgan leads the conference with eight sacrifice flies and is fifth in on base percentage (.503), runs batted in (51) and has the sixth best batting average in the conference (.409). Brittany Rogers is second in the league in stolen bases (44) and steal attempts (51), Rogers is also tied for the league lead with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Kelsi Dunne is the third best pitcher in the SEC in earned run average (1.21), strikeouts (213) and wins (24). Tide catcher Ashley Holcombe has picked off nine runners this season, by far the best in the league. Kellie Eubanks is tied for third in the conference fielding nine double plays.
NCAA Stats
The Crimson Tide has multiple players ranked in the top of the NCAA statistics. Pitcher Kelsi Dunne ranks 20th in the nation in wins (24) and 29th in strikeouts per seven innings (8.5). Charlotte Morgan leads the nation in sacrifice flies (8) and comes in at 26th in the NCAA in on base percentage (.508). Brittany Rogers checks in at fourth in the nation in stolen bases with 44. Kelley Montalvo ranks eighth in the country in walks with 47. As a team Alabama leads the nation in stolen bases (159) and stolen bases per game (2.84). Bama is sixth in the NCAA in scoring, averaging 6.38 runs per game, has the 15th best team ERA (1.68) and fielding percentage (.974), 17th best slugging percentage (.489) and are 25th in home runs per game (0.95). The Tide's .839 winning percentage is the third best in the country.
Dozier Named to the SEC Community Service Team
Alabama sophomore infielder Catherine Dozer was named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service team, as announced by the conference office Tuesday. The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 20 league sponsored sports. The Community Service Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to her community in superior service efforts. Dozier participated in more than 70 hours worth of community service as she has worked at the Lakeshore Foundation for various events including teaching wheelchair-bound children to play sports and the mini-slam Kids Camp. She also participated in the Together We CAN Drive,
Alabama No-hitters
Alabama has had three no-hitters this season on the strength of two no-no's in just the past two weeks Sophomore Kelsi Dunne has two this season, both by the way of seven inning gems. Her no-hitters were against Auburn on April 26 and against Kentucky on April 14. Dunne now has four on her career which places her one no-hitter behind Stephanie VanBrakle and her five no-hitters. Charlotte Morgan tossed her first career no-hitter against Georgia Tech on April 22.
Attendance Record
Alabama broke the all-time NCAA attendance record of 55,746 set in 1999 by Fresno State. The Crimson Tide sports a 2009 total attendance to date of 62,435 in 27 home games played for an average to date of 2,312. In 2008 the Tide led the country with 51,024 in 27 home games played for an average of 1,890. The single game record was also shattered this season when the Tide welcomed 3122 fans to the game against Auburn on April 25.
Murphy Earns Win No. 600
Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy earned his 600th victory of his career by earning a 2-1 win over Kentucky on May 8 in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Murphy has become just the second coach among the current SEC coaches to accomplish the feat in just 12 seasons at the helm. The only other coach to do so in 12 seasons is Lu Harris-Champer of Georgia, who tallied the majority of her wins at Nicholls State and Southern Miss. Murphy spent one season as the interim head coach at Northwest Missouri State where he guided the Bearcats to 28 wins. Since those 28 wins the Iowa native has guided Alabama to 568 wins in just over 10 years. Including this season no current coach in the SEC has more wins over the last 10 seasons than Murphy. Over the last 10 seasons Murphy has compiled 533 wins. Ralph Weekly at Tennessee has compiled 509 wins and Harris-Champer has 504 wins.
Morgan Becomes First with Three 50 RBI Seasons
Alabama junior Charlotte Morgan has become the first Crimson Tide player to drive in 50 or more runs in three seasons. Morgan sports 52 RBI this season and drove in an SEC record 79 last year. As a freshman the Moreno Valley, Calif. native drove in 52. Kelly Kretschman had two seasons of 50 or more RBI. The former Team USA member drove in 64 in 1998 and 58 in 2000. No other Alabama player has had two or more seasons on 50 or more RBI. Morgan became the first player to do so when she drove in three in the opening round of the SEC Tournament against Arkansas. Morgan now sits in second place all-time in the UA career annals with 183 RBI, trailing the 191 of Kretschman.
Morgan and Rogers Named to CoSIDA All-District Team
Alabama had a pair of players named to the 2009 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Softball team as announced by CoSIDA Thursday. Junior Charlotte Morgan was named to the District 4 first team while Brittany Rogers garnered second team recognition. The honor is the second for Morgan and is a career first for Rogers.
Tide in the RPI
The NCAA released its RPI rankings through games of May 5. Alabama checks in at No. 2 while Florida ranks No. 1. The SEC has three schools in the top 10 and six in the top 25. Alabama is three spots ahead of Georgia at No .5 and Tennessee follows at No. 13. LSU ranks 17th overall and Kentucky follows at No. 21. Auburn and Mississippi are just out of the top 25 at 30 and 35, respectively.
Bama Walks
Alabama has had no problems getting on base this season and in addition to all the hits, it is the walks that have propelled the Tide to one of the best on base teams in the nation. Alabama has walked 218 times and sports a .427 on base percentage. Four Tide players sport more walks than strikeouts. Kelley Montalvo, who ranks eighth in the country with 47 free passes has struck out just 13 times and holds a .497 on base percentage. With just four more walks Montalvo would break the single season walk record of 51 held by Kelly Kretschman from the 2000 season. Cassandra Reilly-Boccia has walked 32 times and struck out 23 while Kellie Eubanks has walked 28 times and been punched out 21 times. Charlotte Morgan has been issued a free pass 24 times and struck out 13 times to sport a .508 on base percentage.
Dunne Sweeps National Player of the Week Honors
Alabama sophomore pitcher Kelsi Dunne was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player of the Week and the USA Softball Player of the Week as announced by both organizations on April 7. The honors are a career first for the right-hander and the awards also mark the first of the season for a member of the Crimson Tide. Dunne collected all three wins against then No. 6 Georgia last weekend. In 13 innings in the circle, she gave up one earned run, struck out 11 and allowed eight hits, holding the Bulldogs to a .190 team batting average. For the week, Dunne posted a 0.54 ERA. The Port Orange, Fla., native allowed a single run in the first game against Georgia, then came back and earned the win by pitching an inning in relief in an extra-inning thriller in the nightcap. In Sunday's series finale, Dunne struck out 10 en route to the shutout.
Rogers and Holcombe Invited to Team USA Tryouts
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) announced its initial list of 27 athletes who have accepted an invite to the 2009 USA Softball Women's National Team Selection Camp in Chula Vista, Calif., June 8-12. Rogers was one of the 27 to accept the invite. Ashley Holcombe made the list of 40 players and the duo will try and make the squad which will play in several international events, including the World Cup of Softball presented by KFC in Oklahoma City, Okla. July 16-20. The World Cup will feature the top four finishers from the 2008 Olympic Games including a Gold medal game rematch between Japan and the United States.
Three Named USA Softball POY 25 Finalists
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, has selected its 25 Finalists for the 8th Annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. Alabama is represented by three players, senior Brittany Rogers, junior Charlotte Morgan and sophomore Kelsi Dunne. Rogers and Morgan were on the final list of 25 last season. This award, which is considered the most prestigious honors in Division I women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Kelley Montalvo was on the initial watch list of 50 players.
Rogers 300-200-100
Alabama senior Brittany Rogers is only the second player in school history to bang out 300 hits, score 200 runs and swipe 100 bases. The All-American joins former Tide standout Kelly Kretschman to do so. Rogers sports 333 hits, 249 runs and 190 stolen bases. If Rogers is able to reach 200 stolen bases she would be the first 300-200-200 player in school history. Kretschman paces the Alabama record books with 368 hits and 288 runs scored. Rogers is the all-time leader in stolen bases. With the feat Rogers is one of only four players in the modern era to do so in SEC history.
Rogers Named Lowe's Finalist
Alabama senior outfielder Brittany Rogers was named a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Rogers is one of 10 senior student-athletes that have been selected as a finalist for the 2009 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in the Softball division. Nationwide balloting begins immediately to determine the third annual winner, who will receive the award during the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. The finalists were chosen from a list of 30 candidates based on personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete. It is the second straight season that Alabama has had a finalist for the award. Jordan Praytor was part of the final 10 last season.
Easton Challenge All-Tournament Team
Three members of the Crimson Tide were named to the Easton Challenge All-Tournament Team. Kelsi Dunne earned the nod after going 2-0 with wins over No. 1 Washington and No. 24 Baylor. Brittany Rogers paced Alabama at the plate with a .429 batting average and five stolen bases. Whitney Larsen batted .364 with a team-leading two home runs and seven RBI.
Preseason Awards
Alabama enters the 2009 season with numerous players up for awards. Seniors Brittany Rogers and Kelley Montalvo along with junior Charlotte Morgan were named to the ASA Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. Rogers, Montalvo, Morgan and Dunne were named to the Preseason All-SEC Team. Rogers was one of two players selected unanimously.
Holcombe Drafted by Rockford Thunder
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) held its 2009 Senior Draft on Tuesday night in Akron at the Cambria Suites with the Rockford Thunder using its first pick in the fifth round on Alabama senior catcher Ashley Holcombe. With the No. 21 pick the Thunder selected Alabama's Holcombe, a player highly regarded for her abilities behind the plate. She was a second team All-SEC selection in 2008, as well as a member of the SEC All-Defensive team, as she started and captained all 65 games for the Crimson Tide.
