NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Super Regional Press Quotes
5/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The 2016 NCAA Tuscaloosa Softball Super Regional held its media and practice day Thursday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium. Quotes from the press conferences are below:
NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Press Conference Quotes
Thursday May 26, 2016
Alabama
Head Coach Patrick Murphy
Opening Statement
"I would love to welcome Washington back. It's been a rarity to have somebody two years in a row. I credit Coach Heather Tarr. She started the whole home and away thing, we are going host them next year during the regular season and then we are going to go to them in 2018. I just respect her for even asking to come here. So, it's going to be three years in a row that we get to see Washington. It's becoming kind of a coast-to-coast rivalry and I'm sure it's going to be a very, very competitive super regional."
No. 5 Chandler Dare
On facing Washington this time around
"Last year is in the past. So, we don't think about what we did last year. The mindset is on this year and what we are going to do to be successful this weekend. They are a great team with great offense and defense. It's going to be a great series."
No. 8 Haylie McCleney
On facing Washington this time around
"I don't think last year really means anything other than we know what they have. They are a really good offensive team. They have a lot of power numbers especially with Ali Aguilar at the top of that with 21 home runs, that's incredible. In pitching, they are really deep and they have four pitchers that can throw at any time. [Taran] Alvelo presents a challenge throwing hard and they offset that with Madi Schreyer throwing down in the zone. I think it will be a good challenge for us. We're excited."
Washington
Head Coach Heather Tarr
Opening Statement
"We are happy to be back and have an opportunity to play in a super regional. We ended at regionals last year, so we were destined to find our way to super regionals. I love our team this year. I love the combination of student-athletes that we have. You have to remember that these guys are still student-athletes. We are in spring quarter and we have two and a half weeks left of it. We had to get out here to play, but obviously they are serious in academics and doing their thing like they normally do. I am really proud of our team for that. For being able to compensate and adjust, get on the road and get out here, it's not easy to get here. We are excited to play. We can't wait to get on the field tomorrow, trust our preparation and get out there and go for it."
On the team this year
"Obviously, we brought in two new arms this year. Taran Alvelo from Carroll, Ohio and Madi Schreyer, a local product for us, but spent some time at Stanford University. The addition is two new arms, but I think our team as a whole is a great group. We are well-led and work hard. Obviously, pitching is a huge key to success in softball, but in general we are a good team overall."
No. 1 Ali Aguilar
On playing against the SEC
"We are excited. Obviously, we played last year in regionals and we ended here. So, we have some emotions coming back, but we are definitely confident coming in. We played at LSU [this year] so it's always good competition coming to play the SEC."
