Completed Event: Softball versus No. 2 Seed Oklahoma State on May 7, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 7
Final Score
Softball
0
vs No. 2 Seed Oklahoma State
7
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Softball Opens Season
2/4/2002 12:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 4, 2002
Salt Lake City -
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COMING UP: Utah will open regular-season play on the road in Houston, Texas on Wed., Feb. 6, facing Houston in a doubleheader contest at 4:00 p.m. On Feb. 8-10, the Utes will participate in the UTA Tourney in Dallas, Texas.
A QUICK LOOK AT UTAH: The Utes return seven starters and nine letterwinners from a team which posted a 10-6-1 league record and a 37-25-1 overall mark. Utah, adds nine newcomers to the roster this season.
Utah went 1-8 (.111) vs. ranked opponents last season and will face 11 teams this season that made it to the NCAA Tournament last year, including the 2001 National Champions, Arizona. The Utes could possibly face 15 more teams in their upcoming tournaments this season that made it to post-season play in 2001.
The Utes just missed receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 preseason poll, released Wed., Jan. 23. The Division I Women's Softball Committee produces a poll which is used as part of the championship tournament selection process. They rank the top ten teams in each region and last year, Utah was ranked throughout the season.
Utah's 2001 final RPI ranking, produced by the NCAA, was 62nd out of 316 teams. The Mountain West Conference was 8th out of 32 conferences.
QUOTING STEVENS: On the upcoming Houston games and UTA Tournament- "Houston's record doesn't reflect their capabilities and we've got to play well to beat them. It will be good to get a few games in before the UTA Tournament and I am expecting some good competition. The UTA Tournament is a good way to start off our season. We will face some teams we should beat and we will face some teams that will be tough competition. Oklahoma and Baylor are two very solid teams we will match up with early on. It should be a good mix of competition and we are very excited to start the season."
UP NEXT: Utah will face Sam Houston in a doubleheader match up on Tues., Feb. 12 at 1:00 p.m. in Houston, Texas. On Wed., Feb. 13, the Utes will meet Texas at 5:00 p.m. in a doubleheader contest in Austin, Texas. Utah will participate in the Texas A&M Tournament on Feb. 15-17 in College Station, Texas. On Tues., Feb. 19, the Utes will take on Southwest Texas at 3:00 p.m. in a doubleheader match-up in San Marcos, Texas. On Feb. 22-24, Utah will head to Columbus, Ga., participating in the Lead-Off Classic.
SCOUTING HOUSTON: The University of Houston softball team opens play at the Southwest Texas State Tournament on Feb. 1-3 in San Marcos, Texas. The Cougars finished the weekend 6-0 overall with two wins over #17 Southwest Texas to top their list. Last season, the Cougars went 22-33 overall, 10-12 in Conference USA play.
The Cougars return nine starters, 14 letterwinners and add seven newcomers to its roster. Riane Netardous led the team last season, with a .327 batting average. Teammates Arelis Ferreris, Ali McDougall and Leslie Seay return to the Cougar lineup. Ferreris hit .317, McDougall hit .295 and Seay hit .293 last season.
Head coach Kyla Holas returns for her second season at the helm of the Cougar softball program. Holas has a 22-33 overall record at Houston.
UTA TOURNAMENT: The UTA Tournament is an annual event hosted by Texas-Arlington. One of the eight teams is ranked in the USA Today/NFCA preseason Top-25 with one more team receiving votes. The teams come from all over the country and represent several different conferences. The tournament is a three-day event with pool play followed by bracket play. Games will be played on four different fields at Mike Lewis Park throughout each day.
Lee McDuffie of the UTA sports information office is the softball contact for the tournament. He can be reached at (817) 272-2213.
UTA TOURNAMENT:
The Utes will get a tough early season test this weekend, playing one team ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 pre-season poll. Friday Stephen F. Austin 10:00 a.m. Texas-Arlington 1:00 p.m. Saturday (No. 7) Oklahoma 9:00 a.m. Baylor 1:00 p.m. Bracket Play All Day Sunday Bracket Play All Day
HEAD COACH MONA STEVENS: Mona Stevens, who has built a reputation as one of the top coaches in the nation on both the national and international levels, is in her fifth season as head coach at Utah.
A former Ute player and assistant coach, the Provo, Utah, native came home in September of 1996, following a two-year stint at the University of Massachusetts. Stevens was the associate head coach for the Minutewomen during the 1995 and '96 seasons, and was named head coach at UMass in June of '96, three months prior to being hired by her alma mater.
Stevens has the best winning percentage in school history. She currently posts a 187-114-1 (.621) career overall record and a 75-47-1 (.614) career conference record in five seasons. Her 2000 team was the NCAA Region 1 Tournament runner-up, and placed third in the NCAA Regional Tournament in 1997. Stevens was selected as the 2000 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year and posted her 150th career win at the NCAA Region 1 Tournament with a 4-1 win over Mississippi State on May 20.
STEVENS APPROACHES 200TH CAREER WIN: Utah's winningest coach in school history, Mona Stevens is quickly approaching her 200th career win. Stevens needs 13 more wins and with 60 games left, the Mountain West Conference Tournament and a possible trip to the NCAAs, she could very well hit the mark.
SOFTBALL APPROACHES 800TH CAREER WIN: Utah, as a team is approaching its 800th career win. The Utes need just 19 more wins and with 60 games left, the Mountain West Conference Tournament and a possible trip to the NCAAs, they could very well hit the mark.
MWC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL: For the third straight season, Utah has been selected to win the Mountain West Conference softball title in a vote by the league coaches.
"I think getting selected to win the MWC title is a tribute to our program and a very nice honor," said Head Coach Mona Stevens. "It will be a tough conference race this season and we've got a good shot at it. We've got some very good talent this season and hope to make a run for it all. I think San Diego State and New Mexico will be tough to beat, they're going to surprise some people this season."
In a close vote, the Utes edged BYU for the top position collecting a total of 21 points (two first-place votes). 2001 Mountain West Conference champion BYU, which tallied three-first place votes, finished second in the ballot with a total of 20 points. San Diego State followed with 18 points to claim the third spot with New Mexico, which received one first-place vote, finishing fourth (17 points). UNLV (nine points) and Colorado State (five points) rounded out the voting as they were picked to finish fifth and sixth, respectively.
UTAH VS. RANKED OPPONENTS: Utah will face 11 teams this season that made it to the NCAA Tournament last year, including the 2001 National Champions, Arizona. The Utes could possibly face 15 more teams in their upcoming tournaments this season that made it to post-season play in 2001.
UTES NAB MWC PITCHER AND PLAYER OF THE WEEK IN 2001: Utah saw five players garner MWC Player or Pitcher of the Week honors in 2001. Lyndsey Trevis claimed Player of the Week honors twice, while Niki Hayhurst and Melissa Stahnke were also recognized. Kristin Arbogast received Pitcher of the Week honors also in 2001.
UTES RACK UP THE HONORS IN 2001: Individually, the Utes racked up several awards and accolades in 2001. Lyndsey Trevis was a 2001 all-West region selection, an all-MWC pick, the MWC Player of the Year and was selected to the 2001 all-MWC Tournament team. Niki Hayhurst was a 2001 all-West region selection and all-MWC pick, while Molly McLean and Melissa Stahnke were both all-MWC and all-MWC Tournament team selections. Kristin Arbogast and Amberly Jeppson were also all-MWC picks in 2001.
UTES HONORED ACADEMICALLY IN 2001: Utah is known for its hard work in the classroom and last year was no different. The Utes had a league-high 10 members on last year's MWC all-Academic team. Niki Hayhurst, Angie Kenney and Molly McLean were repeat selections, while Carrie Kosderka, Heather Bowlin, Becky Culligan, Christa Pfeninger and Melissa Stahnke received first time honors.
2001 UTAH RANKINGS IN THE MWC: Utah, as a team led the MWC in hits (475), home runs (60), total bases (726) and saves (3) last season. The Utes were second with a .275 team batting average and a .421 slugging percentage. Utah was second in runs scored (321), RBI (277), doubles (63), total plate appearances (2003), at bats (1725), sac flies (11), batters struck out (292) and stolen bases (75). The Utes were third in on base percentage (.357), walks (199), earned run average (2.48), innings pitched (427.0) and wins (37). Individually, 11 Utah players ranked among the top 20 in the MWC statistical leaders in 2001.
UTES CRASH CAREER CHARTS: Four Utah player are currently making their way up the softball career charts. Senior Molly McLean is currently second on the all-time career leader list for stolen bases (86). McLean is also fifth all-time for runs scored (115). Senior Lyndsey Trevis among the top five in three career categories. Trevis is third in RBI (123), home runs (27) and fourth in walks (63). Junior Niki Hayhurst is third all-time with a .358 career batting average. Sophomore Melissa Stahnke is currently fifth in the all-time career leader list for home runs (22).
2001 NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS: Utah was among the nation's best last season, ranking in the top 20 in several categories. Last year, Utah was fourth in the nation in home runs (60), 18th in slugging percentage (.420) and 20th in scoring (4.77).
Many Utes ranked among the nation's statistical leaders in the individual categories in 2001. Melissa Stahnke was fifth in the nation in home runs (22), seventh in RBI (67) and 12th with a .761 slugging percentage. Lyndsey Trevis was 18th in the nation in RBI (58) and 67th with a .378 batting average. Niki Hayhurst was 16th in the nation in walks (39) and 28th in home runs (14). Kristin Arbogast was 13th in wins (28) in 2001.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Utes practice from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. at Ute Field on the University of Utah campus. All practice times and dates are tentative and subject to change. For regular scheduled practice times, please contact Julie Lapomarda. Utah Softball practices are closed to the media. To set up interviews before or after practice with Head Coach Mona Stevens or Ute players, please contact Julie Lapomarda softball SID at: (801) 581-3771.
POST-GAME SERVICES/INTERVIEWS: Head coach Mona Stevens and Utah players will be available for interviews outside the Utah dug out following a 10 minute cooling off period. A member of the Utah sports information staff will gather interview requests immediately following the game. Box scores will be provided and faxed upon request.
WEEKLY INTERVIEWS: Members of the media who wish to interview head coach Mona Stevens, and any interviews with the athletes should be arranged at least 24 hours in advance through Julie Lapomarda (801-581-3771).
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEDIA INFORMATION: Marlon Edge, Communications Intern, handles all information requests related to softball at the Mountain West Conference office. The MWC address is 15455 Gleneagle Drive, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80921. The MWC telephone number is (719) 488-4040. Edge's direct number and e-mail address is: (719) 488-4052, medge@themwc.com. The fax number is (719) 487-7240.
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