Jan. 23, 2002
The University of Notre Dame softball team has been ranked 14th in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll, released on Wednesday, Jan. 23. The Irish feature five returning starters from their 2001 team, which set a team record with 54 wins and was ranked as high as eighth in the country (final ranking of 11th). The #14 ranking is the highest Notre Dame has ever been ranked entering the season.
Among Notre Dame’s top returnees in 2002 are All-American seniors Jenny Kriech and Jarrah Myers. Both players have already earned preseason all-BIG EAST honors this year and will serve as co-captains of the team with classmate Kas Hoag.
Myers drove in 41 runs last season with 65 hits and a .380 average. Kriech tied for the nation’s lead in triples (10) while pounding out 72 hits with a .369 average.
Head coach Deanna Gumpf’s 2002 Irish team will be tested early, as it travels to Tucson, Ariz., for the Arizona/Pepsi Classic for its first weekend of action beginning Feb. 15. Notre Dame will face defending National Champion and top-ranked Arizona in the tournament, as well as Auburn, Louisville, New Mexico State and #25 South Florida.
USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top 25
1. Arizona, 668 pts.
2. UCLA, 655 pts.
3. Stanford, 604 pts.
4. LSU, 591 pts.
5. California, 543 pts.
6. Iowa, 492 pts.
7. Oklahoma, 485 pts.
8. Arizona State, 469 pts.
9. Washington, 431 pts.
10. Cal State Fullerton, 424 pts.
11. Michigan, 414 pts.
12. Nebraska, 341 pts.
13. Alabama, 297 pts.
14. Notre Dame, 281 pts.
15. Florida State, 261 pts.
16. Fresno State, 239 pts.
17. SW Texas State, 220 pts.
18. Oregon State, 207 pts.
19. DePaul, 198 pts.
Pacific, 198 pts.
21. Louisiana-Lafayette, 184 pts.
22. South Carolina, 144 pts.
23. San Diego State, 67 pts.
24. Massachusetts, 59 pts.
25. South Florida, 50 pts.
Others: Hawaii (37), Texas (36), Ohio State (31), Wisconsin (30), Florida Atlantic (18), North Carolina (14), Cal State Northridge (12), Virginia (8), Hofstra (2).
Notre Dame 2002 opponents in bold.