University of Massachusets Athletics
Crew And Softball Picked To Win A-10
January 09, 2007 | Softball
Jan. 9, 2007
AMHERST, Mass. -- Both the Massachusetts crew and softball teams have been picked to finish first in the Atlantic 10 Conference this season in voting conducted by the league's coaches. The UMass Crew has won 11 straight A-10 titles while the softball team is coming off a 41-16 season last year in which it took eventual national runner-up Northwestern to a third and final game in their Super Regional series. The Minutewomen return eight starters including All-Americans Candice Molinari (Glendora, Calif.), Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) and Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.).
The tennis team was picked third, the same spot they finished in last year's postseason tournament. The Minutewomen return 2006 A-10 Performer of the Year Michele Spiess (Stuggart Germany) as well as All-Conference member Masha Pozar (Ljublijana, Slovenia) among nine letterwinners. Richmond was picked to repeat as A-10 champion.
The women's lacrosse team was picked fourth after finishing fourth and securing the final spot in the 2006 A-10 Tournament. Led by new head coach Alexis Venechanos, the Minutewomen return 17 letterwinners and nine starters from last year's squad which went 7-11 overall and 4-3 in A-10 play. Richmond was picked to repeat as A-10 champion.
The men's outdoor track and field team was picked seventh after recording a seventh-place finish last year. Charlotte was picked to repeat as champion.
The UMass baseball team was selected to finish 10th after going 14-30 overall and 11-16 in league play last year. Head Coach Mike Stone is six wins shy of No. 500 in his career while the squad returns 17 letterwinners and nine starters. Charlotte was picked first followed by 2006 champion Saint Louis.
The women's outdoor track team was picked to finish 10th after finishing eighth a year ago. Charlotte was picked to finish first after winning the meet last year.
UMass will host the 2007 A-10 Softball Tournament at the UMass Softball Complex, May 9-12. This will be the first year that the A-10 has six teams advance to the postseason tournament.