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Quote:[Image: 112453.jpeg]
Senior All-South Region performer Kristen Glowacz returns for her final season with the Cougars in 2005.
 
Cougars looking to build on 2004's NCAA Regionals appearance.


Jan. 18, 2005

HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball program enters the 2005 season following its strongest season to date, as the 2004 squad recorded the school's first postseason appearance and victory.

Entering only its fifth season of existence, the Cougars' showing in the 2004 NCAA Regionals marked a milestone that many programs are still striving to achieve.

Houston will be looking to make a repeat run at the NCAA Regionals with most of last season's athletes coming back for the 2005 campaign. Returning to the team are 12 athletes from last year's squad, nine of whom saw action in a starting role for some or all of last season.

Also back for her fifth season at the helm of the Cougars is head coach Kyla Holas, who has carefully constructed the Houston program into an up-and-coming power since the inaugural 2001 season.

Leading the Cougars into 2005 is a group of seniors that are responsible for the quick success that has come to the program in just four short years. Kim Nesloney, Michelle Keith, Kristen Glowacz, Jenilee Skender and Jeanie Davis are determined to close out their college careers at the top.

"This is a core group of players that has taken us to the next level," said Holas. "From the moment they became Cougars, our future brightened and our success has done nothing but soar upwards. I look for this to be another season of bests with a higher finish in Conference USA and another trip to the NCAAs."

SCHEDULE Once again the 2005 schedule is packed with Top-25 opponents and will mark the fourth consecutive year of the Houston home tournaments: Hilton Plaza Invitational, Crown Plaza Classic, Hyatt Regency Cougar Classic and the Marriott Hobby Airport Invitational.

Making the trip to Houston will be five teams that finished last season in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25, including Oklahoma (No. 6), Alabama (No. 13), Nebraska (No. 14), South Florida (No. 16) and Baylor (No. 19).

Also coming to town will be Texas A&M, Minnesota, North Carolina, DePaul and UAB to name a few.

From the outset of the season, the schedule set for 2005 will be one to challenge the team and help it improve. The season opener pits the Cougars against the University of Texas in Austin, before returning home to host the four Cougar tournaments.

"We open up this year at Texas," said Holas. "I felt that it was fitting to see where we are the first weekend out. If we want to be the best, we have to beat the best and our schedule is set up to do that."

[Image: 112478.jpeg]
Junior Crystal Briscoe led the Cougars in 2004 with 12 wins.

 
PITCHERS Gone from the team are two of the Cougars' biggest hurlers in Jamie Falco and Jenny Johnson, however, Houston wasted no time in reloading on the mound with a talented incoming freshman class, and will return their young leaders in junior Crystal Briscoe and sophomore Carla Kennimer.

The 2005 pitching staff has more potential than ever before, with a bullpen that consists of Briscoe, Kennimer, as well as freshmen Barbie Love and Angel Shamblin. "What a group of talented and hard working individuals those girls are," said Holas of her pitching crew. "We look to have a staff that is all-conference from top to bottom. Each one of them is very unique and brings something dominating to the mound. Having this staff will take us farther than we have been and mark the change in what our program has been known for (hitting)."

The most experienced hurler for Houston is Briscoe, who led the team in wins last season with 12 on the year and is No. 3 on the all-time strikeout list. "Crystal has a devastating riseball," said Holas. "She has worked the entire offseason to give herself better control and a total package of pitches."

As a freshman, Kennimer saw 67.2 innings of action in 2004, but the southpaw is expected to see much more time on the mound this year. "Carla is one of the hardest working individuals I have seen. She had some good outings this fall and we look to have her time on the mound increase from last year," said Holas. "Being a lefty with good speed, she has the potential to be dominating with some more experience."

Gearing up for their first collegiate season are the freshmen tandem of Shamblin and Love. Shamblin, who is rehabbing an ACL injury, and Love have worked tirelessly to be in top shape for the season. "Angel, we consider her our secret weapon," said Holas. "She has put in more hours than most freshman. Not only has she done extra to be there physically, she had to develop her pitches and spin. My expectations are high for her, but we will let this year move farther along before we push her to the max."

"Barbie has one of the best changeups in college softball," said Holas. "She has worked this offseason on developing all of her pitches and keeping her mechanics consistent."

INFIELD/CATCHERS Despite returning every starter from the infield, the Cougar lineup will have a much different look then it did last season. A talented freshmen class gives the team the ability to move players around with a now deeper dugout. "We have flipped some people around and with the addition of our freshman, added some much-needed depth," said Holas.

With so much depth in the infield, playing time is up for grabs as the team prepares for the 2005 season.

"In order for us to be a Top-25 program we have to be able to take care of the ball in the infield," said Holas. "With some of the changes we made and the freshmen we added, I expect to see more impressive numbers and plays made in the infield. Defense wins championships and that is what we are working towards."

OUTFIELD In the outfield the Cougars are strong in talent but not in numbers. The roster lists only four players as outfielders with 10 athletes listed in the infield. Part of the discrepancy is due to the shuffling that has gone on with the infield.

However, the team is solid with senior Kim Nesloney, as well as juniors Brooke Johnson and Brandi Clark.

"Until things work themselves out in the infield, our outfield depth will be small," said Holas. "We have plenty of experience returning this year, so the outfield will continue to be our defensive rock. We just need to add some depth to mix things up and take care of the what-ifs."

OFFENSE Since the program began in 2001, the Cougars have had no need to worry about their hitting. Each season the team has brought in heavy hitters to knock in runs, get on base and score runs.

Back for her final season is Kristen Glowacz, a two-time All-South Region and three-time All-Conference standout. At the beginning of 2005, she already holds five career-batting records and nine season records at Houston.

Glowacz's ability to swing for the fences as well as find the open gaps for base hits, makes her Houston's biggest offensive threat along with fellow seniors Nesloney and Jenilee Skender who have little trouble picking up hits.

However, the Cougars, once known for their ability to hit the longball, have been retuned by Holas and her staff to give the team a mixture of hitters with everything from speed, to distance off the bat.

"The tides are changing in our offense and program. Each year we make the changes to become a Top-25 team. That change is evident in our offense," said Holas. "We are no longer one dimensional. We can still hit the longball, but we have added some speed and some clutch-hitting kids to produce runs without the ball leaving the park."

But just because more balls might be staying inside the fence doesn't mean that the team's ability to put runs and hits on the board is going to change. "Our numbers are still at the top of the conference, and expectations are that we are to out hit our opponents, but we are doing it one base at a time now," said Holas. "Look for some big hits from our seniors, All-Conference players, and for our freshman to add some speed. We want the total package to be on the field come February. Top 25 here we come!"

01-20-2005 12:15 PM
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