May 9, 2002

Roanoke, Va. - Villanova junior Theresa Hornick was named Big East Pitcher of the Year at the annual conference award's banquet on Thursday, May 4. Notre Dame senior Jarrah Myers earned Big East Player of the Year honors, while the Irish staff took home Coaching Staff of the Year accolades. Syracuse outfielder Tanya Rose captured the Rookie of the Year award. Voting was conducted among the league's 11 head coaches, who were note permitted to vote for their own players. The awards were announced in conjunction with the BIG EAST Softball Championships being held May 9-11 in Salem, Va.

Hornick, the 2002 Preseason Pitcher of the Year, tied the school single-season record for victories with 22 and is ranked 35th in earned run average (1.07) in the latest NCAA statistics (through games of May 5). In league play, the junior leads the BIG EAST in appearances (19), strikeouts (103) and opponents' batting average (.131). Hornick earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors twice and was named to the 2001 All-BIG EAST Second Team.

Myers, a 2001 third-team All-American, is the fourth Notre Dame player to win Player of the Year. In conference play, the senior led the league in six categories: batting average (.462), home runs (eight), runs scored (23), RBI (23), on-base percentage (.559) and slugging percentage (.962). The catcher was the 1999 Rookie of the Year and has earned All-Big East honors in each of her four years at Notre Dame.

Rose helped the Orangewomen to their first appearance in the BIG EAST Championship. In conference play, the outfielder ranks in the top 10 in eight categories: batting average (third - .444), hits (tied first - 28), stolen bases (third - 7), doubles (tied third - 7), RBI (fourth - 16), total bases (tied third - 43), on-base percentage (seventh - .470) and slugging percentage (sixth - .683).

First-year head coach Deanna Gumpf and assistants Charmelle Green and Kris McCleary guided Notre Dame to an 18-2 conference record and a seventh consecutive BIG EAST regular season title. On April 23, the Irish defeated Gumpf's alma mater No. 4 Nebraska, the highest ranked opponent Notre Dame has ever beaten. In the latest NCAA statistics (through games of May 5), ND ranked 10th in batting average (.307) and 12th in fielding percentage (.971).

Notre Dame dominated the all-conference teams, placing seven on the first team and three on the all-rookie team. Villanova and Syracuse had the second-most selections with five each.

Wildcat junior Sara Carlson was the team's lone first team selection, earning that status for the second straight season. Robin Flier and Lisa Krueger were selected to the All-Conference second team for Villanova, while Allison Wisniewski was named to the All-Rookie Team.

2002 Award Winners
Player of the Year: Jarrah Myers, Notre Dame
Pitcher of the Year: Theresa Hornick, Villanova
Rookie of the Year: Tanya Rose, Syracuse
Coaching Staff of the Year: Notre Dame


ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM

P Theresa Hornick, Villanova
P Steffany Stenglein, Notre Dame C Jarrah Myers, Notre Dame*
IF Andria Bledsoe, Notre Dame
IF Sara Carlson, Villanova
IF Andrea Loman, Notre Dame
IF Lisa Mattison, Notre Dame
OF Megan Ciolli, Notre Dame
OF Jenny Kriech, Notre Dame
OF Tanya Rose, Syracuse*
U Laura Taylor, Seton Hall
DP Julie Dunn, Syracuse*


ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM

P Heather Brown, Syracuse
P Tekae Malandris, Boston College
C Amy Voorhees, Virginia Tech
IF Cara Blumfield, Boston College
IF Clarisa Crowell, Virginia Tech
IF Kim Jackson, Seton Hall
IF Clare McCann, Pittsburgh
OF Robin Flier, Villanova
OF Jacqui Goodchild, Boston College
OF Lisa Krueger, Villanova
U Cori Van Dusen, Providence
DP Heather Andrews, Pittsburgh


BIG EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

Meghan Allman, St. John's
Jenny Card, Rutgers
Megan Ciolli, Notre Dame*
Jen D'Angelo, Connecticut
D'arcy Djakalovic, Seton Hall*
Katie Kaempfer, Syracuse
Tanya Rose, Syracuse*
Steffany Stenglein, Notre Dame*
Laura Taylor, Seton Hall*
Carrie Wisen, Notre Dame
Allison Wisniewski, Villanova

* - denotes unanimous selection
Due to a tie in the voting, there are 11 spots on the All-Rookie Team.