2008 Woodie Awards
Women earn first NCAA tournament bid since 2003
Mike Daly
Issue date: 5/7/08 Section: Sports
|
Despite falling last weekend in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament, the 'Hawks (30-8) received an at-large bid Monday morning and face Coe College Kohawks (31-14) tomorrow at 2 p.m.
The regional, hosted by Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., features a double-elimination format and also includes No. 1-ranked DePauw University, No. 6 Wartburg College, No. 16 Washington University, Maryville University, Tri-State University and Alma College.
'Hawks coach Brenda Volk said she wasn't surprised the 'Hawks received an invite.
"We had a good in-region record, and we were ranked second in the region," she said. "Oshkosh was the team ahead of us, so if we couldn't win the [WIAC] tournament and if Oshkosh did, I thought we had a pretty good chance."
The 'Hawks have three seniors on their roster and no one with experience in the national tournament.
"I'm not concerned about [the lack of experience], because of the team's attitude," Volk said. "They're pretty confident, and they think they can play with anybody. The junior class has been getting a lot of playing time the last couple of years."
One of Volk's key juniors is centerfielder Amy Gahl, who last week was named Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Player of the Week. From April 21-28, Gahl hit .515 with three home runs and 12 RBIs. The strong effort helped the 'Hawks claim the regular season WIAC title and rise to No. 17 in the NFCA Division III Top 25 poll, marking the first time they've been ranked this season.
"[Being named player of the week] was pretty cool and completely unexpected," Gahl said. "But it's completely overshadowed by the fact that we did win conference, and we are in the tournament. It was cool, but I'm just more focused right now that we're going to regionals."
Be the first to comment on this story