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May 10, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia fourth-year softball player Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) has been named to the 11-member 2002 Verizon Academic All-District III University Division Softball Team. With her selection to the District III team, Dennis is now eligible for national Verizon Academic All-America honors.
Dennis is a starter at pitcher and designated player for the Cavaliers in 2002. A 2001 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Second Team All-American, Dennis is hitting a career best .419 in 2002 and is also 23-10 with a 0.92 ERA in the circle. Dennis is 72-172 at the plate with 18 doubles, 13 home runs, 56 RBI, 133 total bases and 48 walks, all of which are career bests. She has set new Virginia career records in homers, RBI, total bases and walks in 2002. Dennis, who has started all 64 games for UVa this season thus far, is the Cavaliers’ career record holder in doubles (58), home runs (29), RBI (156), walks (138) and total bases (413).
In addition to a 23-10 record and 0.92 ERA in the circle in 2002, Dennis has recorded 277 strikeouts in 205.2 innings. She has walked just 43 batters and possesses a 6.4 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio. Dennis has appeared in 39 games as a pitcher with 23 starts, 20 complete games and nine shutouts. As of games played May 5, 2002, Dennis is the only Division I player with at least 20 wins and a .400 batting average.
Dennis, who is majoring in health and physical education, was recently presented the Virginia Athletic Department’s Distinguished Student-Athlete Scholarship Award. She has been named to the Dean’s List four times and is a member of UVa’s Captain’s Council. Dennis has also been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll.
The Virginia softball team is currently 44-20 on the season and competes in the 11th annual ACC Softball Tournament May 10-12 in Tallahassee, Fla. The Cavaliers open the tournament against North Carolina on Friday (May 10) at 3:00 p.m.
To be nominated for the Verizon Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his/her career. No athlete is eligible until he/she has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing in his/her career. District III consists of schools from the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.