Former Softball Standout Kristen Dennis Reflects on her Career
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Jan. 27, 2003
During her final season with the Virginia Softball team, Kristen Dennis pitched back-to-back no-hitters in the Worth/Icebreaker Tournament in Cookeville, Tennessee in February of 2002. Dennis tossed her first two collegiate no hitters against Tennessee Tech (7-0) on Friday and Louisville (6-0) on Saturday. This feat was voted the top moment in UVA Women’s Sports for 2002 in the virginiasports.com fan poll.
“It being my last season I wanted to go out with a bang. I tried to take in each game and remember it. The back-to-back no-hitters were awesome because I had not accomplished that before in my UVA career,” Dennis said.
During her four years at UVa, Dennis was a four-year letterwinner, a two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA Second-Team All-American (2001 and 2002). She was also a three-time Southeast Region pick and a four-time All-ACC selection. As a pitcher, first baseman and designated player, Dennis holds the Virginia school records for career home runs (29), doubles (58), walks (144), RBI (158), and total bases (414). She is second at UVa in hits (255), batting average (.353) and games played (251). Dennis also holds the ACC record for walks and doubles and is second in home runs and RBI. In 2002, Dennis set UVa single season records for batting average with a mark of .417 (73-175) and total bases (134). She also broke her own single season school records for home runs (13), RBI (58) and walks (54) in 2002.
In September, Dennis also became one of the ten Cavaliers to be selected to the ACC 50th Anniversary Softball Team.
“It was such an honor to be named to the 50th anniversary team. I think the ACC is a very competitive conference and it was nice to be recognized with other great players from different schools and sports. It was also a way to see the players who make up the competitive spirit of UVA all at one time.”
Dennis is now a graduate assistant coach for the team while she is finishing up in the BSEd/MT program in physical education and health in the Curry School of Education. Although she enjoys working with the team, Dennis will admit that she misses being able to play for Virginia.
“It is a lot harder to watch the team compete than I had anticipated. I truly love the sport and competition. It is difficult to watch a team you have been playing with for 4 years.”
Dennis’s current experience as a graduate assistant coach is great preparation for the next level of coaching. Eventually, Dennis hopes to have a team of her own. While she is no longer playing for Virginia, Dennis still continues to play competitively in the summer on a woman’s fast pitch team based out of southern California.