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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia softball team, under the direction of second-year head coach Eileen Schmidt, commenced preseason practice this week in preparation for the 2009 campaign.
The Cavaliers return 12 letterwinners, including seven starters. Schmidt also welcomes four newcomers to the roster. The 2007 team finished with a record of 15-39 and went 6-15 in ACC play, five more conference victories than the team won the previous season.
“School doesn’t start until next week so what we ended up doing was bringing them back a week early, where we could get everyone on the same page,” Schmidt said. “From a physical standpoint, we want to get the rust out, but more from a mental standpoint, we wanted to get rolling.”
Virginia had five weeks off to prepare for exams followed by time at home to spend the holidays. Now the Cavaliers are in the midst of three-a-day practices before school starts back up next Tuesday.
“We came back in shape, healthy and rested,” Schmidt continued. “As a coach you worry because that is a lot of time to lose what you have built in the fall as well as the mental edge. We had a really good fall. We came back and we have the edge. We are still competitive and strong. The commitment level is there. That is allowing us to start where we left off and build from there.”
Virginia will be led in 2008 by its three seniors, including captain Casey Steffan, Karla Wilburn and Carly Winger, who was a 2007 second-team all-conference pick.
“It’s good to be back together as a team,” Steffan said. “We are looking forward to the rest of the week, getting classes started and getting in the swing of things.”
Four first-years Clara Kendall, Giannina Cipolloni, Rachel Harvey and Stephanie Coates will also be making an immediate impact for the Orange and Blue.
“The first-years look good,” Steffan continued. “They are a unique class in that they are going to get a chance to compete right away. We will have all of them on the field when they start the season and that is a unique opportunity. But they fit right in, which is great.”
The Cavaliers open the 2009 season against Middle Tennessee Feb. 7 in Greenville, N.C.