Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball To Host First MVC Tournament In 2004
05/21/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 21, 2003
Branson, Mo. - Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin announced on Tuesday at the MVC league meetings that the 2004 MVC Softball championship will be held at Charlotte West Stadium - Rochman Field in Carbondale, Ill. on May 13-15. The announcement includes a recommendation from the league's Joint Committee (faculty athletics representatives, directors of athletics and senior woman administrators of each institution). The site awards are subject to ratification at the Missouri Valley Conference Presidents' Council meeting, which takes place in June.
SIU athletics director Paul Kowalczyk attended the MVC meetings and was excited about the announcement, "I think it's a testament to the strength of our program and to the facility we have. We have a first class, first rate program and this is one of the rewards that comes with having a program in that standing. We're very excited about hosting the tournament. We have a tremendous coach and team coming back and we should be in the national hunt next year. We will do everything we can to make sure this is the best tournament that the MVC has ever seen for women's softball. We're ready to start playing now, that's how excited we are."
Saluki head softball coach Kerri Blaylock couldn't be happier with the decision, "I'm so excited that they awarded SIU with the tournament. We were passed over in 1998 or 1999, but we didn't have the improved requirements needed with the lighting and our field wasn't good enough, so we were passed over with a really good team. I'm just so happy that these kids, coming off the kind of year that we had, now get to host the tournament. No host has ever won the tournament, so we need to break the tradition, but I'm glad we get to have the MVC Tournament."
The 2004 softball championship will be played in Carbondale, Ill., for the first time since women's sports moved under the Missouri Valley Conference umbrella in 1993. The three-day tournament will be played at the new Charlotte West Stadium - Rochman Field (502 capacity). Southern Illinois, as host institution, receives one of the tournament spots in the six-team field. The tournament was awarded on a bid basis, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Southern Illinois last hosted a league softball tournament in 1990 as a member of the Gateway Conference.
"It was probably one of the easiest site selections we have made," said Patty Viverito, MVC Senior Associate Commissioner. "It's a great facility and it gives us a chance to honor one of our founding mothers, Dr. Charlotte West. We wanted to award a softball program that has been traditionally strong and has come off a great year."
The tournament will be an advantage for the team, but also provides SIU a way to involve the community and show people the quality of Charlotte West Stadium - Rochman Field.
"I like that we're hosting, not only for our kids and our parents, but I like it for southern Illinois, which is a big softball community. The fans will get to see all the quality teams, attend night games and experience the excitement that comes with the tournament and I'm really happy about that," added Blaylock.
"I think it's important for us institutionally to get our facilities out there and bring people from the community into the University setting and the new stadium. We were eager to get the exposure that goes with this. We have a fantastic facility so I think the people will be excited and that was displayed in the support shown for us hosting the tournament at the MVC meetings. People recognize what we're doing here and how good our facility is at SIU," added Kowalczyk.
The Salukis are coming off a record-setting season, finishing as an NCAA Tournament Regional finalist and one of the final 16 teams in the tournament, winning the school's first three NCAA Tournament games, earning SIU and the MVC's first NCAA Tournament at-large bid and collecting its first Top 25 national ranking, finishing #24 in the nation.
