Softball's 2005 Schedule Features Nine 2004 NCAA Tournament Teams
11/11/2004 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Nov. 11, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
Click Here to View 2005 Schedule
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Following a Missouri Valley Conference regular season title and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and rankings in the final NFCA Top 25 Poll for the first time in school history, the 2005 season won't be any easier for Southern Illinois head coach Kerri Blaylock and her softball program.
Blaylock's 2005 squad may face the toughest schedule in school history, featuring at least nine 2004 NCAA Tournament teams, including NCAA runner-up California (#2 in final NFCA poll) and Michigan (#9), both of whom advanced to the Women's College World Series.
"This is the toughest schedule we've had here since I've been head coach, and very likely since I've been at SIU over the last 15 years. We face California, who finished second at the Women's College World Series last year, and Michigan, who also played in the World Series," said Blaylock.
"We also have a chance to play Florida State (#5), who played in the World Series, at the Florida State Invitational. We play Florida, Michigan State, South Carolina, Georgia Tech (#22), Illinois (#17), Missouri and Creighton, all of whom were in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, so we're going to have a very challenging schedule."
Although the schedule is tough, Blaylock believes the schedule can't do anything but help her team, and that SIU may still be able to sneak up on some people despite their recent success.
"From what we're hearing from the NCAA and the committees, if you play a tough schedule, you get more looks as an at-large team for the tournament, even if you drop some of those games," stated Blaylock.
"I also think that it prepares us for the conference season, having faced some of the top teams in the country. If you bump them off, it's a great thing. We still may be able to surprise some people who will overlook us, because we lost five great seniors, and they don't know our freshmen or the other returning players."
The Salukis open the season at the Ole Miss Rebel Invitational Feb 12-13. The opponents at the Oxford, Miss. tournament are still yet to be revealed.
The next week SIU travels to Las Vegas, Nev. for the UNLV Rebel Invitational Tournament Feb. 18-20, where the Salukis will face three 2004 NCAA opponents, beginning with California to open the tournament, in addition to Michigan State and Florida. The Salukis will also face Iowa State and host UNLV.
The prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic follows on Feb. 25-27, featuring four teams that advanced to the Women's College World Series, in a field where 20 of the 24 teams were in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The Salukis first three games of the tournament are against 2004 NCAA teams South Carolina, Georgia Tech, and World Series participant Michigan, before beginning bracket play.
"The NFCA Leadoff Classic is a prestigious thing and I'm just happy the kids get to experience this tournament. It's going to be very tough down there, Blaylock added. "The last time we went (1999) we finished 2-4, but two of the losses were to Fresno State, who I believe went on to win the national championship that year."
The Salukis will host the annual Kay Brechtelsbauer Southern Classic on March 5-6, featuring games against Valparaiso, Kansas and Ball State at Charlotte West Stadium.
SIU ends its run of five tournaments with a trip to the 12-team Florida State Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla. March 11-13. Southern Illinois' opponents are still to be determined.
The Salukis will play a single game against Missouri and a doubleheader against Illinois, both 2004 NCAA Tournament teams, in Carbondale. SIU also plays non-league games against Samford, Wright State, Saint Louis and SE Missouri State.
The MVC schedule features two-time MVC Tournament champion and NCAA participant Creighton, as well as a solid group of Valley teams.
In addition to helping prepare the Salukis for the 2005 MVC season, the high-profile schedule will help attract future recruits, and fire up the kids currently in the program.
"Having a schedule likes this really helps with recruiting. You can tell a recruit that you're going to be playing against these top teams, and not just in the Midwest. We go south and out west, and play some of the best teams in the nation," said Blaylock.
"They also know that we've beaten teams like Alabama and Fresno State recently, and it brings you good publicity, which can't do anything but help the program. The kids love it. They play with a chip on their shoulders to let people know who they are, and to show people that we have a solid program."
SIU is coming off a school record 45-win season, and returns 12 of the 17 athletes from the 2004 NCAA Tournament team, including First Team All-MVC pitcher Amy Harre and outfielder Katie Jordan, and All-MVC Honorable Mention catcher Amanda Clifton. Harre earned NCAA All-Regional Tournament honors each of the last two seasons.