May 23, 2002

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - University of Virginia softball player Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) has been named to the 2002 Division I Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-America second-team as announced at the Women's College World Series Wednesday evening (May 22). Dennis is one of 18 players named to the second team. Eighteen players were also chosen for the first team, while 19 players compose the third team.

Dennis, a UVa team co-captain in 2002, was selected as the utility player for the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division All-America second-team. Dennis was also a second-team All-American in 2001 as she was chosen as a designated player. She is just the second Virginia softball player to earn All-America accolades. UVa's first All-American was Eileen Schmidt, who garnered third-team All-America honors in 1994.

Dennis was a pitcher/first baseman/designated player as a fourth-year in 2002. She was a first-team All-Southeast Region pick as a utility player, which made her eligible for All-America honors. It marked the third time she garnered All-Region honors. Dennis was also a first-team pick in 2001 and a second-team selection in 1999. In addition, she was chosen as the 2002 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and earned All-ACC honors for the fourth consecutive season. Dennis is only the second UVa performer to be named the ACC's Player of the Year and is the first Virginia player to earn All-ACC accolades four times. She was the recipient of the Virginia Athletic Department's Distinguished Student-Athlete Scholarship Award and was named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District III University Division Softball Team.

In 2002, Dennis set UVa single season records for batting average with a mark of .417 (73-175) and total bases (134). Dennis also broke her own single season school records for home runs (13), RBI (58) and walks (54) this season, and set a career best in doubles (18). She also had an on-base percentage of .547 and a slugging percentage of .766. Dennis holds the ACC records for career doubles (58) and walks (144) and is second all-time in home runs (29) and RBI (158). In addition to establishing Virginia's career records in doubles, walks, home runs and RBI, she holds the school record in total bases with 414. Dennis is second all-time at UVa in career batting average at .363 (255-703), hits (255), at-bats (703), and games played (251).

In the circle in 2002, Dennis was an impressive 24-11 with a 0.97 ERA. In 217 innings or work, Dennis struck out 293 batters while walking 45 for a 6.5 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio. She made 41 pitching appearances in 2002 with 25 starts and 21 complete games. Dennis recorded nine shutouts and one save while limiting opponents to a .188 batting average. As of games played May 19, Dennis is the only Division I softball player with at least 20 wins and a .400 batting average.

Virginia concluded the 2002 season with a 45-22 mark. The 45 victories are the second most in program history, only surpassed by the 2001 squad's school record 52 wins.