June 21, 2002

LYNCHBURG, Va. - University of Virginia softball player Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) has been named the 2002 Virginia College Sports Information Directors (VaSID) University Division All-State Softball Player of the Year as announced Thursday (June 20). Dennis, who claimed two spots on the All-State team as a pitcher and designated player, retained her title as the top player in the state of Virginia for the second-consecutive year. In addition to Dennis, UVa first-year Valerie Sevilla (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) was also selected to the 11-player VaSID All-State Softball Team as an outfielder.

The VaSID Player of the Year selection is the third such honor in 2002 for Dennis. In addition to the VaSID award, Dennis was selected as both the ACC and ECAC Player of the Year. Dennis, who just completed her fourth-year, was selected to the VaSID All-State Softball team as a pitcher and designated player for the second consecutive year.

In both 2001 and 2002, Dennis was a second-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American and a first-team All-Southeast Region pick. She was also named to the 2002 ECAC All-Star First Team as a pitcher after being selected as the designated player in 2001. Along with being named the ACC Player of the Year, Dennis earned All-ACC honors for the fourth consecutive year, becoming the first Cavalier to garner All-Conference honors four times. In addition, Dennis 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 of 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 25, Dennis is the only Division I softball player with at least 20 wins and a .400 batting average.

Sevilla hit an impressive .335 (57-170) in her rookie campaign. She started 51 of the 54 games she appeared in and stole 11 bases. Sevilla scored 28 runs and drove in 17. In addition to playing right field, Sevilla also pitched. She was 7-5 in the circle with a 1.51 ERA in 15 appearances. Sevilla had six complete games and posted three shutouts in 2002.

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.