Jan. 24, 2006

Seattle, Wash. - In the preseason Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coaches Poll, Santa Clara was picked to finish fourth in 2006. The Broncos will be anchored by returning All-PCSC Second Team performers Jenny Brown and Jessica Clee, in addition to a strong senior class that includes Liz Courter, Kate Goethals, and Shannon Linerud. SCU opens its season on February 11, when it travels to Stockton, Calif. to battle the University of the Pacific.

Steve Rianda begins his first season at the helm of the softball program and along with Rianda, the Broncos welcome several newcomers into the fold, including four true freshmen and one transfer sophomore. In addition, several key players from last year's squad comes back to the Mission Campus to solidify the line-up, including juniors Angela Kabanuck, Jillian Cassel, and Valerie Mock and sophomores Jerrica Castagno, Sabrina Franks and Maggie Godfrey.

Loyola Marymount was selected as the favorite to repeat the PCSC crown, thanks in large part to reigning PCSC Player of the Year Margo Pineda and PCSC Pitcher of the Year in Tiffany Pagano. The Lions accumulated a total of 32 points, including four first-place votes.

Sacramento State and Portland State tied for second in the preseason poll, with the Hornets taking a first-place vote and the Vikings taking three second-place votes to garner enough points to finish for a tie in second with 26 points apiece. Santa Clara was next in line, with 17 points, while San Diego was not far behind, with 16 points good enough for fifth place. The Toreros received the league's final first-place vote. Saint Mary's rounded out the rest of the league with a sixth-place finish, despite returning Brownyn Russell, the PCSC Freshman of the Year.

2006 PCSC Coaches Poll
1. Loyola Marymount (4) 32 pts.
2-t. Sacramento State (1) 26 pts.
2-t. Portland State 26 pts.
4. Santa Clara 17 pts.
5. San Diego (1) 16 pts.
6. St. Mary's 9 pts.