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Softball Announces 2010 Schedule
Sept. 28, 2009
CHICAGO - The UIC softball team announced its 2010 schedule on Monday, Sept. 28, with a rigorous tournament slate in store for the defending Horizon League regular-season champion Flames. "We are playing an extremely competitive schedule in the spring with several teams that closed out last season in the top 20," said head coach Michelle Venturella. "It will be a great experience to put ourselves up against the best so we know early on what we need to do to continue towards our goal of being a national contender." UIC's season gets underway in Miami, Fla. Feb. 12-14 at the Combat Classic, hosted by Florida International. The seven-team tournament includes NC State, in-state foe Southern Illinois, Providence and the host Panthers. The following weekend, the Flames travel west to the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas Feb. 19-21, and will face a trio of teams from last season's NCAA tournament field: California, BYU and Long Beach State. The month of March opens in-state with UIC at the Coach B Classic hosted by Southern Illinois from the 6-7. The two-day tournament slate features Western Illinois, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Kansas and the host Salukis. Another trek west will take the Flames to Tucson for the Wildcat Invitational March 12-14. UIC will face a perennial power in host Arizona under the lights on the opening Friday of the tournament at 9:00 p.m. CST. Other teams include Creighton, St. John's and Northern Colorado. The San Diego Classic on March 19-21 will be UIC's final tournament before the 2010 schedule takes the Flames back to the Midwest. A pair of NCAA tournament teams is on the docket in host San Diego State and Massachusetts, as well as Harvard, Kansas and San Diego. UIC will play at Flames Field for the first time in 2010 with a non-conference visit from in-state foe Western Illinois on March 28. That precedes a road trek east to open Horizon League play against Cleveland State on April 3-4, followed by a jaunt up to Rogers Park to face Loyola (Apr. 7-8) and a trip to Indianapolis to face Butler (Apr. 10-11). A short interlude from league play takes the Flames out to DeKalb for a doubleheader at Northern Illinois on April 14.
The lone homestand of the season when Valparaiso (Apr 17-18) and Green Bay (Apr. 21-22) visit UIC before the squad returns to the road for series at Younsgtown State (Apr. 24-25) and Detroit (May 1-2). The regular season closes out at home with Wright State capping things off before the league tournament on May 8-9. The Horizon League tournament will be hosted by the regular season champion from May 13-15. The Flames will look for a return to the championship game after finishing the 2009 campaign with a runner-up finish to Cleveland State. 10 players from last season's team, including All-League selections Brooke Frydendall, Ashley Hewett and Melinda Macias return alongside five outstanding newcomers to steer the 2010 squad to the program's first league championship since 2004. "We are excited about this schedule," said Venturella. "I look forward to getting the season underway, and know that we need to trust the journey." Fans can listen to podcasts featuring exclusive interviews with UIC head coaches, staff and student-athletes in two ways: 1. Download the free UIC Athletics Widget and click on the "UIC Flames Podcasts" link 2. Download podcasts for free on iTunes by searching "UIC Flames." Fans wishing to learn more about affordable and flexible UIC ticket plans are encouraged to call 312-413-UIC1 or visit www.uicflames.com and click on the "Tickets" tab on the Flames home page. |
