P Jennie Finch - Sr. 32-0 record last year. Comes into the season with a 40-game winning streak. Had a 0.54 ERA and struck out 279 batters in 207 innings. Hit .313 with 11 home runs and 57 RBI's last year. Will play first base when not pitching.

P Jenny Gladding - So. 14-2 record last year. Will take over the role of the No. 2 starter replacing graduated senior Becky Lemke. Had a 0.92 ERA and struck out 148 batters in 99 innings. Hit .357 with nine home runs and a team-high .911 slugging percentage last year.

C Mackenzie Vandergeest - So. Will take over everyday duties as catcher after spending last season in right field. Hit .339 with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs. Is the returning leader in both categories. Possesses a strong throwing arm and a good sense of the position.

1B Leneah Manuma - So. Will trade off with Finch at first base. Should see time as the designated player when not in the field. Hit .349 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs. Is the leading returnee with a .994 fielding percentage.

2B Lisha Ribellia - Jr. Will be the everyday second baseman after sharing time at the position last year. Hit .214 with one home run last season. Is a contact hitter who will try to slap the ball for hits.

SS Lovie Jung - Jr. Sat out last season after transferring from Fresno State. Hit .391 with 34 RBI's and 19 extra-base hits for the Bulldogs during the 2000 season.

3B Jackie Coburn - Fr. Earned the Gatorade Award as the top player in the state of Arizona last year while a senior at Phoenix North Canyon High School. Possesses a good glove and an explosive bat. Will also serve as backup catcher.

LF Courtney Fossatti - Fr. Two-time All-American and two-time state player of the year at Foothill High School in Santa Ana, Calif. Has an extremely strong arm. Was a four-time scholar athlete in high school.

CF Crystal Farley - Fr. Four-time letterman at Lompoc High School in Lompoc, Calif. Has a good bat as well as outstanding instincts in the outfield.

RF Candace Abrams -Fr. Redshirted her freshman season. Was a four-time letterman at Flowing Wells High School in Tucson. Has a powerful swing that should produce a lot of home runs.

Bench

P Marrisa Marzan - Fr. Should start several games as the No. 3 starter. Will also back up at third base. Was a two-time All-American at Bullard High School in Fresno, Calif. Was named player of the year in California by Cal Hi magazine.

IF Rebecca Quiroz - Fr. Joined the team this spring after practicing with Pima Community College last fall. Lettered four times at Flowing Wells High School in Tucson where her father was the coach. Will likely be the back-up second baseman.

OF Meaghan Finnerty - Sr. Transferred from Cal State Northridge during the off-season. Was a three-year letterman for the Matadors. Hit .152 with 42 hits and 34 runs during her time her time with CS Northridge.

OF Carrie Hagen - Fr. Received the Orange County Athletic Directors Association Most Valuable Player award while at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, Calif. Was twice named her team's most valuable player.

OF Allyson Von Liechtenstein - Fr. Earned first-team all San Bernardino County four years while at Redland East Valley High school in Highland, Calif. Also was a four-time student athlete award winner.

Coaches

Head Coach Mike Candrea - This is Candrea's 17th year at Arizona. Has compiled a record of 871-172 and won six national championships with the Wildcats. Has led Arizona to 14 straight Women's College World Series appearances - one shy of an NCAA record.

Asst. Coach Nancy Evans - Begins her second season as assistant head coach. Graduated from Arizona in 1998 with a degree in psychology. Earned the 1998 Honda Player of Year award as the nation's most outstanding softball player. Finished career with a record 124-8 good for No. 1 all-time at Arizona and No. 3 all-time in the NCAA.

Asst. Coach Larry Ray - Returns to Arizona after starting the softball program at the University of Florida in 1996. Was the top assistant to Candrea from 1986-1995. Led Florida to two NCAA appearances and was named Southeastern Conference coach of the year in 1998.