SUSIE LEMONT/Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior Lovieanne Jung peeks out from the shadows en route to being named this week's Pac-10 Player of the Week.

The softball program that UA head coach Mike Candrea molded 17 years ago is simple: it wins championships.

It brings NCAA and Pacific 10 Conference titles home to Tucson.

The nation acknowledges UA players as being the best in the game through the numerous accolades they're rewarded.

So it was no surprise that another award came Arizona's way this week.

Senior shortstop Lovieanne Jung was named the Pac-10 ÷ Player of the Week for Feb. 3.

ARIZONA TAKES ON: Minnesota ÷ Today 3 p.m. Northwestern ÷ Toady 5 p.m. Florida Int'l ÷ Sat. 3 p.m Arkansas ÷ Sat. 5 p.m. Washington ÷ Sun. 1 p.m.

There is a secret behind Candrea's formula for success.

While many of the UA players may be hundreds of miles away from their families, when they play for Candrea, he becomes their extended one.

"All the girls loved him and thought of him as a father," junior catcher Mackenzie Vandergeest said, on why she chose Arizona three years ago. "He's more than a coach and he's always there for us."

It's the father-like quality and strong concern for his players öö both on and off the field öö that attracted UA assistant coach and former Wildcat Nancy Evans to Tucson.

"It's his honesty and his true feeling of caring for me as a person and not just an athlete," Evans said. "There's a family atmosphere. I breathe red and blue and love Arizona. He's the best and my mentor."

While he has his son öö UA senior and volunteer assistant coach Mikel öö in the dugout, Candrea takes on his players as though they're his own.

"We spend a lot of time together and the downfall is that I don't spend much time with my own family. They're my extended family öö we have our ups and our downs."

No. 2 Arizona certainly hopes that it won't be facing any downs this weekend as it hosts the Pepsi Arizona Softball Classic.

The Wildcats face Minnesota and Northwestern on Friday and Florida International and Arkansas on Saturday.

No. 6 Washington öö the only other Pac-10 team participating öö concludes the tournament on Sunday.

It seems that Candrea's family-like environment has paid off for some of his young talent, especially freshman pitcher Alicia Hollowell.

Hollowell (5-1) struck out 15 batters öö a season high öö to start the Fiesta Bowl Tournament against No. 24 Texas A&M last weekend.

The next day, Hollowell showed her dominance as UA's top pitcher by throwing a no-hitter against Wisconsin.

Freshman outfielder and leadoff batter Autumn Champion, too, seems comfortable in the red and blue.

Champion went 4-for-5 and scored three runs against Mississippi State. Despite their youth on the mound, Arizona is off to a fast start.

While this weekend's tournament is it's first appearance at home, the Wildcats hope that UA's Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium brings them as much success as they saw on the road.