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Softball Kicks Off Season with Campbell/Cartier Classic This Weekend
Feb. 14, 2012
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - UP NEXT: 22nd-Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic USD's Schedule Complete Campbell/Cartier Schedule Tournament action can be followed at the official tournament website by clicking here or by clicking on the "Campbell/Cartier Classic" tab on the softball home page at www.usdtoreros.com. Teams competing: San Diego, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, Boise State, Washington, Notre Dame, UC Davis, Oregon State, Central Florida, UCLA. ON THE RECORD: USD all-time vs. this weekend's opponents: USD vs. Notre Dame: 1-0 USD vs. Oregon State: 2-9 USD vs. Boise State: 3-2 USD vs. UC Davis: 0-4 BOMBS AWAY: Senior catcher Taylor Hensley became USD's career home run leader with her eight home runs last season. She now has 26 total career long balls, which puts her seven ahead of previous leader Jeanne Weinsheim (19). Hensley also holds the USD single season record with 11 home runs during the 2010 season. Aside from her prolific home run totals, Hensley is second in the USD record books in career slugging percentage (.547) and fourth in career RBI (101). Weinsheim leads in both of those categories with a .738 career slugging percentage and 153-career RBI. TIESZEN TIES CONSECUTIVE HR MARK: Senior second baseman Jessica Tieszen (White Rock, B.C.) started her Torero career last season in remarkable fashion by hitting a home run in four-straight games to tie the PCSC mark. She hit five HRs in the four-game span from Feb. 27-March 5 against Seattle, UNLV, Troy and Bradley. Tieszen belted two HRs in the game against the Rebels. In the four-game stretch, Tieszen went 10x15 with five HRs and 11 RBI. The four-game stretch was part of a season-opening 11-game hitting streak, after Tieszen transferred to San Diego from Point Loma Nazarene. The HRs in four straight games tied the mark set by Loyola Marymount's Chelsie Tysdal (2006-09) from Feb. 5-7, 2009. TOREROS TABBED SECOND IN PCSC PRESEASON POLL: The USD softball team was picked to finish second in the Coastal Division of the 2012 Pacific Coast Softball Conference preseason coaches poll, released by the conference on Feb. 2nd. The Toreros garnered two of the 12 first-place votes from conference coaches, including two votes to win the conference overall. USD received a total of 56 points overall. Coastal Division-favorite and defending Coastal Division champion Loyola Marymount took home nine first-place votes and 69 overall points. LMU also received five votes to win the overall conference championship. Behind USD was Sacramento State (52 pts.) in third, followed by Saint Mary's, who received the last first-place vote, Cal State Bakersfield (26), and Santa Clara (14). FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE: USD provides live Gametracker stat updates during home games and away games where available. Visit the USD softball schedule at www.usdtoreros.com and click on the "Gametracker" link to follow the action live. RECAPPING 2011: The Toreros look to build on the most successful season they've had during Melissa McElvain's 10-year tenure as head coach. USD's 24-19 overall record tied for the most wins under McElvain and also marked their first winning season with McElvain at the helm. The Toreros finished second in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, which was the highest finish ever for the team, and concluded the year with a 14-6 PCSC record. USD can attribute a lot of their success to the defense, which set a new team record for fewest errors committed in a single season with only 52. On offense, PCSC Coastal Division Player of the Year Taylor Hensley became USD's all-time home run leader by clubbing eight home runs on the year, giving her 26 for her career. Besides Hensley, the Toreros placed six players on the All-PCSC teams. Pitcher Kaitlin Healy joined Hensley as first-team selections, while second baseman Jessica Tieszen, outfielder Dana Prelsnik, pitcher Cassidy Coleman, and outfielder Lauren Tomey were named to the second team. Meanwhile, Kimberlee Shimizu took home honorable mention honors for her work as a utility player. In addition, nine Toreros earned PCSC Commissioner's Honor Roll recognition for their success in the classroom. HEAD COACH Melissa McElvain: Melissa McElvain enters her 11th year as USD's head softball coach. During her tenure at USD, McElvain has coached 39 All-Pacific Coast Softball Conference honorees, including 2011 Coastal Division Player of the Year Taylor Hensley and two PCSC Freshmen of the Year in Jennifer Ellenbeck (2007) and Rebekah Bradford (2004). Hensley also earned second-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region honors. Aside from their on-field success, McElvains's squads have featured 59 Toreros who have earned PCSC All-Academic recognition. In 2006, McElvain coached catcher Sara Mason, who was named ESPN The Magazine third-team Academic All-America, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District, and PCSC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In 2010, Ellenbeck took home ESPN Academic All-America honors as well. In 2011, McElvain led the Toreros to a record of 24-19 (14-6 PCSC), matching the 2007 season (24-26) for the most overall wins and marking the first winning season for the Toreros since she took over prior to the 2002 campaign. USD's second place finish in the PCSC Coastal Division standings was also the team's best finish during her tenure. A 1999 graduate of Oklahoma State, McElvain (formerly Turley) earned All-Big XII honors while playing catcher and second base, as well as conference honors. She ranks in the Top-20 all-time at OSU in several categories, including games played, hits, total bases, doubles, RBI and stolen bases. McElvain led the Cowgirls to three post-season appearances and a third place finish in the 1998 Women's College World Series. While at Oklahoma State, she earned All-Big XII academic honors while attaining a Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Marketing. Additionally, she earned the OSU Community Service Contribution Award (1997-98); the NCAA Leadership Award (1998); and was a four-year SAAC Representative, serving as SAAC President in her senior year. McElvain completed her Master's Degree in Leadership Studies in 2006 from the University of San Diego. Prior to her appointment as softball coach she was Assistant Sports Information Director at USD for a year-and-a-half. A native San Diegan, McElvain attended nearby Patrick Henry HS. Melissa, her husband Ryan and their daughters Mia and Kamryn reside in San Carlos.
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