Head coach
Melinda Fischer and the Illinois State softball team heads to Miami, Fla., to open the 2003 season at the Fun and Sun Classic, hosted by Florida International Friday, January 31 - Sunday, February 2.
Illinois State will face Kentucky to start the tournament at 11 a.m. Friday, followed by Florida International at 4 p.m. The Redbirds will begin Saturdays action against No. 17 Georgia with an 11 a.m. start time. The four teams will then be seeded with the No. 1 team facing the No. 4 team at 4 p.m. and the No. 2 team taking on the No. 3 team at 6:30 p.m.
The tournament will conclude on Sunday with a 10:30 a.m. consolation game and a 1 p.m. championship game.
The January 31 start date marks the earliest season start n Fischers 18-year career. Fischer feels this will only benefit the team.
This gives us a great opportunity to get out early and see what our strengths and weaknesses are at this point, said Fischer.
Last year, the team went 1-4 at the tournament, facing the same competition. The 2002 Birds opened the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Florida International. The Redbirds then came back with a 9-3 win over Kentucky. Illinois State finished the tournament with three losses -- 9-5 vs. Georgia, 4-0 to Florida International and 12-0 against Kentucky.
Fischer looks at this tournament as an opportunity to try different combinations and evaluate play.
We are not only looking to improve upon last season, but one of our goals is to improve every time we step on the field, said Fischer. It is important that we play teams that are competitive because it helps us evaluate our own play and better ourselves.
The Redbirds finished last season with a Valley regular-season championship title and will open the 2003 Valley season at home at the Redbird Softball Complex on March 15 against Northern Iowa.
