Samantha Richdale and the Illinois State womens golf team will close out their regular season April 18-20 at the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference Championship at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale, Ill. The Redbirds were picked to win the championship receiving five first-place votes and 59 total points.
A young nucleus of players looks to claim the championship for ISU. Sophomore Samantha Richdale has led the team throughout the year along with fellow sophomore Ashlie Rose. Freshmen Hilary Anderson and Chelsea Bach have also been integral parts in team finishes this season. Those four youngsters, along with junior Katie Laehn and senior Albiona Zhubi, will try to heal the wounds from last years championship playoff defeat.
Head coach
Ray Kralis feels the team has learned from its rounds this season and will handle things better this weekend.
Losing how we did last year, and losing the lead in the last round at the Illini Classic leaves a bad taste in your mouth, Kralis said. Last weekend we were in a position where we were leading and we hadnt been in that spot since the Redbird Classic because of the strengths of fields we play in. It was an unfamiliar spot, but it is a spot we hope to be in at conference this week. We have been there before and we can look at some of our mistakes and learn from them.
The team is very familiar with its number one ranking. The Birds were tabbed to win last years championship as well. Kralis credits the rankings to his players.
To me it is just a credit to the players and where the program is going, Kralis said. Id rather go in as the top dog. I dont mind having a target on our backs. I think we are the best team in the conference and I think the other coaches recognize that. Our young nucleus has established some dominance, and we want to go and prove we are worthy of that ranking.
This year marks the third time that SIU has hosted the event. In recent years the host school has not fared well in the MVC Championship. The last time the host school won the event was in 1999, when Bradley beat Wichita State by 13 strokes in Peoria, Ill. Since then, the host school has not finished better than third.
The opening round of the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference Championship will tee off on Sunday April 18. Teams will play 54 holes over three days on the par 72, 6,017-yard Hickory Ridge Golf Course. The winner of the Valley Tournament earns an automatic bid into the NCAA Regional Championship.
