March 2, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Breaking into the lineup, junior transfer Olivia Campos and freshman Marci Hill are the fresh faces in this week's Illinois State women's golf team line up as the Redbirds head to Winter Springs, Fla. for the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational.
Head coach Ray Kralis is confident in his newer players and excited to see who will be leading the Redbirds through the 54-hole tournament.
"This is an opportunity to see who really steps up this weekend," said Kralis. "Olivia and Marci are newer players and they have shown they are ready to go when they are called upon--proven players I know we can count on."
Both played as individual entries in the fall season's Lady Northern Invitational. Prior to becoming a Redbird, Campos transferred from Mesa Community College where she was the 2005 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
Kralis looks at their experience as a way of preparing for the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships in April.
"We are looking for a strong team effort and to continue to make progress," said Kralis. "It is early in the season to have the opportunity for everyone to compete and it will help find the best line up for the MVC Championships."
Competing alongside Campos and Hill are 15-time Valley Player of the Week Samantha Richdale and 2005 All-Missouri Valley Conference selection Ashlie Rose.
Hosted by Rollins College, the invitational contains a 13-team field including Barry University, Daytona Beach Community College, Florida Southern, Lynn University, Methodist College, Nova Southeastern, Richmond, Stetson, Tarleton State, West Florida and Western Washington.
The first 18 holes will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m., on Monday, March 6 at the Tuscawilla Country Club in Winter Springs, Fla.
