University of Richmond Athletics
Atlantic 10 Coaches Predict the Spring Season
01/14/2004 | Men's Golf
Jan. 14, 2004
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The Atlantic 10 conference's spring sport coaches have predicted how the 2004 seasons will conclude and six teams from the University of Richmond are among the top finishers. These teams include baseball, lacrosse, men's and women's tennis, golf and women's outdoor track.
After tying for fourth-place in the 2003 season, head coach Kevin Lynch and the men's golf team is expected to finish third this season. Kyle Hess (Buffalo, N.Y.), two-time New York State Amateur Championship winner, will lead the team.
Richmond baseball, with head coach Ron Atkins at the helm, is predicted to finish first in the West Division after claiming the 2003 A-10 title when they defeated Massachusetts at Pitt Field. In 2003, the Spiders finished 48-15, broke 11 records, had a record five players picked in the major league draft, competed in the NCAA Tournament and claimed the conference's Player of the Year Jim Fasano (Horsham, Pa.) and the Pitcher of the Year Tim Stauffer (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.).
Coming off their second consecutive conference championship appearance, the Spider lacrosse team is picked to finish first this season in a tie along with last year's champions Temple. Under third-year head coach Sue Murphy, Richmond returns third-team All-American selection Polly Purcell (Ellicott City, Md.) along with eight other players, from a team that last year posted a 12-6 overall record and went 6-1 in league play.
The women's outdoor track and field team is expected to finish second this season, following a runner-up finish last season. Third year head coach Lori Taylor returns thrower Diane Schreiber (Johnsonburg, Pa.) and sprinter Julee Wilson (Chester Springs, Pa.), who set the 100 and 200 meter dash records at 12.49 and 24.81, respectively, last season.
Picked to finish seventh, the men's outdoor track and field team looks to improve on last season's performances. Head coach Steve Taylor returns a squad that includes All- Conference honorees Joe Mallory (Montpelier, Va.) and team captain Tim Caramore (East Greenbush, N.Y.).
Richmond men's tennis is predicted to finish second in the A-10 after the Spiders ended their 2003 season with a second-place finish including a 15-11 overall record and 3-1 in Atlantic 10 action. Under head coach Steve Gerstenfeld, their season was highlighted by a seven-match winning streak and a victory over a nationally-ranked opponent.
After finishing the 2003 season with a third-place finish, including a 9-9 overall record and 3-1 in conference action, the women's tennis team, coached by Mark Wesselink, is picked to finish first in the conference.
