University of North Carolina Athletics
Two Tar Heels Earn All-America Honors
May 22, 2003 | Softball
May 22, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina softball players Jaclyn Holden and Tiffany Tolleson have earned All-America honors for the 2003 season, as announced Wednesday evening by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Both were named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America third team, marking the first time that two Tar Heels have been All-America selections in the same year. A total of 56 Division I players were named to the first, second and third teams, which are selected by position.
"It's exciting for us to have two players get to that level," UNC coach Donna J. Papa said. "It's a great way for Tiffany to finish her career and a great way for Jaclyn to start hers."
Tolleson, a senior center fielder who was a second-team All-America pick in 2002, is the first Carolina player to earn All-America honors twice. She led UNC with a .403 batting average this season and ranked first in the ACC in hits (79) and stolen bases (45). With a career total of 195 steals, she ranks third in NCAA Division I history.
Tolleson, from Winter Haven, Fla., played for two years at Stetson University before transferring to UNC. In just two years with the Tar Heels, she amassed 102 stolen bases, shattering the previous Carolina career record.
"Unfortunately her career here was short, but in those two years she really accomplished a lot as a player," Papa said. "To finish in the top three in NCAA history in stolen bases is really an accomplishment. The things she has done for our program are a tribute to her work ethic and her abilities."
Holden, a first baseman, is the first UNC player to earn All-America honors as a freshman and and one of just six freshmen named to the 2003 first, second or third teams. She batted .393 this season and led the ACC with a .765 slugging percentage. She set a school single-season record with 26 doubles and tied another with 140 total bases. Holden, from Santa Clarita, Calif., also led UNC with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs.
"She's put up some very good numbers as a freshman," Papa said. "She was explosive at the plate. For a first-year player to accomplish some of those things, it really makes you look forward to seeing her play in the future. She's a very talented and gifted player."
Both Tolleson and Holden also earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-Southeast Region honors this season.
Previous UNC softball All-America selections are Theresa Buscemi (1992, third team), Christine Kubin (1996, first team), Brandy Arthur (1998, first team), Kelly Ramsey (2000, second team) and Tolleson (2002, second team).
North Carolina finished the 2003 season 40-22-1, reaching the 40-wins mark for the fifth time in the history of the school's fastpitch program. The Tar Heels received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and traveled to Fresno, Calif., where they went 1-2 and were eliminated on May 16 with a 2-0 loss to Fresno State.
Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America Selections
First team: Pitcher-Cat Osterman (Texas), Pitcher-Keira Goerl (UCLA), Pitcher-Alicia Hollowell (Arizona), First Base-Stacey Porter (Hawaii). Second Base-Andrea Hillsey (Purdue), Third Base-Leah Gulla (Oklahoma), Shortstop-Natasha Watley (UCLA), Outfield-Janalisi Keohohou (BYU), Outfield-Iyhia McMichael (Mississippi State), Outfield-Autumn Champion (Arizona), Designated Player-Claire Sua (UCLA), Utility-Tairia Mims (UCLA), At-Large-Lovie Jung (Arizona), At-Large-Jenny Topping (Cal State Fullerton), At-Large-Lindsay Chouinard (DePaul), At-Large-Lauren Bay (Oklahoma State), At-Large-Jessica van der Linden (Florida State)
Second team: Pitcher-Michelle Green (Georgia), Pitcher-Kami Keiter (Oklahoma), Pitcher-Tia Bollinger (Washington), Catcher-Jami Trinidad (UC Santa Barbara), First Base-Veronica Nelson (California), Second Base-Brandi Stewart (Florida State), Third Base-Phelan Wright (Arizona State), Shortstop-Kristen Johnson (Iowa), Outfield-Courtney Fossatti (Arizona), Outfield-Nicole Barber (Georgia), Outfield-Kristen Zaleski (Southwest Texas), Designated Player-Lai-Kai Fennell (Cal State Northridge), Utility-Marissa Young (Michigan), At-Large: Christina Clark (Fresno State), At-Large-Jamie Southern (Fresno State), At-Large-Jackie McClain (Alabama), At-Large-Becky McMurtry (Louisiana-Lafayette), At-Large-Courtney Scott (California
Third team: Pitcher-Jodie Cox (Cal State Fullerton), Pitcher-Jessica Beech (Michigan State), Pitcher-Lisa Birocci (Iowa), Pitcher-Kristin Schmidt (Louisiana State), Catcher-Elisa Vasquez (Florida State), First Base-Jaclyn Holden (North Carolina), Second Base-Brynnen Guthrie (Oregon State), Third Base-Andrea Loman (Notre Dame), Shortstop-Emily Robustelli (Massachusetts), Outfield-Catalina Morris (Stanford), Outfield-Tiffany Tolleson (North Carolina), Outfield-Danyele Gomez (Louisiana-Lafayette), Designated Player-Saskia Roberson (DePaul), Utility-Sarah Martz (DePaul), At-Large-Andrea Vidlund, At-Large-Rachael McGinnis, At-Large-Sandy Lewis (Michigan State), At-Large-Amanda Hallaway (Hofstra), At-Large-Rosette Rough (Long Island), At-Large: Gina Oaks (Cal State Fullerton)
