SHIFFLETT TABBED BIG SOUTH SOFTBALL PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR HIGHLANDERS PRESEASON FAVORITES

RADFORD, Va. – Radford senior shortstop Kristen Shifflett (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) was tabbed the 2011 Big South Softball Preseason Player of the Year and two-time league champion Radford was voted preseason favorites, announced Monday afternoon by the league office. It marked the second straight season for both recognitions.
 
Shifflett, a unanimous choice amongst the league head coaches, was the 2009-10 Big South Female Student-Athlete of the Year as well as the 2010 Big South and VaSID State Player of Year.
 
“The Mid-Atlantic Region First Team selection and two-time Big South Tournament MVP led the Conference in batting (.426), runs (58), runs per game (1.05), hits (78), hits per game (1.42), slugging (.760), on-base percentage (.478), total bases (139) and stolen bases (23). In addition, Shifflett ranked in the top five in home runs, doubles and RBI.
 
A three-time first-team Big South honoree, Shifflett is Radford's all-time leader in home runs (36) and runs scored (150), and is the first player in school history with 200 career hits prior to her senior year (201).
 
“The Highlanders, under fifth-year head coach Mickey Dean, received six first-place votes and a total of 48 points to finish ahead of Liberty (40 points) and last season's tournament runner-up Winthrop (33), which garnered the other first-place vote. ”  
 
Charleston Southern (25), Coastal Carolina (23), Gardner-Webb (20) and Presbyterian (7) rounded out the poll.

Dean guided Radford to the club's second straight Big South Championship and first-ever NCAA Regional finals appearance in 2010. The Highlanders, who recorded a 38-17 overall and 16-2 mark in league play, received a vote in the final 2010 NFCA Coach's Poll and finished with its highest end of the season RPI (40)..

Radford welcomes back eight starters and a total of 14 letterwinners from last year's squad. The Highlanders will begin the 2011 slate on Feb. 12 and 13 in Statesboro, Ga. playing two games each against host Georgia Southern and Mercer.