May 8, 2000

GREENSBORO, N.C. - University of Virginia first-year softball player Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) has been selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Rookie of the Year in a vote of the conference's five head coaches. In addition, second-year first baseman/pitcher Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) has been named to the 2000 All-ACC Softball team.

Rojas is the second consecutive UVa player to earn ACC Rookie of the Year honors as Dennis garnered the award same award last season. Rojas was Virginia's third leading hitter in 2000 with a .294 batting average. She appeared in 62 games and started 58 and was fourth on the team in RBI with 23, just on shy of the team high. Rojas was third on the team in hits and doubles with 53 and 11, respectively. She split time starting at shortstop and designated player for the Cavaliers. Rojas was also named to the ACC All-Tournament team after hitting .389 (7-for-18) in five games.

Dennis earned All-ACC honors as a first baseman. It marks the second consecutive season that Dennis has captured All-ACC honors. She led the 'Hoos in hitting in 2000 with a .312 batting average. Dennis tied with two other players for team-high honors in RBI with 24 and was the Cavaliers' leader in walks with 21. She was second on the team in hits (58), doubles (13) and tied for second in home runs (3). Dennis led UVa with 260 putouts and registered a .971 fielding percentage. As a pitcher, Dennis was 6-13, but led the team with a 1.89 ERA. She pitched 133.2 innings and struck out 120 batters while holding opponents to a .203 batting average.

Virginia finished the 2000 season with a 27-38 overall record and tied for third in the ACC with a 3-5 mark. UVa was also 5-5 in the Southern Atlantic Softball Alliance.

The entire 2000 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Team follows:

ACC Player of the Year: Michelle Semmes, North Carolina
ACC Rookie of the Year: Ruby Rojas, Virginia
ACC Coach of the Year: Donna Papa, North Carolina