2001 MAC Freedom Champions
Kneeling (L-R): Christen Piccola, Maria Zangardi,
Michele Dlugosz, Kylee Moose, Katie Seguin, Linda Manarchuck, Lisa Rizzo,
and Karen Ball.
Standing (L-R): Head coach Lisa Gigliello, Kate McGroarty, Kristin
Liggio, Suzanne Smith, Jess Harvey, Jen Petroski, Vanessa Bortree, Kim Ball,
and assistant coach Joanne Matt.
The King's College softball program has developed into one of the premier
programs in the Middle Atlantic College while making its name on both the
regional and national levels thanks in large part to the efforts of head
coach Lisa Gigliello.
The Lady Monarchs had always been a competitive program, but began their
climb among the elite when Gigliello took over in 1994 and instilled a
winning attitude personified by dedication and hard work.
In 1996, King's earned its first-ever post-season playoff berth when the
team advanced to the Middle Atlantic Conference Tournament "Final
Four". In 1997, the Lady Monarchs continued their
improvement and reached their first-ever 20-win campaign. After another
20-plus win campaign in 1998, the King's made history by winning its first
post-season championship ever when the Lady Monarchs captured the 1999
Eastern College Athletic Conference Southern Region championship.
In 2000, King's again reached uncharted waters as the Lady Monarchs
concluded its finest season ever by winning the MAC Freedom League
championship and MAC overall title, while reaching the NCAA Division III
National Tournament for the first time in school history. King's was
also selected to host the NCAA Regional Championships at Betzler Fields.
The Lady Monarchs amassed a school-record 38-6 mark that
season as Gigliello was named MAC Freedom "Coach of the
Year."
Angela Santucci was also named MAC
Freedom Most Valuable Player and was selected to the NCAA East Region
All-American team along with teammates Jen Hawker, Michelle Dlugosz, and
Ryan Purdy.
Since the 1997 season, King's has had gone 103-38-1. Since
Gigliello took over the program in 1994, a total of 25 Lady Monarch
players have been named to the MAC All-Star Team; 10 others have been
named NCAA East Regional All-Americans; while 26 student-athletes have
been named to the MAC All-Academic team. The Lady Monarchs have a
longstanding tradition of academic excellence, as evidenced by the King's
1999 squad which was ranked 18th nationally in Division III in team
grade-point average.
The Lady Monarchs traditionally play a 30-plus game schedule with an
annual spring trip to Florida as well as an additional early-season
tournament. The team prepares for its season with an ambitious fall
campaign as the team practices and competes in a series of games and
tournaments. The Lady Monarchs play their games at Robert L.,
Betzler Fields, King's 33-acre athletic complex.
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