In season that left a bitter taste in the mouths of the players of the Hornet softball team, it is hard to find a bright spot. But whenever head coach Kathy Strahan needed a play or someone to get the job done, she could count on sophomore Jillian Bivert.

The 1999 Woodland High School graduate started every game for the Hornets this season and was among the team leaders in every offensive, defensive, and pitching statistic. Bivert doubled as the Hornets number one pitcher as well as holding down the job at first base when not in the mound.

“We ask so much of Jillian and she responds incredibly,” Strahan said. “She hits in the third spot in the batting order, she?s our number one pitcher, and probably our most consistent player all around.”

With a team leading batting average of .320 and an earned run average of 1.96 and fielding percentage of .984, it would be hard to imagine how many games the Hornets would have won without Bivert. The Hornets, who came into this season with high hopes, showed signs of brilliance, but were unable to put things together to make a winning season.

“We have a lot of talent on this team,” Bivert said. “I just think that our inexperience and bad luck contributed to our loses.”

Although only a sophomore, Strahan put a lot of responsibility on Bivert?s shoulders, leaving one to believe that stress would become a factor in her performance. But, Bivert claims that stress is never a factor.

“I don?t ever feel stressed out on the field,” Bivert said. “I feel like I am out there for a reason and that is to play my best and I feel like I can do that every time I play.”

Strahan also believes that Bivert serves as a mentor to the rest of the team because of her double duty status as a pitcher and a hitter.

“She was critical for what success that we did have this season,” Strahan said. “Her teammates respect the job that she does because she knows what it takes to play at this level. If all of our younger players had that kind of knowledge we would be a lot more successful. I would say that she if probably one of the best utility players in the conference and there are a lot of great players in the Big West.”

Bivert, Strahan, and the rest of the Hornets would like nothing more than to put this season behind them and concentrate on the future and that is exactly what they are doing. Strahan already has a strong group of incoming freshmen lined up for 2002 including two top line catchers, which was one weak spot this season after losing senior Patty Villa to injury.

“We had to shuffle our line up when Patty went down and that hurt us a little bit defensively,” Strahan said. “We have a strong core of players coming back next season including all of our pitchers and hopefully the new additions will help tie everything together.”

Some of the top players returning next season will include pitchers Bivert, Nicole Deatherage, and Gina Steenburgen, who finished the season very strong after a slow start. Juniors Meghan Cunningham and Lori Meixner also return along with freshman Amber Dragomir.

“The only thing that I can see positive about this season is that these girls had to grow up through all of this,” Strahan said. “I question the coaching staff and our ability to prepare the team mentally and that is going to change. We will work the same amount of time on the physical conditioning, but we will also dedicate a substantial amount of time to the mental aspect during the off season.”