New faces ready to shine

Seven newcomers will make their debut in a Knights uniform this weekend, joining 10 returners for the 2010 season.

Freshman pitcher Kazandra Holiday joined the program from Bermerton, Wash. Although she picked up pitching later on in her softball career, Holiday won many awards in high school. 

Holiday was named to the All-Kitsap County All-Star team in four consecutive years and added the All-Olympic League honors to her list of awards. 

She set two records her senior season, claiming the single-season strikeouts and career strikeouts records. Holiday struck out 236 batters in 2009 and 664 in her four-year tenure.

"We have a little more control with the two seniors (Ashleigh Cole and Kristina DeMello)," Holiday said. "Having some backup pitchers like the two juniors that are going to work their way up as seniors next year, and I have my way as a sophomore."

Marissa Menendez comes to UCF from Tampa, playing softball and volleyball at Chamberlain High School all four years. 

UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said Menendez is one of the anchors on the team will play at first base.

"Great glove, great feet," Luers-Gillispie said. "She's learned the position, never played it before, but she's learned the position this year. In practices, she has really stepped up and done a great job."

In 2009, Menendez was named All-Western Conference and Florida High School All-State first teams. She was also named the Prime Time Player of the Year that same season.
In her freshman year, she received the Rookie of the Year honor and the following year won the team's Best Offensive Player award.

From Lakewood, Calif., Arielle Palafox looks to fill up the gap left by Breanne Javier at first base. 

Palafox said playing at the collegiate level is faster paced and more competitive than travel and high school softball.

At Lakewood High, she earned the All-Moore League First Team honor, along with the team's Most Valuable Player award in her senior season.

For Lindsey Palusis, she served as the team manager in the fall before earning a spot on the team. The junior attended Florida Community College at Jacksonville. Last season, she played and led her team to the state championship 

Palusis is an Orlando native and lettered in softball and weightlifting at University High School. She served as her team's captain for three-consecutive seasons.

Another Tampa native, Ashley Schmitt, enters her first season with the Knights in her junior year. Schmitt spent one season at Hillsborough Community College before transferring to Santa Fe in Gainesville.

Last season, the pitcher finished with a 19-3 record and a 1.19 ERA. Schmitt was selected to the All-Mid-Florida Conference second team.

Schmitt said she does not believe that it is about one player but instead of how an individual can work with the rest of the team for the common goal.

"The tournament at the beginning of the season is going to be our hardest competition," said Schmitt, referring to the NTC Elite Invitational. "We have nothing to lose so we're just going to go out there and do the best that we can."

Freshman Sam Soltis comes to UCF from Plantation, having attended American Heritage High School.

Soltis was a three-sport athlete, playing volleyball and cross-country in addition to softball. The catcher helped guide her to team to the 3A Florida High School State Championship three out of her years.

In 2005, Soltis won the Iron Man of the Year Award and the Offensive Player of the Year in 2007.

The final of the team's new players is Tawny Swan, out of Gilbert, Ariz. Swan enters 2010 in her junior season, having played at Scottsdale Community College.

The outfielder was named to the 2009 NJCAA Division II Preseason All-America Third Team and led her team in 10 offensive categories.

In 2008, Swan hit .512 and was named to the All-Regional First Team and All-ACCAC Second team.

All of the award-winning newcomers look to add something to the team in the 2010 season when they step on the field in their UCF uniforms.

The Knights will open their season this Friday at the NTC Elite Invitational in Clermont.