July 21, 2003

Chicago, Ill. - UIC Co-Head Softball Coaches Tom Gray and Sarah O'Malley-Fisher announced on Monday afternoon that former Stanford pitcher Tori Nyberg has joined the Flames program as a volunteer assistant coach.

"Tori brings a wealth of knowledge to our program that will definitely benefit our pitching staff," O'Malley-Fisher said. "She has a great attitude and understands, having competed and excelled in one of the top conferences in the country, what it takes to be a champion.

"It's the same type of attitude we want to instill in all of our players here at UIC, if we are going to continue to be a successful program."

Nyberg will join second-year assistant Melissa Garvey, along with Gray and O'Malley-Fisher, in the Flames' dugout.

"We think Tori will compliment Melissa very well," O'Malley-Fisher said. "The two of them working together should help us tremendously."

Nyberg, who graduated from Stanford last spring with a degree in Psychology and is a native of Belmont, Calif., compiled 53 wins in the circle during her tenure with the Cardinal while earning All-Pac-10 recognition after both her junior and senior seasons.

Last year, Nyberg posted a record of 15-11 with a 1.79 ERA, including a team-high 128 strikeouts, which helped her earn All-Pac-10 honorable mention accolades. Her best season with Stanford came in 2002, as she posted a career-best record of 26-11 with a 1.51 ERA en route to Second Team All-Pac-10 honors.

Nyberg also pitched in the 2001 College World Series, dropping a tough 1-0 decision to Arizona in her lone start.

The UIC softball team will return eight starters to the field in 2004, including three-time all-region designated player Amanda Rivera and two-time all-league pitcher Alison Aguilar.