SOFTBALL

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BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo head softball coach Marie Curran announced the early signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Dana Carter (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South), Kim Hanzlian (Cheektowaga, NY/John F. Kennedy) and Erin Zilka (Benicia, CA/Benicia) will all play softball and begin attending UB in the Fall of 2005.

Carter plays first base and pitches for nearby Williamsville South High School, the defending New York State Class A Champions who had an undefeated 28-0 season in 2004. She was an All-Western New York and All-State first-team selection and a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Third Team High School All-American. An all-around athlete, Carter is also an All-State performer in soccer, and she captains both the softball and soccer teams.

"Dana is a tremendous student-athlete," said Curran. "She is one of the best softball players in the Western New York area. Dana's six-foot frame will be an intimidating force at first base, and her speed and power hitting will both be assets to our program. Dana is also a gifted student and we're very excited that she chose to attend UB next Fall."

Another local recruit, Hanzlian, a catcher, was the ECIC Conference Player of the Year, an All-Western New York honoree and a second-team All-State selection last season. She is the captain of the softball and volleyball teams at JFK.

"Kim is an extremely talented student-athlete," said Curran. "She is one of the strongest and most powerful recruits to come to the UB softball program. Her athletic ability and her desire are going to be truly exciting to coach. As a catcher, Kim will do a great job with our pitching staff and make our infield even more athletic."

Zilka is an outfielder who was an All-Conference first-team honoree in the Southern California Athletic Conference last season. She is Curran's fifth recruit from the state of California, joining freshmen Lacy Schneider (Idyll, CA/Hemet) and Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont), senior Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan) and Erica Pace.

"Erin is such an exciting student-athlete to watch play," said Curran. "Her ability to play the outfield is only overshadowed by her power and finesse as a hitter. With the level of competition Erin has faced playing in Northern California, we anticipate her to be a force in our conference and, with experience in the college game, one of the best players we will have had the pleasure of coaching here at UB."

The Bulls are coming off a 25-23 overall record in 2004, their best yet at the Division I level. Buffalo opens the 2005 season on Friday, February 11 at the Arizona State Kajikawa Tournament.