Sept. 6, 1999

AMHERST, Mass. - Former UMass star Danielle Henderson (Commack, N.Y.) has been named to the United States Olympic Softball Team that will compete in the 2000 Sydney Games. The 15 player roster was was announced today upon completion of the Olympic Trials in Midland, Michigan, Sept. 2-4. Henderson is one of five pitchers on the 15 member squad. She is the only new pitching addition to the team, the other four were all on the 1996 Olympic Team that captured the gold medal. The team will head to the Bank of America US Olympic Cup in San Diego, Calif. from Sept. 10-12.

Henderson enjoyed an excellent summer as a member of the U.S. National Team. She played a key part in the US capturing the gold medal in both the Canada Cup and the Pan American Games. In the Pan American Games, Henderson hurled two perfect games and a one-hit shutout, striking out 32 in 15 innings of work. In the Canada Cup, Henderson was 3-0 with 30 strikeouts, including a no-hitter in her first outing.

“ I am excited and honored to be representing the United States in the Olympics,” said Henderson via telephone. “I have dreamed of being an Olympian since I started to throw a softball, and I am thrilled to have that dream finally come true. I was nervous waiting to hear if I made the team, but when I did I was just so happy.”

Henderson capped a brilliant career at UMass by winning the Honda Award for softball, presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate player. A three-time All-America selection, Henderson was named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year and Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Valuable Player for four straight years. The nation’s leader in strikeouts the last two seasons, she finished her career ranked second all-time in NCAA history with 1,343 career strikeouts. She threw three perfect games, and 14 no-hitters in her career as well as 72 career shutouts, which ranks 12th on the NCAA chart.

In 37 appearances in 1999, Henderson turned in a 30-4 record with 465 strikeouts, 0.39 ERA, while holding opposing hitters to a .090 batting average. Henderson also set a new NCAA record this year for consecutive scoreless innings, stringing together 105 frames without allowing a run to score from March 16-May 2. Henderson’s mark surpassed ex-UCLA great Debbie Doom’s 102 inning mark set in 1984. Henderson also earned 26 straight wins this season (February 27-May 20) which ranks among the top NCAA single-season streaks.

One of the most outstanding athletes in UMass history, Henderson rewrote the UMass record books during her four years, setting 25 school records. The owner of a 108-35 career mark, she led UMass to four straight Atlantic 10 titles and NCAA tournament berths and two straight Women’s College World Series appearances. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Regional in both 1997 and 1998. She joins Megan Donnelly, Patty Shea, Pam Bustin, Judy Strong (Field Hockey), Ron Villone (Baseball) and Briana Scurry (Soccer) as UMass athletes to compete on a U.S. Olympic Team since 1980. Former UMass field hockey coach Pam Hixon was the 1996 Olympic field hockey coach.