2007 Season Opens with Red Desert Classic

PROVO -- The BYU women's softball team opens the 2007 season with the Red Desert Classic in St. George, Utah. The tournament, which is being co-hosted by BYU and UVSC, begins Thursday, Feb. 8, and ends Saturday, Feb. 10.

After finishing with a 43-22 record last season, the Cougars are aiming for their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament. The journey begins this week, and head coach Gordon Eakin says his team is prepared.

"We're ready to play," Eakin said. "We're tired of practicing, and we're ready to get out and compete against someone other than ourselves. I think we've done everything we can to prepare, and I'm excited to see how we'll be."

BYU went 5-1 in preseason play against four of the five teams it will face this weekend. The Cougars will kick off the Classic against Idaho State on Thursday. The team will wrap up the weekend with double-headers against Utah State and Southern Utah on Friday and against UVSC and Loyola Marymount on Saturday.

To view the complete tournament schedule, click here.