Jamaica, N.Y. - Head softball coach Melody Cope announced today that Kate Cucciniello (Humble, TX/Humble) has committed to attend St. John's University in the 2000-01 academic year.

In her first season at the helm of the Red Storm, Cope led the team to a 26-24 overall record and an 8-8 mark in the BIG EAST. It was the team's best performance since they posted a 25-21-1 record back in 1992.

Cucciniello has earned numerous athletic awards throughout her career, including being named the Female Athlete of the Year her senior season. A right handed pitcher, she posted a 12-7 record with a remarkable 159 strikeouts and 0.93 earn run average.

Cucciniello was named All-District First Team all four years of high school, and as a sophomore was named Second Team All Greater Houston. She led her teams to back-to-back Bi-District Championships her freshman and sophomore seasons.

For her career, she posted a 56-24 record for an outstanding .700 winning percentage. Cucciniello was a two-time MVP of the softball team, and also lettered two years in volleyball.