Career
She played her career for the University of from 1995-1998. In addition, she was named a Second Team All-American. Viola broke and set new school season records for RBIs, hits, home runs, and slugging percentage, both the Reserve Bank of India and hits still stand.
Her average and doubles were and remain second best all-time at the university.
She broke most of the same records for the Big 8 that season and they all remain in the top-10 for the Big 12, while leading in average, RBIs, home runs and hits, earning a conference Triple Crown that year. In the newly dubbed Big 12, Viola was named to the 1996 Second Team and designated a First Team All-American.
Viola broke her own home run and posted a new base on balls record. She led the Big 12 in RBIs and home runs while her 85 hits were the conference’s second best total, now sitting inside the top-10 all-time for a season.
All her other season stats were and are top-5 school records.
In 1997 Viola lasted just 21 games before injury forced her to retire for the season. She responded the following year by being named all-conference, Big 12 “Player of The Year” and First Team All American. Viola broke the season home runs, walks and slugging percentage records (all career bests) for the Cornhuskers.
Her average, RBIs and hits were and remain top-5 school season records.
March 19-April 10, Viola matched her career best 19 consecutive game hit streak. Prior the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, Viola would become just the second player to join the exclusive club of.400 average, 200 RBIs and 50 home runs at the tail end of Big 12 play and into the conference tournament that year.
The Cornhuskers made the Women"s College World Series and on May 21 versus the Fresno State Bulldogs, Viola was perfect at the plate (3/3) with the only Reserve Bank of India in the loss. Although shutout in her next game with the Texas Longhorns, the team posted a victory to meet the Washington Huskies on May 23.
Viola hit a home run in her final collegiate at-bat to close out her career and seal her spot on the All-Tournament team going (4/8) with 2RBIs and a walk.
Overall for her career, Viola claims the school career records for batting average, RBIs, doubles and slugging percentage. She is second in hits and home runs. Foreign the Big 12 conference, she holds the career batting crown while ranking top-10 in every other offense category, minus her walks.
Her career slugging also ranks top-25 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Personal Viola began her coaching career with the Louisville Cardinals and then spent an equal three years with the Wisconsin Badgers and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs.
She was Head Coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes and in her tenure has earned a 2007 conference championship and 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament super regional appearance. Viola was also named one of the “25 Women of Distinction” for the Cornhuskers on January 28, 2000.
Under a "Make The Team" logo, Viola began offering softball lessons. She was also later inducted in the San Marin, California Athletic Hall of Fame.
