ST. LOUIS -- Fifteen conference softball student-athletes have been named to the 2023 MVC Scholar-Athlete first team, including four repeat first team selections, as voted on by the league's softball sports information directors and announced by the Missouri Valley Conference office today.
Illinois State’s Emme Olson claimed the MVC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Olson has a 4.00 GPA in Integrated MPA program (accounting) and an Organizational Leadership minor. She has started and played in every possible game of her career so far (219 games & counting). Olson ranks in the top 10 in the MVC in overall batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits, RBI, home runs, and total bases as well as leading the Redbirds in hits, batting average, and RBI.
Illinois State, Missouri State, and UNI all placed three student-athletes on the first team. Indiana State and Southern Illinois eached claimed two spots while Murray State and Bradley earned one nod each. In all, seven conference schools are represented on the first team.
In order to be eligible, student-athletes must have at 3.5 GPA or higher, be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing and meet certain playing requirements.
(PDF Release)
2023 MVC Softball Scholar-Athlete First Team
Name, School Yr. Pos. GPA Major Hometown
Emme Olson, Illinois State @!$ Gr. 2B/UT 4.00 Integrated MPA Program Hartsburg, IL
Samantha Heyer, UNI @ R-Jr. P 3.95 Biology Charles City, IA
Hannah James, Murray State R-Sr. P 3.98 Learning & Behavioral Disorder Nicholasville, KY
Taylor Hogan, UNI @ R-Jr. 2B 3.98 Biology Waterloo, IA
Grace French, Bradley #*% Gr. P/UT 4.00 MBA Benicia, CA
Isabella Henning, Indiana State # Jr. 1B 3.73 Engineering Owensboro, KY
Olivia Krehbiel, Missouri State #! Sr. 3B 3.84 MBA Lee’s Summit, MO
Mackenzie Chacon, Missouri State So. P/1B 4.00 Speech-Language Pathology Oologah, OK
Olivia Patton, Indiana State # Gr. OF 3.84 Elementary Education Macomb, MI
Delainey Bryant, Illinois State # So. SS 3.92 Elementary Education Mattoon, IL
Madi Eberle, Southern Illinois Jr. P 3.81 Exercise Science Gibson City, IL
Dayna Kennedy, Illinois State # Sr. C 3.70 Health Informatics & Management Decatur, IL
Elizabeth Warwick, Southern Illinois Jr. OF 3.87 Finance Chattanooga, TN
McKenzie Vaughan, Missouri State So. P/1B 3.94 Exercise & Movement Science Bella Vista, AR
Kailyn Packard, UNI @ R-Sr. P 4.00 Elementary Education Beloit, WI
@ 2022 First Team; # 2022 Honorable Mention; * 2021 First Team; ! 2021 Honorable Mention; $ 2020 First Team; % 2020 Honorable Mention;
2023 MVC Softball Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention
Lindsey Carroll, Murray State; Emily Cockrill, Belmont; Grace Fleming, UIC; Danielle Henning, Indiana State; Hannah Kelly, UNI; Abbott Badgley, Bradley; Abi Ledbetter, Belmont; Baie Ensio, Belmont; Lexi Benko, Indiana State; Kristen Green, Belmont; Erin Lackey, Murray State; Hannah Ross, Illinois State; Abby Knight, Illinois State; Chloe Jefferson, Illinois State; Aubree DePron, Southern Illinois; Abi Chipps, Indiana State; Regi Hecker, Valparaiso; Emma Summers, Belmont; Hedi Wheeler, Drake;
2023 MVC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Emme Olson, Illinois State
