April 20, 2009
ST. LOUIS -
For the second time in her two-year career, Illinois State sophomore utility player Abby Olson has been named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Also earning the honor was Creighton utility player Renae Sinkler to make the duo co-conference players of the week.
Olson is the third Redbird to earn the MVC Player of Pitcher of the Week honor this season. Freshman pitcher Jordan Birch has earned The Valley Pitcher of the Week distinction twice (March 2, April 6), while senior Amber Smith earned her first-career MVC Pitcher of the Week award March 30.
Olson was a dynamic offensive force during Illinois State's five games played last week. She finished the week leading the team in every major offensive statistical category, including batting average (.500), runs scored (4), hits (8), doubles (3), home runs (2) and RBI (4). She also recorded a 1.063 slugging percentage, while getting on base in 56 percent of her at-bats.
The Hartsburg, Ill., native began the week with a solo home run at No. 20 DePaul April 15. That home run was the Redbirds' lone run scored in the game, and was the near-game-winner until a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning led to a 4-1 DePaul win. She followed up that hit with a double in game two against the Blue Demons, one of her three doubles on the week, to drive in one of two Redbird runs scored in the 5-2 loss.
Olson really hit her stride in Illinois State's 2-1 series win over Wichita State last weekend. There, she hit .455 (5-for-11) with two runs scored, two doubles, three RBI and a .909 slugging percentage in just three games played. Olson delivered her biggest hit of the week in the series finale Sunday. With the game tied, 5-5, in the top of the eighth inning and two runners on base, Olson hit the game-winning three-run home run to clinch the series win for Illinois State and give the Redbirds their first extra-inning victory of the season in five tries.
Olson was previously named State Farm MVC Player of the Week March 5, 2008.
Illinois State will return to action at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday when it takes on Indiana State in a single midweek conference game in Terre Haute, Ind.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, TRC gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
