May 14, 2009
STARKVILLE, Miss. -
Illinois State sophomore third baseman Abby Olson was named to the Mideast All-Region Team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Thursday. Illinois State has had a player named to the all-region first team in each of the last four seasons.
Olson was a first team All-Valley selection after leading the Redbird offense this year. She led the Redbirds in batting average (.338), home runs (11), RBI (30), slugging percentage (.641) and on-base percentage (.432). She also had 11 doubles and 22 runs. All of those numbers are higher than the ones she recorded as a freshman last season.
Olson was named MVC Player of the Week April 20, the only Redbird to earn the honor this season, after batting .500 (8-16) with three doubles, two home runs and four RBI. She had 13 multi-hit games, including two with three hits.
Olson was one of three third basemen named to the first team, along with Appalachian State's Katie Boyd and SIU-Edwardsville's Lauren Zembruski.
