ST. LOUIS - A program-record four Illinois State softball players have earned Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team recognition, as announced by the league office Monday afternoon. Redshirt senior outfielder Nichelle Harrison and sophomore pitcher Regan Romshek are first team selections, while redshirt senior third baseman Sara Bradley and senior first baseman Laura Canopy earned honorable mention status.
Harrison and Canopy are making the list for the second time, while Romshek and Bradley are receiving the honors for the first time.
Harrison sports a cumulative grade-point average of 3.91 in athletic training. The Bloomington, Ill., native's academic accomplishments include the 2013 MVC Leadership and Service Award, a 2013 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selection and a three-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete choice. Harrison has been named to the MVC Honor Roll four times during her career and received the Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award in 2011, including being a member of the ISU honor roll all nine semesters. She is a two-time All-Valley Second Team selection, including this season, after recording 40 hits, 34 runs 15 runs batted in and four triples during the 2014 season.Â
Bradley, a biological sciences major with a cumulative GPA of 3.72, is a two-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete selection and a four-time MVC Honor Roll honoree. Bradley was named to the ISU honor roll all nine semesters, like Harrison. For her performance on the field this season, she was named an All-Valley First Team selection. The Mattoon, Ill., native posted career-highs in batting average, home runs, RBI, doubles, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and stolen bases during the 2014 season. Bradley hit .323 with five home runs and 20 RBI in Valley action.
Romshek holds a cumulative GPA of 3.68 in community health education. Romshek was named a 2013 NFCA Scholar-Athlete selection, earned 2013 MVC Honor roll accolades and has been named to the ISU honor roll all three semesters of her collegiate career. On the field, Romshek was named an All-Valley First Team selection and was the MVC Pitcher of the Week twice. She pitched in 42 of ISU's 53 games, finishing the season with a record of 17-16 with an earned-run average of 2.77. The Gibson City, Ill., native also helped her cause in the batter's box, as she had a batting average of .263, as she recorded 41 hits and scored 24 runs.
Canopy's 3.24 GPA in financial accounting earned her two-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete selection and a two-time MVC Honor Roll choice. Not only does she get it done in the classroom, but Canopy is also a two-time All-Valley First Team selection, as she led the MVC with a .534 on-base percentage, 44 walks (a single-season ISU record), and 20 hit by pitches. Canopy was one of two Redbirds to start all 53 games, as she hit .406 with six of her seven home runs coming in Valley contests.
In order to be eligible, student-athletes must have at 3.2 GPA or higher, be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing and meet certain playing requirements.
The Redbirds went 25-28 this season, including a 17-8 Valley record. ISU finished the Valley season in second place behind Wichita State, and played the toughest non-conference schedule in the nation, according to the RPI. ISU equaled a program-record with seven All-MVC selections and matched the league-record with six All-MVC First Team honorees this season.
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