Olson Tabbed Preseason All-MVC; Redbirds Picked Fifth

ST. LOUIS – For the second consecutive season, fifth-year senior Emme Olson has been named to the Missouri Valley's Preseason All-Conference Team while Illinois State was picked to finish fifth in the expanded 12-team conference as voted by the league's coaches, the Valley announced Tuesday. 

Olson, an All-MVC Second Team and All-Defensive Team selection a season ago, earned her first conference accolade of 2023. In 2022, Olson was the only Redbird to start and play in every game of the season, leading the team in batting average (.351), hits (54), doubles (16), walks (24) and on-base percentage (.445). Her 16 single season doubles and 40 overall career doubles ranks her fifth in program history in both categories. She boasted a 32-game reached base safely streak from February 20 to April 23 which tied the longest known streak by a Redbird in program history. Olson had her most successful season yet in 2022, being named an NFCA All-Region selection, Senior CLASS Award Candidate, and CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honoree.

After winning the regular season in 2022, it is no surprise that Northern Iowa has been selected as the conference's preseason favorite, receiving nine first place votes. Missouri Valley newcomer Murray State, a team that captured the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament a season ago, has been selected second in the preseason voting. Southern Illinois and Missouri State follow at third and fourth respectively, with the Lady Bears edging out the Redbirds by a one-point difference between fourth and fifth in the poll. 

Belmont, another new team to the Valley, is slated in the sixth spot to round out the top half of the conference. The bottom half goes Drake, Indiana State, Bradley, Evansville, UIC and Valparaiso, respectively.

ON DECK

Illinois State will open its 2023 season on February 9 in Tampa, Fla., at the University of South Florida, taking on Boston University at 2:30 p.m. CT. The Redbirds are at USF from Feb. 9-11, with contests against Boston University, Boston College, St. Joseph's, USF and Florida.

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