ST LOUIS, Mo. –  Six Redbirds were selected to the Missouri Valley All-Conference teams, the league office announced Wednesday.
Senior third baseman Bella Atkinson, junior pitcher Paige McLeod, and freshman outfielder Lauren Flowers earned first-team honors. Senior first baseman Hannah Meeks and freshman DP/utility player Morgan Calhoun were named to the second team, while junior shortstop Ella Boyer earned a spot on the All-MVC Defensive Team.
Five of the six honorees received All-MVC recognition for the first time in their careers, as McLeod previously earned second-team honors as a freshman in 2024.
With these selections, Illinois State has now recorded 119 All-MVC first-team honorees in program history. The Redbirds have had at least one first-team selection every season since 1994, with the exception of 2020, when postseason awards were not announced due to COVID-19.
Atkinson has posted a record-setting season in which she became just the fifth Redbird in program history to amass over 40 hits, 40 runs scored and 40 RBIs in a single season. She leads the Redbirds and ranks fourth in the MVC with a .395 batting average with 14 doubles and 10 home runs. Atkinson is hitting .404 in Valley play with 38 hits, six of those being long balls. She recorded 18 multi-hit performances during the season, along with a six-RBI game against Valparaiso and a four-RBI performance versus Northern Iowa.
McLeod has been a consistent force in the circle this season for the Redbirds, pitching 143.2 innings with 73 strikeouts. McLeod holds an 18-5 record in the circle, including a 12-3 mark in Valley play. Her 18 wins this season are a career-high and rank second in the conference. She has posted a 3.03 ERA during MVC action with seven complete games, two shutouts and two saves. She held opponents to one run or fewer in 14 appearances, including shutout victories over Drake and Southern Illinois.
Flowers emerged as one of the Redbirds' top offensive threats during the 2026 season. Flowers batted .333 with a .370 on-base percentage and a .535 slugging percentage while totaling 33 hits, 30 RBIs, eight doubles and four home runs. She delivered several clutch performances throughout conference play, including a six-RBI outing against Northern Iowa and a four-RBI game versus Indiana State.
Calhoun was recognized as a second-team selection after serving as a key producer in the middle of the Redbirds' lineup. Calhoun batted .358 with a .411 on-base percentage and a .576 slugging percentage while recording 54 hits, 36 RBIs, and seven home runs across 47 games.Â
Meeks also earned second-team all-conference honors following a strong all-around regular season. Meeks hit .296 with a .386 on-base percentage and an impressive .635 slugging percentage while totaling 34 hits, 32 RBIs, 13 doubles and eight home runs.
Boyer anchored the Redbirds' infield at shortstop, totaling 127 assists and 67 putouts across 47 games, while consistently making key defensive plays throughout conference action. Boyer ranks 18th in the nation in assists and 12th in the NCAA with 2.68 assists per game.
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