VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Hampton University sophomore Kelsei Saunders was named First Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in softball, as announced on Thursday by the conference office.

Saunders (Suffolk, Va.), a Preseason All-MEAC selection, earned the honor for the second straight season. She led the team with a .351 batting average during the regular season in 55 games, and she led the MEAC in home runs with 11.

Her 46 RBI were a team high and the second-most in the conference, and Saunders was fourth in the MEAC with a .629 slugging percentage in the regular season. She also finished the regular season tied for sixth in the conference with 53 hits.

Freshman Tamara Vickers (Lawndale, Calif.) also had 53 hits for the Lady Pirates.

Delaware State's Jordan Reid was named MEAC Player of the Year, while Aurelia Gamch of Bethune-Cookman was named Rookie of the Year. Coppin State's Paige Arnold was named MEAC Pitcher of the Year and Bob Ullman of Coppin State earned Coach of the Year honors.

The Lady Pirates (21-37) will take on Howard in the MEAC Championships at 4:30 p.m. in Ormond Beach, Fla. For more information on Hampton University softball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.


2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball All-Conference Awards

Player of the Year
Jordan Reid, Delaware State

Rookie of the Year
Aurelia Gamch, Bethune-Cookman

Pitcher of the Year
Paige Arnold, Coppin State

Coach of the Year
Bob Ullman, Coppin State

First Team
Pos Name School Class Ht Hometown
P Paige Arnold Coppin State So. 5-7 Detroit, Mich.
P Amanda Reyes Florida A&M Sr. 5-7 Scotts Valley, Calif.
C Tamra Griffin Morgan State Jr. 5-5 Virginia Beach, Va.
INF Kelsi Saunders Hampton So. 5-5 Suffolk, Va.
INF Melissa Oliphant Florida A&M Sr. 5-2 Florida, N.Y.
INF Tawny Reeger Delaware State So. 5-6 Simi Valley, Calif.
INF Jade Dudley Coppin State Jr. 5-10 Mountain Top, Pa.
OF Jordan Reid Delaware State So. 5-8 Accokeek, Md.
OF Courtney Young Howard Sr. 5-6 Sherwood, Ark.
OF Jasmin Donaldson** Florida A&M So. 5-2 Rockledge, Fla.
OF Tenisha Dixon** Florida A&M So. 5-0 New Port Richey, Fla.
UTL Rachel Carroll Delaware State So. 5-7 Oxnard, Calif.
**Tie

Second Team
Pos Name School Class Ht Hometown
P Allison Garcia Bethune-Cookman So. 5-7 Chino Hills, Calif.
P Jennifer Luper North Carolina A&T Jr. 5-5 Fort Mill, S.C.
C Jessie Larson North Carolina A&T Sr. 5-10 Morrison, Colo.
INF Nicole Saez Howard Sr. 5-5 Norridge, Ill.
INF Yahamma White North Carolina A&T Jr. 5-4 Lancaster, S.C.
INF Erica Garcia Florida A&M Jr. 5-4 Mexico City, Mexico
INF Bianca Alsbrook North Carolina A&T Sr. 5-7 Robbins, N.C.
OF Christine Sborz Howard Jr. 5-3 McLean, Va.
OF Denitia Carter South Carolina State Jr. 5-4 Atlanta, Ga.
OF Ashton Hinds Bethune-Cookman Jr. 4-11 Cerritos, Calif.
UTL Tonya Giles South Carolina State Jr. 5-2 Atlanta, Ga.