CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Tennessee Tech senior Melody Christian has earned all-Ohio Valley Conference second-team honors after helping the Golden Eagle softball team to a 22-26/11-11 OVC regular season finish. The team's starting center fielder from Kingston Springs, Tenn., Christian has been a four-year starter and has placed her name among career leaders in several categories in the Golden Eagle record book.
Christian was named to her second all-OVC team after leading the team in batting average (.368), at bats (163), hits (60), runs scored (32), stolen bases (23) and on-base percentage (.380) during the 2013 season. She currently ranks third in the conference in hits and fourth in stolen bases. As a freshman, Christian was named to the OVC all-Newcomer team.
"This reflects the season she's had," said said head coach Bonnie Bynum. Melody's done a very good job of being a leader for this team, and we're so happy she has been recognized by the conference."
The all-conference teams were voted on by the head coaches and sports information directors from the OVC.
The 2013 Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship gets underway at 10 a.m. CT. The four-day event will be held at Williams Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois. The seventh-seeded Golden Eagles face No. 2 SIUE at 12:30 CDT.
All-OVC First Team
P - Hanna Mennenga (Eastern Illinois) - Jr., Gifford, Ill.
P - Haley Chambers (SIUE) - Fr., Coatesville, Ill.
C - Hannah Cole (Eastern Illinois) - So., Windsor, Ill.
IF - Amber Riddle (Morehead State) - Sr., Morehead, Ky.%
IF - Alex McDavid (SIUE) - So., Suwanne, Ga.%
IF - Raquel Howes (Eastern Kentucky) - Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.*
IF - Carly Willert (Eastern Illinois) - Jr., Bloomingdale, Ill.
OF - Alexis Anderson (Southeast Missouri) - Jr., Buford, Ga.
OF - Sara Borders (Jacksonville State) - So., Alexandria, Ala.%
OF - Kathryn Hollingsworth (Belmont) - So., Carrollton, Texas
UTIL/DP - Lauren de Castro (Austin Peay) - Jr., Torrance, Calif.*
UTIL/DP - Kenzi Tate (UT Martin) - So., Opdyke, Ill.
P - Stephanie Maday (Eastern Illinois) - Jr., Elk Grove Village, Ill.
C - Katie Tackett (Eastern Kentucky) - So., Murrieta, Calif.%
IF - Alexa Becker (Murray State) - So., Breese, Ill.
IF - Lauren Smith (UT Martin) - So., O'Fallon, Ill.
IF - Taylor Tooley (SIUE) - Sr., Joliet, Ill.
IF - Kayla Davidson (Austin Peay) - Jr., South Fulton, Tenn.
IF - Chelsea Yankolovich (SIUE) - Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.%
OF - Sarah Fobbs (Eastern Kentucky) - Fr., Lakewood, Calif
OF - Brittany Toney (SIUE) - So., Hendersonville, Tenn.
OF - Leah Taylor (UT Martin) - Sr., Brownsville, Tenn.*
UTIL/DP - Mia Vierra (Belmont) - Jr., Palmdale, Calif.
All-Newcomer
Haley Chambers (SIUE) - P, Fr., Coatesville, Ill.
Sarah Fobbs (Eastern Kentucky) - OF, Fr., Lakewood, Calif.
Alexis Anderson (Southeast Missouri) - OF, Jr., Buford, Ga.
Erin Greenwalt (SIUE) - P, Jr., Glen Carbon, Ill.
Haley Schenasi (Eastern Kentucky) - IF, Fr., Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
Kiarra Freeman (Tennessee State) - OF, Fr., Knoxville, Tenn.
Kayla Joyce (Eastern Kentucky) - OF, Fr., La Palma, Calif.
Shelbey Miller (Murray State) - IF, Fr., Goreville, Ill.
Ella Denes (Jacksonville State) - OF, Fr., Pisgah, Ala.
Jordan LaFave (SIUE) - OF/UTIL, Fr., Valrico, Fla.
Chelsea Smith (Southeast Missouri) - C, Fr., Webb City, Mo.
Deven Wilson (UT Martin) - C, Fr., Eva, Tenn.
OVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Alex McDavid, SIUE
OVC PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Hanna Mennenga, Eastern Illinois
OVC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Haley Chambers, SIUE
OVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Kim Schuette, Eastern Illinois