USI Woman Volleyball Signs Three More For 2017

University of Southern Indiana Volleyball Head Coach Leah Mercer has announced the signing of two incoming freshman and one transfer to join the program in 2017-18.

Transferring to USI from Saint Joseph’s College is sophomore middle/right side hitter Shawntel James (Elkhart, Indiana). James played in all 30 matches for the Pumas last season, including 26 starts. In 98 sets, she racked up 129 kills, 48 digs, and 47 blocks.

She had career highs of 12 kills and six digs against Quincy University while tallying 15 points.

Choosing USI to continue their academic and athletic careers are outside hitter Alyssa Yochum (Columbia, Illinois) and outside hitter/defensive specialist Callie Gubera (Thorntown, Indiana).

Yochum is a senior at Columbia High School where she was named All-Cahokia Conference in 2015 and 2016. She also received the captain award of the All-Conference team.

In her career, Yochum tallied 566 kills and 184 blocks. She led her team to regional championships in 2014, ’15 and ’16 and played club volleyball for High Performance IL 18 Select.

Gubera is a senior at Western Boone High School where she played volleyball, basketball and ran track. She was a volleyball team captain and two-time All-Conference honoree.

She had 1,043 kills, 634 digs and 106 aces in her career. She helped lead her team o sectional championships in 2014, ’15 and ’16 and played club volleyball for Circle City Volleyball Club.

“I am excited to add all of these offensive weapons to our roster,” Mercer said. “Alyssa and Callie are both six rotation outside hitters which will allow us to continue to run offense out of the back row. Shawntel adds depth to the middle and right side and already has a year of college experience under her belt. These three make an incoming class of five and 16 total for the fall. I can’t wait for the depth and competitive level we will have in the gym in August!”

James, Yochum and Gubera join newcomers Casey Cepicky, Jayla Garnett and Lizzy Gardner for the class of 2017.

University of Southern Indiana Softball freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) has been named the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year in a vote by the region’s sports information directors.

Leonhardt is joined on the D2CCA All-Midwest Region first team by junior first baseman Marleah Fossett (Brownsburg, Indiana), while senior catcher Haley Hodges (Portage, Indiana) was named second team.

In her first year of collegiate softball, Leonhardt (27-2) set the single-season school record with 27 wins. She is currently sporting a 1.49 ERA, .201 opponent batting average and 179 strikeouts in 202.1 innings of work.

Leonhardt, the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, was named GLVC Player of the Week three times in 2017 and has recorded 10 shutouts on the year.

Fossett is earning her second first-team All-Region award in the last week after netting first-team NFCA honors a week ago.

In 2017, Fossett has amassed a .408 batting average, 14 doubles, five home runs and 30 RBIs. She currently leads the GLVC with a school-record 20 hit-by-pitches and is sporting a team-best .530 on-base percentage.

Hodges is earning D2CCA All-Midwest Region honors for the second straight season after collecting first-team accolades a year ago. An NFCA first-team All-Region honoree this season, Hodges has a .409 batting average, 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 51 RBIs on the year. She is the second player in program history to record 10 or more home runs in back-to-back seasons and the first player in program history to post two seasons with 50-plus RBIs.

With the first-team honors, both Leonhardt and Fossett advance to the national ballot, where they will be considered for All-America honors.

USI (44-12) hosts Wayne State University (40-14) in game one of the best-of-three NCAA II Midwest Super Regional Thursday at noon at the USI Softball Field. Wayne State’s Lynsday Butler was named the D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year for her efforts in the field, at the plate and in the pitching circle.

2017 D2CCA Softball All-Midwest Region Teams

Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year: Jennifer Leonhardt, Fr., Southern Indiana

Midwest Region Player of the Year: Lyndsay Butler, Sr., Wayne State

First Team

Pitcher: Jennifer Leonhardt, Fr., Southern Indiana

Pitcher: Carly Kingery, So., Missouri-St. Louis

Pitcher: Bridgette Sappington, Sr., Rockhurst

First Base: Marleah Fossett, Jr., Southern Indiana

Second Base: Jenna Lenza, Sr., Grand Valley State

Shortstop: Alex Stupek, Sr., Missouri-St. Louis

Third Base: Alyssa Rivera, Fr., Truman State

Catcher: Lex Van Nostrand, Sr., Truman State

Outfield: Christa Reisinger, So., Truman State

Outfield: Bekah Kastning, Sr., Hillsdale

Outfield: Meredith Daunhauer, So., Kentucky Wesleyan

Designated Player: Courtney Reeves, Jr., Saginaw Valley State

Utility Player (non-pitcher): Brianne O’Dell, Jr., Cedarville

Utility player (pitcher): Lyndsay Butler, Sr., Wayne State

Second Team

Pitcher: Allison Lipovsky, So., Grand Valley State

Pitcher: Samantha Willman, Sr., Saginaw Valley State

Pitcher: Lauren Dale, So., Truman State

First Base: Rachel Hastings, Sr., McKendree

Second Base: Meredith Rousse, Jr., Saginaw Valley State

Shortstop: Jaylin Tidwell, Fr., Kentucky Wesleyan

Third Base:  Dayna Denner, Fr., Ashland

Catcher: Haley Hodges, Sr., Southern Indiana

Outfield: Ally Farrah, Sr., Ashland

Outfield: Kaylee Prieto, Jr., Lewis

Outfield: Lauren Cairo, Sr., Rockhurst

Designated Player: Ellie Balbach, Sr., Grand Valley State

Utility Player (non-pitcher): Natalie Lalich, Sr., Indianapolis

Utility Player (pitcher): Carly Dundee, Sr., Wisconsin-Parkside