May 7, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Senior first baseman Lauren Haas was named the 2008 Missouri Valley Conference Softball Player of the Year, and selected First Team All-MVC on Wednesday evening at the MVC Tournament Banquet held at the SIU Arena.

Haas (Bremerton, Wash./Olympic HS) became just the third Saluki in the program's history, and first since 1997, to be named as the league's player of the year. Outfielder Colleen Holloway (1990-93) and pitcher Jamie Schuttek (1994-97) were named the player of the year in 1993 and 1997.

Haas finished the regular-season with the top batting average in conference play by nearly 40 points at .456, and is tied for the league's most runs batted in with 39. She concluded the regular season ranked in the top 10 in seven offensive categories and, in conference play, holds the top spots in average, slugging, on base percentage and doubles and ranks second in hits, RBI and total bases.

Heading into the conference tournament, Haas is currently tied for the sixth-best single-season batting average (.396), tied for the third-most doubles (13), and tied for sixth for RBI in a season (39) at Southern Illinois. She is also on a career-high 10 game hitting streak, and was named the MVC Player of the Week this past Monday, May 5.

Creighton sophomore Tara Oltman received the MVC Pitcher of the Year award, freshman left-handed pitcher Brynne Dordel from Drake was named MVC Newcomer of the Year, and Creighton garnered the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year honor.

The 2008 State Farm MVC Tournament is set to begin with four games on Thursday, May 8 beginning with No. 5 Wichita State versus No. 8 Indiana State at 11 a.m. at Charlotte West Stadium. The winner will advance to take on No. 4 Drake at 4 p.m., while the Salukis are scheduled to play at 6:30 p.m. against the winner of the No. 6 Missouri State versus No. 7 Evansville contest slated for 1:30 p.m.

2008 Missouri Valley Conference Softball All-Conference Team
First Team
Pitcher - Tara Oltman, Creighton
Pitcher - Ashly Bright, Wichita State
Catcher - TJ Eadus, Creighton
First Baseman - Lauren Haas, Southern Illinois
Second Baseman - Jaci Faidley, Drake
Third Baseman - Kara Nelson, Illinois State
Shortstop - Bailey Dawson, Creighton
Outfielder- Kristin Birocci, Drake
Outfielder - Jessie Buker, Illinois State
Outfielder - Jessica Wakasugi, Creighton
DP-Pitcher - Jen Larsen, Northern Iowa
DP-Utility - Cynthia Verhulst, Wichita State
At-Large - Melissa Porche, Missouri State
At-Large - Renae Sinkler, Creighton
At-Large- Brittany Herald, Evansville
At-Large - Amber Smith, Illinois State
At-Large - Meredith Simpson, Indiana State
At-Large - Tiffany Prager, Illinois State

Second Team
First baseman - Marilyn Buss, Drake
Third baseman - Michelle Armentrout, Missouri State
Outfielder - Brooke Kempker, Missouri State
Shortstop - Britnee Barnett, Wichita State
Outfielder - Katie McGeeney, Wichita State

MVC Player of the Year: Lauren Haas, Southern Illinois
MVC Pitcher of the Year: Tara Oltman, Creighton
MVC Newcomer of the Year: Brynne Dordel, Drake
MVC Coaching Staff of the Year: Creighton (Brent Vigness, Abby Johnson)