PEORIA, Ill. – On the eve of the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship, the league announced its postseason honors as four University of Tennessee at Martin honorees were recognized with awards.
The league’s head coaches and sports information directors voted outfielder Kaci Fuller as an All-OVC first team selection. Meanwhile, the pair of infielder Katie Dreiling and utility/DP Kiersten Nixon were tabbed to the All-OVC second team. Rounding out the group was infielder Alli Robinson who snagged a spot on the All-Newcomer squad.
Hailing from Huntingdon, Tenn., Fuller is no stranger to postseason honors as she garners her fourth All-OVC honor of her career. The outfielder earned a pair of All-OVC second team honors as a freshman and sophomore before upgrading those to first team recognitions in 2023 and 2024. She ranks among OVC leaders and atop UT Martin leaderboards in several categories including batting average (.395), runs scored (45), hits (66), on-base percentage (.455), slugging percentage (.563), triples (six), home runs (three), RBIs (35) and stolen bases (20). The four-year star has recorded 17 multi-hit contests – including four three-hit performances and tied a program single-game record with four hits against Memphis. She is the program’s all-time record holder in both base hits (246) and batting average (.384).
A native of Jonesboro, Ark., Dreiling also returns to the All-OVC second team for the second straight season after also garnering All-Newcomer honors as a freshman. The senior posted a .325 batting average with a team-best 11 doubles while adding three home runs and 33 RBIs. She recorded a .371 on-base percentage while slugging .452 on the season. Her nine multi-RBI games led the squad while she tallied 14 multi-hit performances. The utility player also contributed in the circle for the Skyhawks where she posted a 7-6 record with a 3.24 ERA in 80.0 innings of work. She limited opponents to a .236 batting average and was part of seven combined shutouts.
Hailing from O’Fallon, Mo., Nixon garnered All-Newcomer honors last season before claiming a spot on the All-OVC second team in her final season. On the offensive side of the ball, the slugger posted a .303 batting average with five doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs. She posted a .323 on-base percentage and slugged .427 on the season. As a versatile arm in the circle, she made the most of her team-high 28 appearances and posted an 8-4 record with a 2.23 ERA in 75.1 innings. Playing a part in four combined shutouts, she limited opponents to a .218 batting average and boasted a dazzling 8-1 record and 1.55 ERA against OVC opponents.
Joining the squad as a transfer prior to the season, the Buckhannon, W. Va. native saw her game translate from the Division II where she was an All-American to the Division I level by garnering a spot on the All-Newcomer team. The infielder posted a .298 batting average with eight doubles, two home runs and 19 RBIs on the season. She boasted a .442 on-base percentage and slugged .413 out of the middle of the order. She tallied eight multi-hit games and four multi-RBI contests – including a season-high three RBIs against Brescia.
UT Martin will open its tournament run in the OVC Softball Championship beginning on Wednesday, May 8 against SIUE at 12:30 p.m.. The entire tournament will be played at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, Ill. for the first time. All games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
2024 All-Ohio Valley Conference Softball Teams
2024 OVC CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kendall Grover, Eastern Illinois
2024 OVC CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Paige Rocha, SIUE
2024 OVC PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Josie Newman, Southern Indiana
2024 OVC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: McKenzie Oslanzi, Eastern Illinois
2024 OVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Tara Archibald, Eastern Illinois
FIRST TEAM
P – McKenzie Oslanzi, Eastern Illinois – Fr. – Marseilles, Ill.
P – Josie Newman, Southern Indiana – Jr. – Indianapolis, Ind.
C – Marissa Peek, Southeast Missouri – Sr., Wentzville, Mo.
IF – Kendall Grover, Eastern Illinois – So., Mooresville, Ind.
IF – Paige Rocha, SIUE – Jr., Platte City, Mo.
IF – Carmen Betts, Tennessee Tech – Sr., Glen Allen, Va.
IF – Rachel Kaufman, Eastern Illinois – Gr., Seymour, Ind.
IF – Lexi Fair, Southern Indiana – Sr., Greenwood, Ind.
OF – Kaci Fuller, UT Martin – Sr. – Huntingdon, Tenn.
OF – Paige Halliwill, Southeast Missouri – Sr., Mogadore, Ohio
OF – Irelynn West, Lindenwood – Jr., Kansas City, Mo.
OF – Jenna Herron, SIUE – Sr., West Frankfort, Ill.
UTIL/DP – Jadin Justman, Eastern Illinois – Sr., Iron Ridge, Wis.
SECOND TEAM
P – Amanda Weyh, Lindenwood – Gr., Mokena, Ill.
P – Paytience Holman, Southeast Missouri – Sr., Mexico, Mo.
C – Sammie Kihega, Southern Indiana – Sr., Greenfield, Ind.
C – Onnika Spencer, Tennessee State – So. – Murfreesboro, Tenn.
IF – Aubrie Shore, Southeast Missouri – Jr., Mahomet, Ill.
IF – Abigail Rickermann, Southeast Missouri – Sr., Festus, Mo.
IF – Katie Drieling, UT Martin – Sr., Jonesboro, Ark.
IF – Nahtali Simpson, Tennessee State – Gr., West Orange, N.J.
IF – Sydney Kirby, Tennessee Tech – Jr., Cypress, Texas
OF – Laila Armstrong, Tennessee State – Sr., Memphis, Tenn.
OF – Malia Robertson, Western Illinois – Fr., Fairview Heights, Ill.
OF – Caroline Stapleton, Southern Indiana – So., Shirley, Ind.
OF – Karson Davey, Eastern Illinois – Fr., Montgomery, Ill.
UTIL/DP – Kiersten Nixon, UT Martin – Gr., O’Fallon, Mo.
ALL-NEWCOMER
McKenzie Oslanzi, Eastern Illinois – P – Fr. – Marseilles, Ill.
Jadin Justman, Eastern Illinois – DP – Sr., Iron Ridge, Wis.
Sydney Kirby, Tennessee Tech – IF – Jr., Cypress, Texas
Anna Henderson, SIUE – C – Jr., Battle Ground, Ind.
Malia Robertson, Western Illinois – OF – Fr., Fairview Heights, Ill.
Emily York, Tennessee Tech – P – Fr., Normal, Ill.
Maddie Carney, Southeast Missouri – P – Fr., St. Louis, Mo.
Payton Wagner, Tennessee Tech – P – Jr., Simi Valley, Calif.
Emma Henderson, SIUE – P – Jr., Battle Ground, Ind.
Karson Davey, Eastern Illinois – OF – Fr., Montgomery, Ill.
Darlene Montoya, Morehead State – OF – Jr., San Bernardino, Calif.
Alli Robinson, UT Martin – IF – Gr., Buckhannon, W. Va.
