University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI softball: Four named to MVC Scholar-Athlete Teams
5/16/2023 3:07:00 PM | Softball
ST LOUIS --Â Â Four Panthers have been recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) for their work on the field and in the classroom.
Samantha Heyer, Taylor Hogan, Kailyn Packard, and Hannah Kelley have earned MVC Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2023 season. Scholar-athlete teams are selected by league sports information directors and take into account both players' performances in games and their higher education. Three of UNI's four selections were named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team, while one was named an Honorable Mention.Â
Redshirt junior Samantha Heyer makes her second appearance on the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team in 2023. This season, Heyer led the Panthers in the circle in most pitching categories, including ERA, WHIP, opposing batting average, strikeouts, walks, and wins. Heyer also led the MVC in multiple categories, including batters struck out (267), wins (23), and strikeouts per game (5.24). Heyer was also named the MVC Pitcher of the Week for a Panther record six times over the season, leading her to be named MVC Pitcher of the Year for 2023. In the classroom, Heyer has a cumulative 3.95 GPA while majoring in biology and gerontology.
Redshirt junior Taylor Hogan makes her second appearance on the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team. Hogan was also a member of the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District Region 6 recipient in 2022. For UNI in 2023, Hogan was second in stolen bases with 15 bags, hit one of the Panthers' three grand slams in UNI's 17-0 win over Murray State, and was the toughest player to strikeout in the Panther lineup while being 88th in the nation in the category. For her efforts at both the plate and in the field, Hogan earned her second All-MVC First Team honor. Hogan is a biology major at UNI with a 3.98 cumulative GPA.Â
Redshirt senior Kailyn Packard earned her second MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team nod in 2023. Packard was the Panthers' number two pitcher in 2023, putting together another impressive year with 13 wins and three saves. Packard helped lift UNI to their best pitching season in program history, adding 145 strikeouts to the Panthers' record-breaking 439 strikeouts. The Beloit, Wisc. native ends the season with a 2.27 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and .211 opposing batting average in 120 innings pitched. This season Packard was named to the All-MVC Second Team and was named the MVC Pitcher of the Week once during the regular season. Packard graduates from UNI with a degree in elementary education and math education with a 4.00 cumulative GPA.
Redshirt senior Hannah Kelley earns her first MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention honor in 2023. The outfielder has been with the Panthers since 2019 and spent most of the season in either right field or as the designated player for UNI. Over the season, Kelley hit a .283 batting average with 26 hits, four doubles, and one home run for 13 RBIs. Kelley was also named the MVC Player of the Week on Feb. 28 for her performance in the Panther Invitational hosted by Georgia State. Kelley graduates from UNI with a master's in social work and a cumulative GPA of 3.90.Â
Samantha Heyer, Taylor Hogan, Kailyn Packard, and Hannah Kelley have earned MVC Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2023 season. Scholar-athlete teams are selected by league sports information directors and take into account both players' performances in games and their higher education. Three of UNI's four selections were named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team, while one was named an Honorable Mention.Â
Redshirt junior Samantha Heyer makes her second appearance on the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team in 2023. This season, Heyer led the Panthers in the circle in most pitching categories, including ERA, WHIP, opposing batting average, strikeouts, walks, and wins. Heyer also led the MVC in multiple categories, including batters struck out (267), wins (23), and strikeouts per game (5.24). Heyer was also named the MVC Pitcher of the Week for a Panther record six times over the season, leading her to be named MVC Pitcher of the Year for 2023. In the classroom, Heyer has a cumulative 3.95 GPA while majoring in biology and gerontology.
Redshirt junior Taylor Hogan makes her second appearance on the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team. Hogan was also a member of the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District Region 6 recipient in 2022. For UNI in 2023, Hogan was second in stolen bases with 15 bags, hit one of the Panthers' three grand slams in UNI's 17-0 win over Murray State, and was the toughest player to strikeout in the Panther lineup while being 88th in the nation in the category. For her efforts at both the plate and in the field, Hogan earned her second All-MVC First Team honor. Hogan is a biology major at UNI with a 3.98 cumulative GPA.Â
Redshirt senior Kailyn Packard earned her second MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team nod in 2023. Packard was the Panthers' number two pitcher in 2023, putting together another impressive year with 13 wins and three saves. Packard helped lift UNI to their best pitching season in program history, adding 145 strikeouts to the Panthers' record-breaking 439 strikeouts. The Beloit, Wisc. native ends the season with a 2.27 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and .211 opposing batting average in 120 innings pitched. This season Packard was named to the All-MVC Second Team and was named the MVC Pitcher of the Week once during the regular season. Packard graduates from UNI with a degree in elementary education and math education with a 4.00 cumulative GPA.
Redshirt senior Hannah Kelley earns her first MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention honor in 2023. The outfielder has been with the Panthers since 2019 and spent most of the season in either right field or as the designated player for UNI. Over the season, Kelley hit a .283 batting average with 26 hits, four doubles, and one home run for 13 RBIs. Kelley was also named the MVC Player of the Week on Feb. 28 for her performance in the Panther Invitational hosted by Georgia State. Kelley graduates from UNI with a master's in social work and a cumulative GPA of 3.90.Â
Players Mentioned
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