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-From WIAC-

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Haley Morelli and Bella Matthias were chosen the Position Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, to lead the individuals selected to the 2017 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Softball Team by the league coaches. Warhawk head coach Brenda Volk was tabbed the Coach of the Year.

Morelli is the fifth player in program history to receive the honor, joining Erin Bravo (2004), Amy Gahl (2007), Emily Epifanio (2012) and Morgan Krisch (2014). She tops the conference with 12 home runs, 48 runs batted in and a .798 slugging percentage, while ranking second with a .457 batting average, .523 on-base percentage, 59 hits and 103 total bases. Morelli has recorded at least one hit in 34 of 43 games, including 22 multi-hit performances and a season-high four hits against Hendrix College (Ark.) on March 23.

Matthias is the third individual in Warhawk archives to claim the league award, joining Jessica Stang (2008 and 2009) and Katie Boyle (2013). She leads the WIAC with 17 victories and 125 strikeouts, while ranking second with a 1.13 earned run average, 129.2 innings pitched and .195 opponent batting average. Matthias fired a no-hitter in her collegiate debut against Roger Williams University (R.I.) on March 17 and added another hitless game against UW-Stout on April 29. She had at least six strikeouts in 10 contests, including a season-best 12 against Roger Williams.

Repeat selections on the first team from a season ago included: UW-Eau Claire’s Lauren Blasczyk and Evie Schaller (Co-Position Player of the Year); UW-La Crosse’s Brittany Baldwin and Caitlyn Hughes (Pitcher of the Year); UW-Oshkosh’s Erika Berry, Sara Brunlieb and Abby Menting (Co-Position Player of the Year); and UW-Whitewater’s Amy Ricci. Blasczyk and Brunlieb were also first team honorees in 2015 with Brunlieb claiming Pitcher of the Year accolades, and they were joined by UW-Whitewater’s Mallory Klotz.

Volk secured the coaching honor for the sixth time in her career and second time in three seasons. She led the Warhawks to the 11th regular-season championship and ninth tournament title in program history. UW-Whitewater has won 21 straight games against WIAC opponents dating back to last season and owns a 13-game winning streak entering the NCAA Division III championship.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.

2017 All-WIAC Softball Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Paige Allen, Stevens Point, Junior, Outfield, South Elgin, Ill.
Brittany Baldwin, La Crosse, Junior, Centerfield, Stoddard, Wis. (La Crosse Central)
Erika Berry, Oshkosh, Junior, Thirdbase, Germantown, Wis.
Lauren Blasczyk, Eau Claire, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Appleton, Wis. (East)
Sara Brunlieb, Oshkosh, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Rolling Meadows, Ill.
Meg Cohrs, Whitewater, Freshman, Thirdbase, Elburn, Ill. (Kaneland)
Stephanie Cole, La Crosse, Freshman, Rightfield, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Kaylee Francois, Stout, Sophomore, Outfield, Green Bay, Wis. (Preble)
Rachel Heffel, Eau Claire, Senior, Outfield, Racine, Wis. (Case)
Caitlyn Hughes, La Crosse, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Stewartville, Minn.
Morgan Johnson, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Outfield, Combined Locks, Wis. (Kaukauna)
Mallory Klotz, Whitewater, Junior, Outfield, New Berlin, Wis. (West)
Ali Krohn, River Falls, Sophomore, Outfield, Elk River, Minn.
Bella Matthias, Whitewater, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Greenfield, Wis.
Abby Menting, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Catcher, Kimberly, Wis.
Grace Mindrup, La Crosse, Freshman, Firstbase, Hayfield, Minn.
Haley Morelli, Whitewater, Senior, Outfield, Mundelein, Ill.
Amy Ricci, Whitewater, Senior, Firstbase, Gurnee, Ill. (Warren Township)
Evie Schaller, Eau Claire, Senior, Shortstop, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chi-Hi)
Jessy Tanel, Platteville, Freshman, Firstbase/Thirdbase, Mukwonago, Wis.

Honorable Mention
McKayla Brunner, Stout, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Arkansaw, Wis. (Elmwood)
Jess Butzen, Platteville, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Neenah, Wis.
Jessie Carignan, La Crosse, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Baraboo, Wis.
Caitlin Catino, Whitewater, Sophomore, Outfield, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove)
Kyncaide Diedrich, Stout, Freshman, Outfield, Athens, Wis.
Natalie Dudek, Oshkosh, Freshman, Shortstop, Burbank, Ill. (Reavis)
Amber Galloway, River Falls, Junior, Secondbase, Cottage Grove, Minn. (Park)
Sarah Peka, Eau Claire, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Chanhassen, Minn. (Minnetonka)
Kaitlyn Krol, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Firstbase, Chicago, Ill. (De La Salle Institute)
Aiyana Ledwein, River Falls, Junior, Outfield, St. Anthony, Minn.
Ashley Lindstrom, La Crosse, Sophomore, Leftfield, Wauwatosa, Wis. (West)
Rachel Thomas, Stout, Junior, Catcher/Outfield, Hastings, Minn.
Brooke Varian, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Designated Player/Thirdbase, Madison, Wis. (West)
Beth Wood, Stout, Junior, Firstbase, Mineral Point, Wis.
Emily Woodford, Platteville, Sophomore, Outfield, Moline, Ill.

All-Sportsmanship Team
Lane Dickman, La Crosse, Senior, Shortstop/Secondbase, Cashton, Wis.
Mariah Diercks, Stout, Senior, Infield, Ellsworth, Wis.
Paige Giese, Oshkosh, Senior, Firstbase, Mayville, Wis.
Kelsey Meredith, Eau Claire, Senior, Outfield, Golden Valley, Minn. (Armstrong)
Ali Murray, River Falls, Senior, Infield, Pepin, Wis. (Pepin-Alma)
Crystal Rote, Platteville, Junior, Outfield, McConnell, Ill. (Orangeville)
Cara Smoczynski, Whitewater, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Aurora, Ill. (Rosary)
Natalie Yahn, Stevens Point, Freshman, Catcher/Outfield, Wauwatosa, Wis. (East)

Position Player of the Year:  Haley Morelli of Whitewater
Pitcher of the Year:  Bella Matthias of Whitewater
Coach of the Year:  Brenda Volk of Whitewater
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete (sponsored by Badgerland Financial):  Lauren Blasczyk of Eau Claire