Seven Softball Student-Athletes Named NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes
10/7/2015 2:46:00 PM | Softball
HAMDEN, Conn. – Seven student-athletes from the Quinnipiac softball team were recently named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar Athletes for their performance in the classroom during the 2014-15 academic year. The distinguished athletes include former standout Jordan Paolucci and current Bobcats; Maria Ascher (Little Canada, Minnesota), Emily Czaja (Palmer, Massachusetts), Molly Jarrett (Northport, New York), Abby Johnson (Chelmsford, Massachusetts), Sydney Robey (Glenmoore, Pennsylvania) and Katie Strong (South Windsor, Connecticut). Recipients of this award earned a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA over both semesters last year.
Paolucci earned the recognition as a senior while Jarrett, Johnson, Robey and Strong were honored for their academic efforts in the classroom as juniors. Both Ascher and Czaja were tabbed NFCA Academic Scholar Athletes for their freshmen year campaigns.
Last season, Paolucci capped off an illustrious career as one of the all-time great softball players to ever don a Bobcat uniform. She was named to the All-Conference First Team three times in her career. Paolucci played in just 21 games for the Bobcats as a senior, but immediately made an impact at the plate. She ranked second on the team in batting at .352 and led Quinnipiac in on base percentage (.463) and slugging percentage (.556). She broke the single-season homerun record with 15 in her freshman year and now occupies the career mark with 40. Against UConn this year, Paolucci doubled in the fifth inning to record her 125 career RBIs and gain sole possession of the record.
Jarrett appeared in 44 games for Quinnipiac last season, ranking fourth on the team with 15 runs batted in and third with 10 walks. The first baseman also recorded a .263 on base percentage and a .250 slugging percentage. Against Ohio on February 14, Jarret went 2-for-2 with a solo homerun and a walk. She tallied four hits and three RBIs in a doubleheader against Hartford on April 23.
As a junior, Johnson played in 48 games and was fourth on the team with 28 hits. The outfielder ranked second on the Bobcats with 16 RBIs while adding seven walks. Against Niagara on April 12. Johnson was a perfect three-for-three from the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Last season, Robey played in 43 games and made 28 appearances on the mound. She tallied 18 hits with a .314 on base percentage and a .382 slugging percentage. The pitcher ranked second on the team with five wins and 17 starts. Robey tallied 44 strikeouts over 87 innings pitched.
As a junior, Strong appeared in 25 games, recording three hits in 11 at bats. Strong started 15 games behind the plate, tallying 67 putouts and nine assists. Against Saint Peter's on March 28, she went one-for-one with a run scored.
Ascher played in a team-high 50 games a freshman. She ranked second on the team with six doubles while finishing third on the squad with a .356 on base percentage. The shortstop tallied 20 hits and seven RBIs to go along with a .382 slugging percentage. Against Toledo on March 20, she went two-for-two with two runs scored, a walk and a solo homerun.
As a freshman, Czaja appeared in 35 games, starting nine. The outfielder tallied three hits, four walks and two stolen bases. On March 28 against Saint Peter's, Czaja went one-for-one with and RBI and a run scored.
The Quinnipiac softball team will resume their fall schedule this weekend when they host the annual City Series. The Bobcats will take on Southern Connecticut State University at 11:15 a.m. The winner will play the winner of the 9 a.m. contest featuring Yale and New Haven for the championship at 1:20 p.m. The losers will face off at 4 p.m. in the consolation game.
Paolucci earned the recognition as a senior while Jarrett, Johnson, Robey and Strong were honored for their academic efforts in the classroom as juniors. Both Ascher and Czaja were tabbed NFCA Academic Scholar Athletes for their freshmen year campaigns.
Last season, Paolucci capped off an illustrious career as one of the all-time great softball players to ever don a Bobcat uniform. She was named to the All-Conference First Team three times in her career. Paolucci played in just 21 games for the Bobcats as a senior, but immediately made an impact at the plate. She ranked second on the team in batting at .352 and led Quinnipiac in on base percentage (.463) and slugging percentage (.556). She broke the single-season homerun record with 15 in her freshman year and now occupies the career mark with 40. Against UConn this year, Paolucci doubled in the fifth inning to record her 125 career RBIs and gain sole possession of the record.
Jarrett appeared in 44 games for Quinnipiac last season, ranking fourth on the team with 15 runs batted in and third with 10 walks. The first baseman also recorded a .263 on base percentage and a .250 slugging percentage. Against Ohio on February 14, Jarret went 2-for-2 with a solo homerun and a walk. She tallied four hits and three RBIs in a doubleheader against Hartford on April 23.
As a junior, Johnson played in 48 games and was fourth on the team with 28 hits. The outfielder ranked second on the Bobcats with 16 RBIs while adding seven walks. Against Niagara on April 12. Johnson was a perfect three-for-three from the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Last season, Robey played in 43 games and made 28 appearances on the mound. She tallied 18 hits with a .314 on base percentage and a .382 slugging percentage. The pitcher ranked second on the team with five wins and 17 starts. Robey tallied 44 strikeouts over 87 innings pitched.
As a junior, Strong appeared in 25 games, recording three hits in 11 at bats. Strong started 15 games behind the plate, tallying 67 putouts and nine assists. Against Saint Peter's on March 28, she went one-for-one with a run scored.
Ascher played in a team-high 50 games a freshman. She ranked second on the team with six doubles while finishing third on the squad with a .356 on base percentage. The shortstop tallied 20 hits and seven RBIs to go along with a .382 slugging percentage. Against Toledo on March 20, she went two-for-two with two runs scored, a walk and a solo homerun.
As a freshman, Czaja appeared in 35 games, starting nine. The outfielder tallied three hits, four walks and two stolen bases. On March 28 against Saint Peter's, Czaja went one-for-one with and RBI and a run scored.
The Quinnipiac softball team will resume their fall schedule this weekend when they host the annual City Series. The Bobcats will take on Southern Connecticut State University at 11:15 a.m. The winner will play the winner of the 9 a.m. contest featuring Yale and New Haven for the championship at 1:20 p.m. The losers will face off at 4 p.m. in the consolation game.
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