Burnsville, MN - The NSIC announced the 2022 All-Conference and All-Defensive Teams today (May 4) and USF is well-represented with four individuals receiving awards.
Kait Van Der Zwaag was chosen as a 1st team All-Conference (Pitcher/Utility) selection. Followed by Senior
Kylan Straight and Freshman
Taryn Wagner being selected as 2nd team All-Conference players.
Lexie Swift rounded out the awards with making the All-Defensive team for her stellar work in the field.
Click Here for the NSIC release and other selections.
"Individual accolades are recognition of the caliber of work an athlete puts in throughout the year. I am so happy for Kait, Taryn, Kylan and Lexie for earning these nods in their respective categories – what an honor for their dedication to their craft in the opportunities that they earn. They've worked hard, trusted the process, and continued to grow as fantastic young women on and off the softball field. We also celebrate that these individual awards are a culmination of the work that they put in each day and the way their teammates push them to be better players. Without the team's success throughout the season and the daily push to better the process (the daily drills, the weight room work, the leadership in the classroom and community) we wouldn't be in a position for these individual accolades. Let's go see what this team can do in Rochester!", said Head Coach
Shannon Pivovar.
Kait Van Der Zwaag
Van Der Zwaag played in 37 of the 46 games compiling a .283 average, .438 OBP, and .657 SLG % on the season. Kait recently won NSIC player of the week (May 3), adding onto her season total of 28 hits, 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 16 walks, 17 hit by pitches, two stolen bases, and 20 runs scored. The two-time All-Conference selection, Van Der Zwaag was perfect from the circle this past week going 3-0 from the circle, adding onto her season total of seven wins, 3.72 ERA in 16 games started, seven complete games, and three shut-outs in 94 innings pitched. Van Der Zwaag also is a standout in the classroom as she was named to NSIC All-Academic team the previous two seasons.
Kylan Straight
Kylan Straight played in all 46 games this season, compiling a .340 average, .361 OBP, and racked up 52 hits, five doubles, 11 RBI, six walks, and was 18-18 on stolen bases on the season. Kylan completed the 46 game stretch with 54 putouts in the outfield and wrapped up the regular season with a .965 fielding percentage. A senior standout both in and out of the classroom as she received the Myles Brand Award for being a senior who is on track to graduate who has a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher and exhausted their eligibility as a student-athlete. Straight had previously received All-American Scholar Team honors in 2019, followed by being named as a two-time NSIC All Academic Team recipient, along with being named a recipient for a Division Two ADA Academic Achievement award.
Taryn Wagner
Freshman
Taryn Wagner started off her USF Softball career in quite the fashion as she compiled a .341 average, .382 OBP, and .537 slugging percentage. Wagner ended the regular seasont with 28 hits, one double, five home runs, 22 RBI, six walks, and six stolen bases. On the defensive side of the diamond, playing in 37 total games, she had 31 putouts and two assists, along with a few great defensive plays throughout the season to save runs from scoring.
Lexie Swift
Lexie Swift was named to the All-Defensive Team for the first time in her career as she had 46 games played, 68 putouts, six assists, and zero errors for a stellar 1.000 fielding percentage on the season. Along with Straight and Van Der Zwaag, Swift is a two-time NSIC All-Academic selection and was a recipient for the Division two ADA Academic Achievement award. From the plate, she's been a consistent contributor compiling a .288 average, .382 OBP, and .377 slugging percentage with 27 runs scored, 42 hits, six doubles, two triples, one home run, 13 RBI, 23 walks, and five stolen bases.
