Softball Sees Six Earn Atlantic 10 Honors

Atlantic 10 Release | Full Teams

AMHERST, Mass. -- AMHERST, Mass. -- The Fordham softball team placed six student-athletes on the three various Atlantic 10 teams, it was announced Tuesday by the league. Sophomore Amy Van Hoven, senior Kayla Lombardo and redshirt junior Rachel Gillen were named First Team All-Atlantic 10, while Gillen and sophomore Sydney Canessa earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 accolades. Freshman Morgan Figueroa was voted to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, while Lombardo and senior Michele Daubman were selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team.

Van Hoven, who earns her second straight first team selection, receives the nod at second base. She is currently hitting .382 (eighth in the A-10) with 66 hits (second in the A-10), 39 runs (seventh in the A-10), four triples (second in the A-10) and 15 stolen bases (eight in the A-10) while starting all 50 games.

Lombardo returns to the first team as a catcher after making it as a third baseman two years ago. Starting all 50 games as well, the backstop also makes the academic team for the second year in a row. Lombardo is hitting .322 with nine doubles, six home runs, 39 RBI (sixth in the A-10), 32 runs and 23 walks (eighth in the A-10) while writing a feature series for espnW called "The Life and Times of a NCAA Softball Player".

Gillen is arguably the top pitcher in the Atlantic 10 this season and joins the first team as a pitcher, while earning second team honors as a designated player. The southpaw leads the league in wins (20), shutouts (7) and strikeouts (214) and has been named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week six times. In 178.2 innings, Gillen has posted a 2.39 ERA, 16 complete games (in 27 starts), and nearly has a 4 to 1 strikeout/walk ratio. At the dish, Gillen ranks 10th in the league in both hitting (.372) and RBI (33) and has seven doubles and four home runs. She recently had a 17-game hitting streak end but has hit safely in 20 of the last 21 games.

Canessa makes the second team as a center field, after earning first team accolades as a freshman. Arguably the top center field in the league, she has started all 50 games and has not made an error in 63 chances. Also one of the top leadoff hitters as well, Canessa is hitting .335 with seven doubles, four home runs, 31 RBI, 42 runs (third in the A-10) and 56 hits (seventh in the A-10).

Figueroa has appeared in 41 games, with 23 starts. She is hitting .438 (21-for-48) with 18 runs, four RBI and six stolen bases. The freshman has also taken over the starting left field position over the second part of the season and has not made an error in 31 chances and has two assists.

Daubman, who is the current Atlantic 10 and ECAC Pitcher of the Week, is riding a four-game win streak in the circle and is peaking at the right time for the Rams. She makes her third consecutive academic team with her perfect 4.0 GPA. In the circle, Daubman is 10-8 with a 3.55 ERA and has tossed 14 straight scoreless innings. At the plate, she is hitting a solid .275 with nine doubles, seven home runs, 25 RBI and 24 runs.

Fordham starts Atlantic 10 Tournament play Wednesday when they take on sixth-seeded St. Bonaventure at Sortino Field, with first pitch slated for 2:30 p.m.