Settlemier Tabbed NFCA Second Team All-American

May 31, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas senior Serena Settlemier (Kelso, Wash.) was named a 2006 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Second Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Wednesday. Settlemier, who was named NFCA Midwest First Team All-Region on May 18, earned the national honor as a utility player.

A right-handed pitcher and designated player, Settlemier becomes the first Jayhawk to receive NFCA All-America honors since Christi Musser in 2002. Musser, an outfielder, is currently an assistant coach at KU. Settlemier is just the 11th softball player in school history to be named All-American.

Settlemier was named the 2006 Big 12 Player of the Year after an outstanding senior campaign in the circle and batter’s box. In her senior season, Settlemier led the conference in home runs (22), RBI (61) and slugging percentage (.771). She led the KU offense with a .326 batting average and blasted six grand slams. On the rubber, Settlemier went 17-7 and posted a 1.44 ERA to rank third in the Big 12 and second on the team. She lowered her ERA to 0.83 against conference opponents and ranked third in the league in opponent batting average at .166.

Settlemier was named Big 12 Player of the Week twice in 2006, including on April 25 when she also was tabbed USA Softball co-National Player of the Week.

Kansas won its first-ever Big 12 Championship on May 13 and advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the second straight season. The Jayhawks fell to 14th-seeded Washington in the Provo, Wash., regional championship and finished the season 36-26 overall.

Click here for a complete list of this year’s 54 Louisville Slugger/NFCA NCAA Division I All-Americans.

-KU-