ATLANTA, Ga. – The Wildcats are ready to continue their upward progress and leave their mark on the diamond this spring. Fort Valley State was voted third in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division and placed a trio of Mariah Williams, Laila Leverett and E'Lisia Vickers on the Preseason All-SIAC Teams.
After a four-game improvement a year ago to an 18-23 record, FVSU head coach Rufus Green has his team primed for loftier goals than just a return to the SIAC Tournament for his third time in as many seasons.
"Our core group of seasoned and accomplished athletes, coupled with the talent and energy of our freshmen, has created a dynamic blend ,which with we are super excited to watch take on a demanding and challenging schedule," explained Green.
The Wildcats sprout a good mix of experience and new talent up and down the roster led by senior Williams, junior Leverett and sophomore Vickers.
"Our team is young, but they have a championship pedigree. I am expecting big things from them," added Wildcat Director of Athletics Dr. Renae Myles Payne.
The Wildcats finished third in the SIAC East last year and is predicted to repeat the place in the standings with defending SIAC champion Edward Waters at the top and Albany State at second.
Williams finished as the top short stop of the 13-team SIAC ranks for 2023. The Griffin, Ga., native lined 44 hits in 115 at bats for a solid .383 average over 40 games. She produced a team-best 41 runs, four home runs, 22 RBI, 13 walks, 16 hit by pitch, .548 slug percentage, 23 stolen bases and a .503 on base percentage. Williams also had three doubles and two triples.
After being a All-SIAC Second Team selection, Leverett (Grovetown, Ga.) moves up to the Preseason First Team at Designated Player. The third-year Wildcat lined 33 hits in 114 at bats at a .289 clip for 41 games last spring. She sliced five doubles and a home run and drove in 20 runs while she touched home 15 times. Laila also walked 14 times and stole five bases.
Following her first year of splitting time between outfield and first base, Vickers (Montrose, Ga.) slides into the All-SIAC Second Team at first base. In 35 games as a freshman, Vickers posted 30 hits in 99 at bats for a .303 average. The second-year member scored 17 runs with seven doubles and one home run with 19 RBI. She added a .404 slug percentage and a .381 on base percentage to go with seven hit by pitch, six walks and a stolen base.
FVSU returns home in the early season on Friday afternoon, Feb. 9, in a 1 and 3 p.m. twinbill against Montreat College.
2024 SIAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS
Eastern Division
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1. Edward Waters University
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2. Albany State University
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3. Fort Valley State University
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4. Benedict College
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5. Clark Atlanta University
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6. Savannah State University
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7. Allen University
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Western Division
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1. Spring Hill College
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2. Tuskegee University
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3. Lane College
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4. Miles College
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5. Kentucky State University
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6. LeMoyne-Owen College
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2024 SIAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
First Team
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NAME
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POSITION
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SCHOOL
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CLASS
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HOMETOWN
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Jersey Cabana*
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Starting Pitcher
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Lane
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Sophomore
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San Dimas, CA
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Kamya Hampton*
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Starting Pitcher
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Tuskegee
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Senior
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Pinson, AL
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Trista Murphy*
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Starting Pitcher
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Albany State
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Junior
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Ludowici, GA
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Emma Curry*
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Starting Pitcher
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Spring Hill
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Sophomore
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Slidell, LA
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DeOnia Gibby*
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Catcher
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Miles
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Junior
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Montgomery, AL
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Johannas Bentley*
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First Base
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Clark Atlanta
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Senior
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Corona, CA
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Madison Hurt*
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Second Base
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Albany State
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Junior
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Phenix City, AL
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Mariah Williams*
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Short Stop
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Fort Valley State
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Senior
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Griffin, GA
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Morgan Brown*
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Third Base
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Albany State
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Junior
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Thompson's Station, TN
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Kylah Gardner*
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Outfield
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Edward Waters
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Junior
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Belleview, FL
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Airyonna Weaver*
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Outfield
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Spring Hill
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Junior
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Mobile, AL
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Nyia Westbrook*
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Outfield
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Miles
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Junior
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Birmingham, AL
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Jersey Cabana#
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Relief Pitcher
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Lane
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Sophomore
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San Dimas, CA
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Laila Leverett#
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Designated Player
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Fort Valley State
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Junior
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Grovetown, GA
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Madison Hurt#
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Utility Player
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Albany State
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Junior
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Phenix City, AL
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Second Team
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NAME
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POSITION
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SCHOOL
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CLASS
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HOMETOWN
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Jodasea Peterson#
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Starting Pitcher
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Edward Waters
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Senior
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Jacksonville, FL
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Romona McLeod#
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Starting Pitcher
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Albany State
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Junior
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Montgomery, AL
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Autumn Phillips
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Starting Pitcher
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Lane
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Junior
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Harriman, TN
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Olivia Townsend
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Starting Pitcher
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Benedict
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Sophomore
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Hernando, FL
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Amanda Glowacki#
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Catcher
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Spring Hill
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Sophomore
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Barrington Hills, IL
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E'Lisia Vickers
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First Base
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Fort Valley State
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Sophomore
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Montrose, GA
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Jada Chadwick#
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Second Base
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Tuskegee
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Senior
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Columbus, GA
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Bailey Cox#
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Short Stop
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Spring Hill
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R-Junior
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Bay Minette, AL
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Ava Mearideth
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Third Base
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Lane
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Sophomore
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Las Vegas, NV
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T'yauna Rector#
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Outfield
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Tuskegee
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Senior
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Conway, AR
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Keyatta Ayers#
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Outfield
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Albany State
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Junior
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Rockmart, GA
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Shanna McNair#
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Outfield
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Lane
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Sophomore
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Jensen Beach, FL
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Jayla Hill
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Relief Pitcher
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Clark Atlanta
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Junior
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Los Angeles, CA
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Kaylee Stinnett
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Designated Player
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Lane
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Junior
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Las Vegas, NV
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Macy Holt
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Utility Player
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Spring Hill
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Senior
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Satsuma, AL
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* 2023 First Team All-Conference Returner
# 2023 Second Team All-Conference Returner
-Wildcats-
