1

2 3

University Coaches Players Review

Coaches 2009 Panthers Review University

Front Row: Kim Wachholder, Megan Machovec, Mackenzie Daigh, Hannah BorschelSecond Row: Haley Kriener, McKena Carlson, Karla Quandt, Lindsay Callanan, Samantha Waters, Whitney PleinThird Row: Ryan Jacobs, Leah Embrey, Samantha Reimer, Rachel Gerking, Livi Abney, Laura Turner, Stephanie WinterFourth Row: Kelly Papesh, Jaye Hutcheson, Jen Larsen, Courtney Dunker, Sarah Saladino, Allison Galvin, Eranne Daugharthy, Julie Gerdes

The University2010 UNI Panthers

4 5

UNI Highlights

• U.S. News and World Report ranks UNI in the top two among public comprehensive universities in the Midwest.

• Kiplinger Personal Finance places UNI in the top 50 in the nation for best value in public colleges.

• The Education Trust (www.edtrust.org) named UNI first among peer institutions nationally for overall high performance in graduation rates.

• UNI prides itself on smaller class sizes that enhance faculty-student interaction and personalized instruction. Thirty-two percent of classes have fewer than 20 students, and 83 percent have fewer than 40 students.

• UNI students are actively involved with more than 200 student organizations, including special interest clubs, sororities and fraternities, religious groups and academic groups.

• UNI is the alma mater of NFL and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, as well as U.S. Senator Charles Grassley.

• The UNI Wellness/Recreation Center, attached to the north side of the UNI-Dome, features a climbing wall, two pools, a running track, weight and fitness rooms, and courts for basketball, volleyball and racquetball.

Building on a strong tradition of teacher education, the University of Northern Iowa has evolved into one of the finest comprehensive public universities in the country. UNI emphasizes excellence in undergraduate education and offers selected graduate programs at the master’s, specialist’s and doctoral levels.

UNI’s heritage and philosophy place great value on providing a student-centered educational experience. The university offers a learning environment that is small enough to provide students with individual attention, yet large enough to provide a variety of resources, including distinguished faculty.

Today, UNI offers more than 120 undergraduate majors. Outstanding academic programs, many of which are nationally-recognized for their excellence, have been established in the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. In addition, UNI participates in the bachelor of liberal studies program offered by Iowa’s Regent Universities and provides classes in centers around the state through the division of Continuing Education and Special Programs.

Recognized as the premier public undergraduate university in the state, UNI is experiencing an increasing demand for its high-quality programs. Enrollment at UNI was 12,609 in the fall of 2007. Students come from every county in Iowa, and about 94 percent of UNI’s undergraduate students are residents of Iowa upon enrollment.

The University of Northern Iowa was founded in 1876 as Iowa State Normal School. It became Iowa State Teachers College in 1909. In 1961, the name was changed to the State College of Iowa and in 1967, the Iowa legislature changed the status of the institution to that of a university under its present title.

UNI AdministrationBenjamin AllenUniversity President

Benjamin J. Allen was named the ninth president of the University of Northern Iowa on April 28, 2006, and assumed his duties on June 5, 2006. He received his doctorate and master’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois and his Bachelor of Science degree in business economics from Indiana University.

President Allen was vice president for academic affairs and provost at Iowa State University and was responsible to the president in all aspects of the academic

programs at Iowa State. He has the distinction of having been named the first University Distinguished Professor in Business at ISU.

Before joining the ISU faculty in 1979, he taught at Washington State University and was a Brookings Economic Policy Fellow in the Office of Transportation Regulatory Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation. He was the Visiting McKinley Professor of Economics and Public Utilities at the University of Illinois in 1986-87 and held the Oren Harris Chair in Transportation at the University of Arkansas during the 1990-91 academic year.

In 2007, President Allen was appointed by two state college associations (the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges) to the Presidential Advisory Committee for the National Commission on University Accountability.

Under his leadership, the University of Northern Iowa has established priorities of increasing student achievement in undergraduate programs and providing statewide leadership in Pre-K through 12 education, including UNI’s lead role in the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership with Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. He, along with the director of the Iowa Department of Education, is overseeing the development of the statewide Research and Development School.

President Allen is an ex-officio board member of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. He co-chaired the Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce, a nonprofit educational foundation created to help prepare all Iowa learners for the 21st century global marketplace. A staunch supporter of the local community, President Allen is a member of the executive committee of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance.

The Cabinet

Bill CalhounVice President Advancement

Patricia GeadelmannSpecial Assistant to the President/Board & Government Relations

James O’ConnorAssistant Vice President University Marketing & Public Relations

Gloria GibsonExecutive Vice President/Provost

Tom SchellhardtVice President Administration & Finance

Terrence HoganVice President Educational & Student Services

Board of Regents State of Iowa

as of July 1, 2009

David W. MilesPresident

Jack B. EvansPresident Pro Tem

Bonnie J. Campbell

Robert N. Downer

Michael G. Gartner

Ruth R. Harkin

Greta A. Johnson

Craig A. Lang

Rose A. Vasquez

Front row: Bonnie Campbell, Greta Johnson, Rose Vasquez, Michael Gartner, Ruth HarkinBack row: President David Miles, President Pro Tem Jack Evans, Craig Lang, Bob Downer

Ben and Pat Allen

6 7

Director of Athletics/Senior woman Administrator

Troy DannenUNI Director of Athletics

Troy Dannen was named the University of Northern Iowa’s Director of Athletics on May 29, 2008. He became the school’s fifth director of athletics since UNI turned Division I in 1980.

When he rejoined the Panther family in 2009, it was a homecoming for Dannen, who attended UNI as an undergraduate in the 1980s. He maintained close ties to the school

during his nearly 20 years away from the University, and his passion and drive for the Purple and Gold was a key reason he chose to come back and guide the department.

His vision for UNI is to use the passion he has for Panther athletics, and wave the flag like never before. Not only by helping to continue the outstanding academic and athletic success that UNI teams have had in recent years, but also to expand the Panthers’ reach throughout the state. Dannen believes that Panther athletic department should value excellence in all endeavors, with its primary objective being personal development and growth of its student-athletes.

Dannen believes in achieving that objective by focusing on the core educational mission of the University and ensuring the department acts with integrity and in a fiscally responsible manner. Through this, Panther athletics can continue to thrive, and achieve greater levels of success both on and off the field of play. The road map for that action plan starts with having a passion for UNI, and bringing it to the table each day. Then, focusing that passion into a work ethic and drive to make UNI the best place it can be.

This past year, Dannen’s first, UNI finished fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference’s all-sports standings, marking the third straight year the Panthers have posted an upper-division finish. UNI captured conference championships in football, men’s basketball, and men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, while wrestling won the West Regional. Teams or individuals in eight sports advanced to NCAA postseason play.

Dannen originated the idea for the first “Rally in the Valley” dinner auction, which raised more than $100,000 for UNI athletics. He has initiated

a grass-roots campaign to increase membership in the Panther Scholarship Club, especially in the state capital of Des Moines. Dannen also spearheaded the athletic department’s drive to fund-raise to replace the aging turf in the UNI-Dome. He has overseen the construction of new administrative offices and a student-athlete academic center, as well as the building of suites in both the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center.

In addition to success on the field of play, Dannen continues to make academic success a priority as well. A total of 135 Panthers (more than 30 percent of all UNI student-athletes) were named to the Missouri Valley Conference’s honor roll this year, for maintaining at least a 3.2 grade point average during the fall of 2008.

For the six years prior to coming back to UNI, Dannen served as Executive Director of the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU). As the governing body for high school sports in the state of Iowa, the IGHSAU oversees nearly 400 schools and more than 70,000 students, in the 11 sports offered by the Union. Dannen has served in various capacities at the IGHSAU over 18 years, including serving nine years (1993-2002) as associate executive director.

Dannen oversaw a 40 percent growth in the Union’s budget on his watch, all the while operating the IGHSAU in the black, which allowed for the establishment of a significant reserve fund. Sponsorship agreements soared to new heights during his tenure as executive director, as Dannen has spearheaded expanding the Union’s existing deals and developing landmark new corporate sponsors. He also developed a statewide multi-media rights agreement for the IGHSAU, and created numerous scholarship programs for high school student-athletes who excel in the classroom.

In addition, Dannen is active in community service in both the greater Des Moines area and around the state. He has been a member of the Iowa Games Board of Directors, the Greater Des Moines Sports Commission, and served on the AAU Junior Olympics Local Organizing Committee. He also has served on the Iowa Athletic Council, Iowa Referee Committee and the Drake Relays Committee. Dannen has also been active internationally, having twice been a presenter in Malaysia – at the request of the Olympic Council of Malaysia – on the topic of youth sports and sport program development.

Born and raised on a farm near Marshalltown, Iowa, Dannen, 42, received his bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in journalism from UNI in 1989.

Jean BergerSenior Associate Athletic Director/ Senior Woman Administrator

Jean Berger joined the University of Northern Iowa staff as senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator in October 2008.

At UNI, Berger is the direct supervisor of six UNI women’s sports - basketball, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis and volleyball. She

also oversees athletic training and media relations. She is responsible for implementing and monitoring gender equity plans; assisting with marketing and budgeting of assigned programs; and providing support to the compliance office and academic advising.

Before coming to UNI, Berger worked for more than 17 years at Drake. Berger began working with the Bulldogs in 1991 as an assistant sports information director. In 1994 she took over as the senior woman administrator and assistant athletic director for internal affairs, and in 2005 she was promoted to associate athletic director.

Berger’s responsibilities at Drake included supervision of 11 athletic programs and overseeing the department’s student services, including compliance, academic support, sports medicine and strength and conditioning. She also worked as a sponsor for the Drake Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She serves as the Missouri Valley Conference representative to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Issues Committee, and she previously served a five-year term on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee.

Berger also worked closely with Drake’s Title IX Review and gender equity plan, the 1995 NCAA Midwest Women’s Basketball Regional, two cycles of Drake’s NCAA Certification self-study and the Drake Relays.

Before working at Drake, Berger spent one year as an assistant sports information director at Wichita State. From 1985-1990, Berger worked as the sports information director at Wayne State College.

Berger attended the University of Iowa, and she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and her master’s degree in physical education and sports studies. She is a native of Winterset, Iowa, and has two daughters, Jessica (22) and Jenna (15).

Panther Head Coaches

Facts & Highlights• U.S. News and World Report ranks UNI in the top two among

public comprehensive universities in the Midwest.

• Kiplinger Personal Finance places UNI in the top 50 in the nation for best value in public colleges.

• The Education Trust (www.edtrust.org) named UNI first among peer institutions nationally for overall high performance in graduation rates.

• UNI prides itself on smaller class sizes that enhance faculty-student interaction and personalized instruction. Thirty-two percent of classes have fewer than 20 students, and 83 percent have fewer than 40 students.

• UNI students are actively involved with more than 200 student organizations, including special interest clubs, sororities and fraternities, religious groups and academic groups.

• UNI is the alma mater of NFL and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, as well as U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley.

• The UNI Wellness/Recreation Center, attached to the north side of the UNI-Dome, features a climbing wall, two pools, a running track, weight and fitness rooms and courts for basketball, volleyball and racquetball.

This is UNIBuilding on a strong tradition of teacher education, the

University of Northern Iowa has evolved into one of the finest comprehensive public universities in the country. UNI emphasizes excellence in undergraduate education and offers selected graduate programs at the master’s, specialist’s and doctoral levels.

UNI’s heritage and philosophy place great value on providing a student-centered educational experience. The university offers a learning environment that is small enough to provide students with individualized attention, yet large enough to provide a variety of resources, including distinguished faculty. UNI’s special combination of challenge and support is indeed a key ingredient of a “Students First” education.

Today, UNI offers more than 120 undergraduate majors. Outstanding academic programs, many of which are nationally-recognized for their excellence, have been established in the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. In addition, UNI participates in the bachelor of liberal studies program offered by Iowa’s Regent Universities and provides classes in centers around the state through the division of Continuing Education and Special Programs.

Recognized as the premier public undergraduate university in the state, UNI is experiencing an increasing demand for its high-quality programs. Enrollment at UNI was 13,080 students in the fall of 2009. Students come from every county in Iowa, and about 94 percent of UNI’s undergraduate students are residents of Iowa upon enrollment.

The University of Northern Iowa was founded in 1876 as the Iowa State Normal School. It became Iowa State Teachers College in 1909. In 1961, the name was changed to State College of Iowa, and in 1967, the Iowa Legislature changed the status of the institution to that of a university under its present title.

Stacey SimmerWomen’s Swimming and Diving

Dan SteeleMen’s and Women’s Track and Field/

Ben JacobsonMen’s Basketball

Tanya WarrenWomen’s Basketball

Ryan JacobsSoftball

John BermelMen’s and Women’s Golf

Mark FarleyFootball

Sachin KirtaneWomen’s Tennis

Bobbi PetersenWomen’s Volleyball

James PriceWomen’s Soccer

8 9

Academics

One of the most important aspects of a future productive life is your education. Fortunately, this education period comes early in life while you have the time and energies necessary to accomplish this very worthwhile goal. Obtaining a college education and ultimately a degree is the student-athlete’s responsibility. The education process means managing your time wisely so that the educational, athletic and social aspects of your life have an appropriate share of time.

At given times, students may find it necessary to ask for help in accomplishing an educational task. At UNI, the following services are available to students for obtaining guidelines and/or specific help.

Educational Opportunity ProgramThe mission of the educational opportunity program is to provide

supportive services which are essential for the identification, recruitment, retention and graduation of minority and educationally disadvantaged students who traditionally have not had equal access to higher educational institutions. Services provided to participants include:• Academic and career counseling• Tutorial services• Financial aid counseling and advising• Personal counseling• Course selection and registration• Educational planning

In order to be an EOP participant, the student must be a minority student or be educationally disadvantaged, as evidenced by having an ACT score of 15 or less and/or placing in the bottom half of his/her high school graduating class.

Academic CounselingAn advisor has been assigned responsibilities across the athletics department

and will assist you in:• Scheduling• Choice of major• Selection of a major advisor• Tutorial services• Maintain satisfactory progress toward a degree

The athletics academic advisor works closely with the university’s academic advising services to provide a variety of services to help students achieve their personal, career and academic goals.Professional and peer advisors help students:• Prioritize life/professional goals• Utilize university resources• Select appropriate courses• Resolve academic difficulties• Interpret institutional academic requirements

The reading/learning strategies program provides many services for students, including free four-week courses in:• Speed-reading: double your reading rate• Effective study strategies: practice techniques for learning, managing time

and preparing for exams• Study reading: open to students referred by the teacher education program

Steve SchofieldAssociate Athletics Director for Student Services

Steve Schofield joined the UNI athletics staff in August 2006. He is responsible for implementing and maintaining a compliance program for UNI’s 400 student-athletes. He also

assists with UNI’s student life initiatives.Prior to UNI, Schofield served as assistant athletics director for

compliance at Florida State University. At FSU, his duties including coordinating financial aid, rules interpretations, NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference waivers, rules education and investigating and reporting secondary violations.

Schofield has a wide and varied background, as he has also served in the athletic department compliance offices at Maryland and Minnesota. A native of Odebolt, Iowa, Schofield received his bachelor’s degree in general studies from UNI in 2000 and a master’s degree in higher and postsecondary education from Arizona State in 2003.

StaffStacia GreveAcademic Advisor

Stacia Greve is in her first year as an academic adviser in the UNI Department of Athletics. Greve will oversee the advisement of the men’s basketball, football and softball teams.

Greve earned her bachelor’s (family services) and master’s (postsecondary education -

student affairs) degrees from UNI. Greve previously served as the Coordinator of Academic Success at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, a job she began in July 2006. At UIU, she worked directly with the athletic department to develop and implement learning strategies to facilitate the academic success of student-athletes, to improve personal skill levels, motivate learning and promote self-reliance. Greve also assisted as an advisor in UNI’s Center for Academic Achievement from August 2005 to June 2006.

Strength and Conditioning

Jed SmithStrength and Conditioning Coach

Jed C. Smith is beginning his fifth season as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the UNI Panthers. Smith joined the UNI coaching staff in June 2005.

In spring 2006, Smith coached current UNI

football student-athlete Jason Fiacco when he took part in the 2006 Pan American Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia. Fiacco qualified for the event at the United States National Junior Championships on March 15 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Fiacco placed second in both the Snatch and Clean & Jerk heavyweight competitions. Fiacco lifted 138 kg in the Snatch and 178 kg in the Clean & Jerk.

Prior to his work with the Panthers, Smith served as the Explosive Strength Training Coach for the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings from February 2004 to June 2005.

Smith has a wide and varied background in strength and conditioning training. In addition to his work with the Vikings, he also assisted the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League, the Minnesota Thunder of the United Soccer League and Penn State football in an effort to incorporate explosive strength training into their

individual programs.Beginning in June 2002, he was an Exercise and Sports

Science instructor at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn., and also served as the Minnesota USA Weightlifting Regional Training Center director during the same time frame.

Prior to 2002, he had several coaching assignments at Rosemount High School beginning in 1996, including ninth-grade boys basketball and wrestling. He served as Rosemount’s strength training and conditioning coach for all sports from 1997-2002, was head boys tennis coach from 2000-2002 and coached the school’s Olympic weight lifting from 1999-2002.

Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in social science from Minnesota-Morris in 1994 and a second bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1995. He received his master’s in education with an emphasis in strength and conditioning from Hamline University in 2003.

He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and his wife’s name is Tammy.

Strength and ConditioningThe UNI strength and conditioning program is a blend

of science, technology and one-on-one attention to each student-athlete.

Throughout the year, UNI athletes can spend more time working on strength and conditioning than any other aspect of their game. During the offseason, athletes work on strength improvement, speed, power, agility and conditioning. The in-season program is devoted to continuation of strength gains and performance-related conditioning.

Throughout an athlete’s first year on campus, baseline measurements of strength, speed, power, agility, flexibility and endurance are collected. Measure of body composition and weight are also recorded. With this information, goals are set for development and maintenance. Programs are established for each athlete.

Kara ParkAcademic Advisor

Kara Park joined the UNI athletics department in 2010. Park advises the women’s basketball, men’s/women’s golf, women’s soccer, women’s swimming and diving, women’s tennis, men’s/women’s cross country/track and field, women’s volleyball and wrestling programs at UNI. She

also works with the CHAMPS/Life Skills program at UNI.Park earned both her Bachelor of Arts in education (2005)

and her Master of Arts in education (2007) from UNI. She most recently held the title of Assistant Director for Student-Athlete Academic Services at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, after beginning as an athletic academic advisor there. While at Akron (June 2007-present), Park was responsible for the advisement of six NCAA Division I athletic teams, as well as certifying the eligibility of those teams.

Prior to her time at the University of Akron, Park served as a graduate assistant in educational leadership, counseling, and postsecondary education at UNI from 2005-2007.

10 11

Head Coach Ryan Jacobs

Ryan Jacobs enters his third season at the helm of the University of Northern Iowa softball team, but Jacobs is no stranger to Panther athletics. The Cedar Rapids native played two seasons for UNI’s baseball team, from 1997 to 1998, helping the Panthers to a then-school record 32 wins and second-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference. It didn’t take long for Coach Jacobs to make his imprint on the UNI softball program as he guided the Panthers to one of their best seasons in school history in 2009 as the Panthers finished 34-22 overall record and 15-11 Missouri Valley Conference play. Coach Jacobs and his staff were named the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2009, which marked only the second time a UNI coaching staff has earned that honor in school history. In his two years as head coach, Coach Jacobs is 54-50 overall and his team’s have set or tied five single-season school records and he has coached seven players to All-MVC honors and one MVC Newcomer of the Year. Last season, Jacobs and his staff orchestrated a 14-win improvement from his first season, a 7.5 game improvement in Missouri Valley play and coached the Panthers to the most conference wins (15) in school history after the Panthers had only won 11 MVC games the past three seasons. This third place regular-season finish was also the top Val-ley finish for the Panthers since 2000, and is the second-highest finish in school history in a year where the Panthers were picked to finish last in the preseason poll. Jacobs also led the Panthers back to the MVC Softball Tournament for the first time since 2002. Jacobs also guided the Panthers to a 5-0 start in MVC play, the first time in school history the Panthers got off to that start in league action. For their efforts Jacobs and his staff were named the 2009 MVC Coaching Staff of the Year. Coach Jacobs known for his offensive mindset turned the Panthers into an offensive juggernaut in 2009 as the Panther set a new school record with 52 home runs in 2009, eclipsing the previous record of 42 homers set by the 2003 Panther softball team. The Panthers led the Valley in nearly every offensive category in 2009, which included batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits, RBI, triples and home runs. During his first year as head coach, Jacobs led the Panthers to a blistering 7-1 record to start the season before cooling off and finishing with a 20-28 overall record and a 5-16 conference mark. Jacobs also helped the Panthers improve their overall winning percent-age from .373 (19-32 overall) in 2007 to .416 (20-28 overall) in 2008 and improve one spot in the Valley standings. During the non-conference slate the Panthers snapped Nebraska’s 44-game non-con-ference home winning streak with a 2-1 win, topped Minnesota, 6-4, and beat Wisconsin, 3-0. In conference play, the Panthers just missed qualifying for the eight-team Missouri Val-ley Conference Tournament after finishing ninth in the league. The Panthers set a school record for team fielding percentage during Jacobs’ first year

“Our goal and philosophy is to

out-hustle and out-play

our opponent, and play the game the right way.

Wins and losses will then take care of themselves.”

- head coach Ryan Jacobs

Ryan JacobsUniversity of Northern Iowa ‘99Third Season

The Jacobs FileCoaching Experience

2007-Present ........................................... UNI, head coach

2004-07 ................. Cedar Falls High School head coach

2001-05 .............................UNI, assistant baseball coach

1999..............Cornell College, assistant baseball coach

1997-2001 .......... Xavier High School assistant baseball coach

Education

1999...........................................UNI, B.A., general studies

The Coaches

12 13

Assistant Coaches

Former University of Northern Iowa standout pitcher Julie Gerdes will begin her third year on the Panther softball staff as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Gerdes came to the Panther staff after serving as the pitching coach at Wartburg College from 2005-07 and also assisting head coach Ryan Jacobs at Cedar Falls High School from 2004-07.

As an assistant coach at Wartburg, Gerdes helped lead the Knights to a combined 102-23 record and two Iowa Intercol-legiate Athletic Conference tournament championships, including a 2006 IIAC regular season title.

Not only did Gerdes assist with pitching at Wartburg from 2005-2007; she also helped Jacobs with pitching duties at Cedar Falls High School. Gerdes helped lead the Tigers to a 32-10 mark in 2007 and was ranked as high as fifth in Iowa’s Class 4A.

A 2000 graduate of Burlington High School, Gerdes began her collegiate softball career at Kirkwood Community College where she earned NJCAA Region XI first team honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and also National Coaches Association-Louisville Slugger All-American first team. Gerdes pitching record at Kirkwood was an impressive 41-10 over two seasons, helping Kirkwood to an 84-29 team record.

Following her career at Kirkwood; Gerdes joined the Panther pitching staff and tallied a 12-6 pitching record in her first season. She threw over 100 innings in each of her years as a Panther, and posted 17 complete games, including 12 in her junior season. Gerdes graduated from UNI in 2004 with a degree in Mathematics and taught at Cedar Falls High School from 2005-2007.

Stephanie Winter is entering her sec-ond season on the Panther coaching staff. Winter will be in charge of the Panthers’ outfielders, and she will also assist with recruiting and hitting.

“We are very excited to have Stepha-nie on board with us. She brings a lot of enthusiasm and desire with her,” UNI head softball coach Ryan Jacobs said. “She will add a new level of knowledge. She will bring a lot of new ideas, and they are ideas from a well-known and successful program at Michigan.”

Winter comes to UNI after spending the 2008 season as a student assistant at her alma mater, the University

of Michigan. She worked primarily worked with the Wolverine outfielders and assisted with the team’s hitting.

As a player at Michigan, Winter was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, and she earned University of Michigan Academic Achievement awards all four seasons. She played in four NCAA regionals in her career, advancing to the super regionals three times. She also participated in two Women’s College World Series, and was a member of the 2005 national championship team.

Winter, a native of St. Louis, Mo., graduated from Michigan in May 2008 with a degree in kinesiology.

Julie GerdesUniversity of Northern Iowa ‘04Third SeasonPitching/ Recruiting Coordinator

Kelly PapeshUNI ‘09First Season

Volunteer Assistant Coach

after compiling a .971 fielding percentage, topping the previous school record of .961 set in 2001. Jacobs’ squad only committed 41 errors, shattering the previous mark of 52 errors committed in a season back in 1998. Jacobs served as the head softball coach at Cedar Falls High School from 2004 to 2007, guiding the Tigers to a 108-62-2 cumulative record. In 2007, the Tigers’ squad finished with a 32-10 mark — the second-best in school history — and was ranked as high as fifth in Iowa’s Class 4A. In Jacobs’ tenure at CFHS, he guided six first-team All-Mississippi Valley Conference players, including one conference player of the year, five first-team all-district players and four all-state players. After a season of playing professional baseball for the Richmond Roosters of the Frontier League and assistant baseball coaching stints at Cornell College and Cedar Rapids Xavier High School, Jacobs returned to Cedar Falls and UNI in 2001. He served as an assistant coach on the Panther baseball staff, specializing in coaching the catchers and hitters. He also coordinated Panther camps and clinics and served as the team’s first base coach. UNI recorded an average of 29 wins per season while Jacobs was on staff, including a school-record 35 victories and an NCAA tournament appear-

ance in 2001. Jacobs’ coaching philosophy revolves around pushing players to their maximum potential and being able to outwork the opposing team. Jacobs looks to focus on playing the game “the right way” and hustling to outplay opponents. Coach Jacobs signed a contract extension on April 30, 2009, that extends his contract through 2012.

Jacobs was a standout prep baseball player at Cedar Rapids Regis High School, being named both Mississippi Valley Conference Player of the Year and the Iowa Legion Player of the Year in 1994.

Jacobs and his wife Kelley, a UNI assistant women’s basketball coach, reside in Cedar Falls with their two daughters, Haley (4) and Emma 2.

Stephanie WinterMichigan ‘08Second SeasonOutfield/Hitting/Camp Director

14 15

No. Name ............................Ht. ...... Pos. .........B/T .......Yr. .......Hometown (High School/Last School)

2 Mackenzie Daigh ...........5-5 ...... INF ...........L/R ........SO .......Bucyrus, Kan. (Berean Christian)

3 Allison Galvin ................5-9 ...... OF .............R/R .......SO .......Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Jefferson)

5 Samantha Reimer ..........5-7 ...... C ...............R/R .......FR .......Dubuque, Iowa (Wahlert)

6 Hannah Borschel ...........5-4 ...... OF .............L/R ........SO .......Marion, Iowa (Linn-Mar)

7 Livi Abney ......................5-6 ...... 2B .............R/R .......JR .......Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence Free State)

8 Megan Machovec .........5-4 ...... OF .............L/R ........SR .......DeWitt, Iowa (Central DeWitt)

9 Rachel Gerking ..............5-5 ...... OF .............L/R ........SR .......Spirit Lake, Iowa (Spirit Lake)

10 Jen Larsen .....................5-8 ...... P/1B .........R/R .......SR .......Moline, Ill. (Moline)

11 Courtney Dunker ............5-9 ...... C/1B .........R/R .......SO .......New Lenox, Ill. (Lincoln Way Central)

12 Jaye Hutcheson .............6-0 ...... P/1B .........R/R .......SO .......Marion, Iowa (Linn-Mar)

13 Samantha Waters .........5-6 ...... OF/SS .......R/R .......SR .......Des Moines, Iowa (East)

14 Eranne Daugharthy ........6-0 ...... P/1B .........R/R .......JR .......Ottawa, Kan. (Olathe East)

15 Sarah Bakey ..................5-6 ...... 3B/P .........R/R .......SR .......West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley)

16 Melissa Tillett ...............5-4 ...... P ...............L/L ........RS SO .San Diego, Calif. (Mira Mesa)

17 Sarah Saladino ..............5-9 ...... 1B .............L/R ........SR .......Davenport, Iowa (West)

19 Haley Kriener .................5-6 ...... 3B .............R/R .......FR .......Fort Atkinson, Iowa (Turkey Valley)

20 Laura Turner ..................5-7 ...... C/3B .........R/R .......SO .......West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley)

21 Kim Wachholder ............5-3 ...... INF ...........R/R .......SO .......Salem, Wis. (Central Westosha)

22 Lindsay Callanan ...........5-6 ...... OF/1B .......L/L ........SO .......Antioch, Ill. (Antioch)

24 Leah Embrey ..................5-5 ...... C/3B .........R/R .......SO .......Johnston, Iowa (Johnston)

25 McKena Carlson ............5-6 ...... OF .............R/R .......FR .......Story City, Iowa (Roland-Story)

26 Whitney Plein ................5-5 ...... 3B .............R/R .......SO .......Burlington, Iowa (Burlington)

Head Coach: Ryan Jacobs (UNI, ’99)

Assistant Coaches: Julie Gerdes (UNI, ’04), Stephanie Winter (Michigan, ’08)

Volunteer Assistant Coaches: Connor Hughes

Student Assistant Coach: Kelly Papesh

Athletic Trainer: Sara Eggleston

Roster

Breakdown

By ClassFreshmen (3)Samantha ReimerHaley KreinerMcKena Carlson

Sophomores (10)Mackenzie DaighAllison GalvinHannah BorschelCourtney DunkerJaye HutchesonMelissa TillettLaura TurnerKim WachholderLindsay CallananWhitney Plein

By PositionInfield (7)Mackenzie DaighLivi AbneyJen LarsenEranne DaugharthySarah BakeySarah SaladinoHaley KrienerLaura TurnerKim WachholderLeah EmbreyWhitney Plein

Pitchers (5)Sarah BakeyEranne DaugharthyJen LarsenJaye HutchesonMelissa Tillet

Juniors (2)Livi AbneyEranne Daugharthy

Seniors (6)Megan MachovecRachel GerkingJen LarsenSamantha WatersSarah BakeySarah Saladino

Outfield (7)Allison Galvin, Hannah Borschel, Megan Machovec, Rachel Gerking, Samantha Waters, Lindsay Callanan, McKena Carlson

Catchers (4)Courtney DunkerSamantha ReimerLeah EmbreyLaura Turner

r

Meet the Panthers

2010 Roster

16 17

Career HighsAt-bats .......................4 (Kansas, 3/7/09)Runs 1 (twice: last, Nebraska, 3/31/08)Hits 1 (seven times: last, Kansas, 3/7/09)RBIs .......2 (twice: last, Kansas, 3/7/09)Doubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs ..... 1 (Iowa State, 3/28/08)Walks ................................1 (three times)Strikeouts .............................2 (12 times)Steals .................. 1 (Nebraska, 3/31/08)Hit by pitch ......................................... N/A

Pitching Career HighsInnings pitched 7.0 (twice, last, Western Illinois, 2/14/08)Runs allowed 10 (Creighton, 3/29/08)Earned runs .. 10 (Creighton, 3/29/08)Strikeouts .8 (North Dakota, 2/10/08)Hits allowed . 10 (Creighton, 3/29/08)

2009Played in nine games, starting seven … finished with one hit and two RBIs against Kansas (March 7).

2008Played in 27 games, starting 25…Was the lone Panther pitcher to post a winning record on the mound (5-4)…Pitched 55 2/3 innings in her 18 appearances…Struck out 38 batters and pitched two complete games…Hit .235 in conference play.

2007Played in 19 games, starting six…Made five starts at third base and one as pitcher…Made 22 pitching appearances over the course of the season…Recorded a home run against Iowa State (March 28)…Pitched 43.2 innings with a record of 1-2.

High SchoolNamed to Class 4A all-state first team and all-tournament team as a senior (2006)…Posted 24-2 pitching record as a senior…All-state special mention as a junior on team that won 2005 Class 4A state title over current teammate Brit-tany Ruzicka’s Cedar Rapids Jefferson team, 1-0…Team went 136-19 between 2004 and 2006…Father, Tom, was head coach at West Des Moines Valley…Named to honor roll each semester…Member of National Honor Society.

PersonalBorn Dec. 12, 1987, in Des Moines, Iowa…Daughter of Tom and Kim Bakey, both of whom attended UNI…Majoring in movement and exercise science…Nickname is “Bake”…Lists father, Tom, as biggest influence in her life: “He taught me how to play softball” ... Favorite movie is Love and Basketball ... Best lesson learned in life: “Hard work pays off.”

Sarah BakeySenior3 LettersInfield/PitcherWest Des Moines, Iowa(Valley) 15

18 19

Career HighsAt-bats 5 (four times: last, UE, 4/4/09)Runs ......3 (four times: last, Wisconsin, 4/8/09)Hits ................................4 (Drake, 5/2/09)RBIs .4 (four times: last, Wichita State, 4/10/09)Doubles 2 (three times: last, Wisconsin, 4/8/09)Triples ................................................... N/AHome runs 2 (twice: last, Illinois State, 4/25/09)Walks 2 (three times: last, Drake, 5/2/09)Strikeouts .............3 (Arkansas, 3/3/07)Steals ...............................1 (seven times)Hit by pitch 1 (six times: last, Bradley, 4/1/09)

2009First-team All-MVC selection … named NFCA All-Region … set UNI and MVC record for RBIs in a season (59) … led UNI with .366 average … hit 25 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs, for a .623 slugging percentage … tallied 17 multi-hit games and 18 multi-RBI games … put together a 15-game hitting streak … ranked second in the MVC with 67 hits … tallied three hits and four RBIs against Wisconsin (April 4) … was 4-of-4 with three RBIs against Drake (May 2) … named MVC Player of the Week on April 6 … connected for a walk-off, three-run home run in UNI’s 7-5 win over Wichita State (April 10) … played in all 56 games for the Panthers, starting 55.

2008Played in all 48 games, starting all of them…Hit .270 recording 37 hits, five doubles and 18 RBI…Hit her third career home run against Drake…Led the team in hit- by-pitches (6) …Stole four bases in seven attempts…Had 47 put-outs and three assists.

2007Played in 49 of 51 games, starting 47…Made 38 starts in left field, seven at right field and two in center …Led the team in at-bats (148) and sacrifice flies (3)…Recorded 41 hits, with 10 doubles and two home runs...Had six multiple-RBI games and eight multiple-hit games…Had 22 RBI, ranking fourth on the team…Held a six-game hitting streak from March 13-17…Hit two doubles and recorded four RBI in the Panther win over Saint Louis (Feb. 25).

High SchoolWon Class 3A state championship as a sophomore (2004) and finished runner-up as a junior (2005)…Named Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year in 2005 after hitting .565 with 32 doubles and 44 RBI…Team finished as conference champions four times and earned four straight trips to state tournament, placing fourth in 2006…Four-time all-Lakes Conference first team selection…Named first team all-state as sophomore, junior and senior…Also named to Elite all-State team in 2004 and 2005…In tennis, twice placed third at state meet and won a state championship as a senior (2006)…Went undefeated in league play in tennis all three years she participated, winning three Lakes Conference titles…Holds conference record for most career wins…Also played point guard in basketball, winning a league title and qualifying for state tournament in senior season

PersonalBorn Sept. 29, 1987, in Spirit Lake, Iowa…Daughter of Todd and Jill Gerking…Nickname is “Gerk”… Major-ing in English…Chose UNI because of location close to home, coaching staff and the campus…Hobbies include rollerblading, going to the beach, eating ice cream and spending time with friends and family…Favorite movie is Love and Basketball…Favorite book is the Bible…Favorite historical figure is Jackie Robinson…Best lesson learned in life: “Having good friends and family is the most important thing to have in life, and everything will take care of itself.”

Rachel GerkingSenior3 LettersOutfieldSpirit Lake, Iowa (Spirit Lake) 9

20 21

Jen LarsenSenior3 LettersInfield/PitcherMoline, Ill.(Moline) 10

2009: Second-team All-MVC selection … named to MVC Scholar-Athlete team … played in all 56 games, starting 55 … tallied 54 hits and 40 runs … led UNI with 18 wins and a 2.72 ERA … struck out 70 in 205.0 innings pitched … notched nine home runs and eight doubles for a .538 slugging percentage … tossed eight complete-game shut outs … drew a team-high 23 walks … finished with 12 multi-hit games, including three three-hit outings.

2008Played in 46 games, starting 45…Earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a DP/Pitcher…Also earned First Team Academic All-Missouri Valley Conference honors…Led the team in home runs (7), includ-ing three game-winning home runs…Against UT-Martin, blasted two home runs marking her first two home run game of her career… Tied for team lead with 31 RBI…Hit .317 at the plate with 44 hits…Appeared in 26 games as a pitcher posting a 6-13 record…Had a team-best 3.34 ERA and struck out 40 batters in 127 and 2/3 innings.

2007Played in 49 of 51 games, starting 48…Made 24 starts at pitcher and seven at first base…Led the team in runs scored (32), total bases (77), and hits (45)…Ranked second the team with a .326 batting average, .558 slugging percentage, 26 RBIs, nine home runs and a .411 on-base percentage…Recorded six stolen bases in seven at-tempts…Made 39 appearances as pitcher, throwing 137.1 innings…Struck out 61 batters…Recorded three saves…Had a five-game hitting streak (March 13-17)…Produced

five multiple-RBI games and a team-high 14 multiple-hit games…Recorded five doubles and nine home runs…Hit two home runs against Illinois State (March 17)…Sealed Panthers’ victory over North Dakota State with a walk-off homer (April 9).

High SchoolWon 2006 Illinois Class AA state championship as a senior at Moline…Team finished with 40-0 season record…Went 24-0 in the circle with 0.22 ERA…Allowed just 30 hits in 126 innings while recording 186 strikeouts…Also hit .434 with 24 RBIs and 11 stolen bases…Named MVP of Illinois State Tournament…Earned first team All-State, first team all-conference and first team Chicago Tribune All-State honors...Quad Cities Player of the Year.

PersonalBorn Jan. 19, 1988, in Alton, Ill….Daughter of Chris and Lorri Larsen…Majoring in Biology…Hobbies include sports, swimming and spending time with family and friends…Favorite movie is Elf…Favorite actor is Will Ferrell…Favorite book is Marley and Me…Best sports memory is “Winning the (Illinois) state championship and going 40-0 my senior year.”…Best lesson from life: “Don’t take anything for granted.”

Career HighsAt-bats ......... 5 (twice: last, UE, 4/5/09)Runs ...................4 (Santa Clara, 3/9/07)Hits .... 3 (seven times: last, Wisconsin, 4/8/09)RBIs ......5 (twice: last, Dayton, 2/7/09)Doubles .................2 (Arkansas, 3/2/07)Triples .....1 (twice: last, Indiana State, 4/19/09)Home runs ........ 2 (UT-Martin, 3/2/08)Walks ......................................2 (11 times)Strikeouts ...................................3 (twice)Steals ........... 2 (Missouri State, 4/6/07)Hit by pitch ....................1 (three times)

Pitching Career HighsInnings pitched ............10 (UE, 4/5/09)Runs allowed ............. 11 (Illinois State, 3/17/07)Earned runs 10 (Illinois State, 3/17/07)Strikeouts ....... 8 (South Dakota State, 2/7/09)Hits allowed ......12 (twice, last, Drake, 4/06/08)

22 23

2009 Played in and started 56 games for the Panthers … named first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference as a junior outfielder … led the MVC with 70 hits … led UNI with 42 runs scored … second on the team with .354 average … led the MVC with six triples … tallied nine doubles on the year … finished with a .475 slugging percentage and .407 on-base percentage … tallied 20 multi-hit games, includ-ing a pair of four-hit games.

2008Played in 47 games, making 46 starts …Finished fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference in batting average (.366), second in triples (5) and sixth in hits (56)…Led the Panthers in runs (32), hits (56), stolen bases (8) and triples (5)…Had a career-high four-hit game against Indiana State…Hit the first home run of her career against North Dakota…Fielded a perfect 1.000 at second base.

2007Played in 50 of 51 games…Making 50 starts at second base…Led the team in stolen bases with 12 in 15 at-tempts…Recorded 34 hits, including one triple and had five RBI…Had a six-game hit streak (March 24-April 7) and 10 multiple-hit games…Had four hits in three games against Drake (March 24-25) that sparked a strong finish to the season in which she posted team highs in average (.320) and on-base percentage (.400) over the final 25 games…Voted team’s Most Improved player.

High SchoolFive-year letterwinner at shortstop…Two-time first team all-state selection (2005 and 2006)…Two-time second team all-state pick (2002 and 2003)….Four-time all-WaMaC conference selection…Hit .431 as a senior (2006)…Recorded 83 stolen bases as a freshman (2003)…Also participated in volleyball, basketball, soccer and track…Won Drake Relays title in 4x100 meter relay as a junior (2005)…Member of National Honor Society…President of SADD.

PersonalBorn May 2, 1988, in Cape May, N.J….Daughter of Kirk and Lori Machovec…Brother, Nick Machovec, played soccer at Loras College…has three younger sisters…Nickname is “Mac”…Majoring in elementary education… Worked as a lifeguard at DeWitt Aquatic Center…Favorite movie is A Walk to Remember…Favorite book is Nicholas Sparks’ A Bend in the Road…Favorite sports memory is: “Making it to state for softball because it was the first time in our school’s history”…Lists parents as biggest influence in life: “They are amazing role models and keep pushing me to be the best person I can be.”elementary education…Hobbies include camping, fishing and swimming.

Career HighsAt-bats 5 (nine times: last, UE, 4/5/09)Runs ..............................3 (Drake, 4/6/08)Hits 4 (three times: last, Missouri State, 3/14/09)RBIs .................................... 3 (UE, 4/4/09)Doubles . 2 (Western Illinois, 2/13/09)Triples .....1 (12 times: last, Wisconsin, 4/8/09)Home runs .... 1 (twice: last, Arkansas, 2/15/009)Walks 2 (four times: last, Indiana State, 4/18/09)Strikeouts ........4 (Creighton, 4/28/07)Steals 2 (five times: last, Missouri State, 3/14/09)Hit by pitch ....................1 (three times)

Megan MachovecSenior3 LettersOutfieldDeWitt, Iowa(Central DeWit 8

24 25

Samantha WatersSenior3 LettersOutfieldDes Moines, Iowa(East/Iowa Central CC) 13

2009 Played in 46 games, starting eight … led the Panthers with 13 stolen bases … hit .158 on the season.

2008Earned National Fast Pitch Coach Association first-team All-Region honors at Iowa Central Community College…Named Third team All-American in…Earned co-offensive player of the year honors on her team…Led the junior college ranks in stolen bases, stealing 52 bases…Earned national academic honors in 2008…Hit .471 and started 60 of 61 games…Hit six home runs and drove in 44 runs in 2008.

2007Earned National Fast Pitch Coach Association first-team All-Region honors in at Iowa Central Commu-nity College…Named second-team All-American…Named the Team Offensive Player of the Year.

High SchoolNamed third-team All-State in senior year at Des Moines East…Team won state championship in senior year…Earned first-team all-conference honors on conference championship team…Earned two letters in softball, track and also earned letters in golf and basketball.

PersonalBorn on Nov. 26, 1987, in Des Moines, Iowa…Daughter of Greg and Shelly Waters…Nicknamed H20…Chose UNI because she felt comfort-able and wanted to play softball the D-I level…Hobbies include: eating, guitar hero and listening to music…Lists her mom as biggest influence in life because she is her best friend and has been with her through the ups and downs…Also lists Coach Rick Sandqusit as a mentor because he made her into the person and play-er I am today…Volunteered at the Catholic Worker Houser and Interfaith Hospitality throughout high school.

Career HighsAt-bats .........3 (four times: last, Drake, 5/3/09)Runs ........................................1 (10 times)Hits 1 (three times: last, Drake, 5/3/09)RBIs .....................................1 (UE, 4/4/09)Doubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks ..................................................... N/AStrikeouts ................1 (Dayton, 2/7/09)Steals ......................................1 (13 times)Hit by pitch ......................................... N/A

Eranne DaugharthyJunior2 LettersPitcher/First BaseOttawa, Kan. (Olathe East/Colorado State) 14

Career HighsAt-bats ..4 (four times: last, Nebraska, 4/22/09)Runs ....................................... 1 (five time)Hits ...................... 3 (Nebraska, 4/22/09)RBIs 2 (twice: last, Nebraska, 4/22/09)Doubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs ............ 1 (three times: last, Nebraska, 4/22/09)Walks .......1 (six times: last, Wisconsin, 4/8/09)Strikeouts 3 (twice: last, Bradley, 4/1/09)Steals ..................................................... N/AHit by pitch ......................................... N/A

PitchingInnings pitched ......7.0 (W-Green Bay, 2/14/09)Runs allowed 5 (North Dakota, 2/8/09)Earned runs 5 (North Dakota, 2/8/09)Strikeouts ... 2 (North Dakota, 2/8/09)Hits allowed 5 (Missouri State, 3/15/09)

2009Played in 30 games, starting 20 … hit .221 on the season … finished the year with three home runs and eight RBIs … finished 3-of-4 with two RBIs against Nebraska (April 22) made three starts in the circle, throwing 13.1 innings and earning a 1-0 record.

High SchoolNamed 2007 Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year…Earned all-state honors in 2006 and 2007…Received Honorable mention High School All-American honors senior year Kansas City Star 2007 Player of the Year.

PersonalBorn on May 7, 1989, in Ottawa, Kan…Daughter of J.R. and Angie Daugharthy…Chose UNI because of the size and feel of campus…Major-ing in biology.

26 27

2009Played in 44 games, starting 35 … hit .213 for the Panthers … tallied three doubles on the season … finished with two hits and two runs scored against Evansville (April 4).

High SchoolNamed to the All-State Elite Team her junior and senior year as an out-fielder…named first-team All-State in Class 4A her junior and senior year…Earned first-team Mississippi Valley All-Conference three times…All Metro Player of the Year in junior and senior…Five-year varsity starter…Participated at the state softball tournament four years…Named to the all-tournament team at the state tournament sophomore year…Named to the honor roll three years…psychology student of the year…Involved in SODA, TRY, National Honor Society and Science Club.

PersonalBorn on April 16, 1989, in Casa Grande, Ariz…Daughter of Jim and Carol Borschel… Enjoys reading and watching movies…Lists brother Jay as the biggest influence in her life because he succeed in athletics and academics both in high school and at Iowa….Brother, Jay, wrestles at Iowa and was a four-time Iowa High School state champion and earned All-America honors at Iowa in 2008…Worked at Kids Inc. Day Care in the summer…Chose UNI because of softball and the academic programs…Also recruited by Drake.

Hannah BorschelSophomore1 LetterOutfieldMarion, Iowa (Linn Mar) 6

Career HighsAt-bats ...............................5 (UE, 4/5/09)Runs 2 (four times: last, Wichita State, 4/10/09)Hits ................ 2 (twice: last, UE, 4/5/09)RBIs ............2 (Missouri State, 3/14/09)Doubles 1 (three times: last, Missouri State, 3/14/09)Triples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks ......................................1 (10 times)Strikeouts 2 (four times: last, Bradley, 5/7/09)Steals .............1 (five times: last, Drake, 5/2/09)Hit by pitch .......1 (Arkansas, 2/15/09)

2009Played in 33 games, starting 15 … hit .222 on the season … finished with 12 hits and 12 runs scored … knocked in four RBIs … was 6-of-6 on stolen-base attempts.

High SchoolEarned All-Area and All-County hon-ors three times...Named first-team all-conference in three times...Team MVP senior year...Was a standout in volleyball earning varsity letters three times...Named team captain in junior

and senior year and team MVP both years...Played with the Lake County Liberty traveling team ... Helped the Liberty advance to the national tour-nament in 2007-08 ... Team finished with a 56-9 record in 2008, the best record in the program’s history...Played club volleyball for three years for the Wisconsin Juniors...Was a se-nior advisor and involved in seminars for scholars...Named Homecoming Queen.

PersonalBorn on Jan. 15, 1990...Daughter of Tim and Carrie Callanan...Chose UNI because it is the perfect size, and has a great education program...Lists her dad as biggest influence because he taught her everything she knows about softball.

Lindsay CallananSophomore 1 LetterFirst Base/OutfieldAntioch, Ill.(IAntioch) 22

Career HighsAt-bats 4 (four times: last, UE, 4/5/09)Runs ......2 (twice: last, Kansas, 3/8/09)Hits .........3 (twice: last, Missouri State, 3/15/09)RBIs ............2 (Missouri State, 3/15/09)Doubles ......1 (Eastern Illinois, 3/8/09)Triples ........................1 (Kansas, 3/8/09)Home runs .......................................... N/AWalks ....... 1 (twice: last, Wichita State, 4/10/09)Strikeouts ................2 (Bradley, 4/1/09)Steals .......... 2 (Wichita State, 4/10/09)Hit by pitch ..............1 (Kansas, 3/8/09)

28 29

2009Named MVC Newcomer of the Year … second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection at shortstop … played in and started 54 games as a freshman … third on the team with .316 average … tallied 54 hits and 23 RBIs on the year … connected for three home runs … notched 14 two-hit games … ended the season on a nine-game hitting streak … finished with a .946 fielding percentage at shortstop … finished with eight doubles and three triples on the season.

High SchoolFirst-team all-conference two years and honorable mention once…Was involved in her school newspaper and Fellow-ship of Christian Athletes.

PersonalBorn on August 27, 1990…Daughter of John and Jackie Daigh…Chose UNI because she loves it here…Also recruited by Creighton, Emporia State and Centenary…Worked as missionary in the summer…mom has been the biggest influence in her life because she is her hero…hob-bies are playing softball, Xbox and Wii…Sister, Mandi, is a volunteer assistant coach at UNI.

Mackenzie DaighSophomore1 LetterInfieldBucyrus,, Kan. (Berean Christian) 2

Career HighsAt-bats ...................................4 (23 times)Runs ... 2 (six time: last, Drake, 5/2/09)Hits ..........................................2 (18 times)RBIs ......................3 (Wisconsin, 4/8/09)Doubles ........................... 1 (eight times)Triples ........... 1 (twice: last, Wisconsin, 4/8/09)Home runs ............ 1 (three times: last, Wisconsin, 4/8/09)Walks .............................3 (UAB, 2/22/09)Strikeouts .............. 2 (three times: last, Nebraska, 4/22/09)Steals ......................... 1 (NDSU, 3/30/09)Hit by pitch ........1 (3 times: last, Iowa, 4/21/09)

2009Made 24 appearances, including 21 starts … finished with a 4.66 ERA in 104.1 innings of work … struck out 68 … threw 10 complete games, including one shut out … struck out seven against Minnesota (Feb. 13) … struck out four and allowed just one hit in 7.0 innings in UNI’s 8-0 win over Wisconsin (April 8) … threw a complete game in UNI’s 6-3 win over Nebraska (April 22).

2008Redshirted.

High SchoolAmong numerous high school honors, was named first team All-Eastern League (2004-2007), first team all-section (2004-2007), first team All-Division I CIF (2005-2007) and second team All-Division I CIF (2004)…Helped team to division champion-ship in 2004…In 2007 moved into second on all-time strikeout list for San Diego prep pitchers…Named to all-academic team (2006, 2007)…Named captain of the all-academic team in 2007.

PersonalBorn Feb. 11, 1989 in El Centro, Calif.…Daughter of Duane and Cena Tillett…Chose UNI because of its nationally-recognized accounting program.

Courtney DunkerSophomore1 LetterCatcherNew Lenox, Ill.(Lincoln Way Central) 11

Career HighsAt-bats ............... 4 (Nebraska, 4/22/09)Runs ....................................................... N/AHits ................................1 (Drake, 5/3/09)RBIs ........................................................ N/ADoubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks .................. 2 (Nebraska, 4/22/09)Strikeouts ............................................ N/ASteals ..................................................... N/AHit by pitch ......................................... N/A

30 31

2009Played in seven games for UNI … finished 1-of-3 (.333) at the plate … tallied one RBI on the season.

High SchoolFive-time varsity letterwinner…Earned four all-academic honors…Named first-team all-conference twice...Second-team all-state catcher senior year…Earned three varsity letters in track and field…Member of 2nd place shuttle hurdle relay that broke school record to earn all-state honors…Also earned one varsity letter in volleyball and was member of state championship team senior year…Member of National Honor

Society and SAIL (Students Active in Leadership).

PersonalDaughter of Don and Jacki Embrey…Chose UNI because she liked the campus, softball program and educa-tion program…Also recruited by Simpson…Volunteers at the Animal Rescue League…lists hanging out with friends, shopping, sports and having fun as her hobbies…Her mom is her biggest hero because she has been through a lot and has succeeded.

Leah EmbreySophomore1 LetterCatcher/Third BaseJohnston, Iowa (Johnston) 24

Career HighsAt-bats .........................2 (Drake, 5/3/09)Runs ............................1 (Kansas, 3/7/09)Hits .................................1 (UAB, 2/21/09)RBIs ................................1 (UAB, 2/21/09)Doubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks ..................................................... N/AStrikeouts ...................2 (Drake, 5/3/09)Steals ..................................................... N/AHit by pitch ......................................... N/A

2009Appeared in 38 games for the Pan-thers, starting eight … was 4-of-4 on stolen-base attempts … scored 11 runs on the season … recorded eight put outs and three assists in the outfield.

High SchoolEarned five varsity letters in softball, four each in basketball and track...Played in five state softball tourna-ments and named a member of the All-Tournament team her junior year…Earned Class 4A first-team All-State and Elite All-State honors as an outfielder hers senior year, and second team All-State honors as a junior...Named to the MVC first-team in softball as a junior and senior....Three-time All-Metro selection...Named MVC Player of the Year as a senior...Named Linn County Athlete of

the Year Nominee her senior year as well as the George Hidinger Female Athlete of the Year winner as the best female athlete at Jefferson High School her senior year...Qualified in four separate events each year for both the State Track and Field Meet and the Drake Relays all four years of high school...Named to the All-Metro and MVC first-team in track for four straight years...Starting guard on two state qualifying basketball teams...A member of the National Honor Society, National Youth Leadership Council and the editor of the Jef-ferson Outlook school newspaper...Named to the honor-roll all four years of high school....Recruited in softball by Wayne State, Kirkwood CC and Indian Hills CC....Was also offered a basketball scholarship at Doane College (Neb.).

PersonalBorn on June 13, 1990...Daughter of Bill and Lisa Galvin...Chose UNI because it is close to home and the good food...Also recruited by Wayne State and Kirkwood...Lists mom as biggest influence in life because she inspires her to try new things...Lists playing basketball as a hobby.

Allison GalvinSophomore1 LetterOutfieldCedar Rapids, Iowa(Jefferson) 16

Career HighsAt-bats .......3 (three times: last, Drake, 5/3/09)Runs ........................................1 (10 times)Hits ......................................................... N/ARBIs ........................................................ N/ADoubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks ..................................................... N/AStrikeouts ...................3 (Drake, 5/3/09)Steals .................................. 1 (four times)Hit by pitch ......................................... N/A

32 33

2009 Made 17 appearances in the circle for the Panthers, including two starts … finished the year with a 6-1 record and 3.40 ERA … tallied 26 strikeouts in 50.1 innings of work … struck out six and allowed just one run in 7.0 innings of work against Drake (May 3) … allowed just one hit through 3.2 scoreless innings of relief against Bradley (May 7) … threw 6.2 score-less innings of relief against Missouri State (March 14).

High SchoolEarned five varsity letters in softball while also earning four letters in

basketball…Posted an 89-16 overall pitching record in high school…Owns the Class 4A state tournament strike-out pitching record…Member of four state qualifying teams including start-ing pitcher on state runner-up squad her sophomore year…Named to the Class 4A state All-Tournament Team her junior and senior year…Named first-team all-state four times…Named elite all-state her junior and senior year…Earned first-team all-conference honors four times and second team all-conference honors once…Team qualified for state basketball tournament twice…Earned second-team all-state honors in basketball her senior year and was

named all-conference three times…Gazette Area Athlete of the Year and Linn County Area Athlete of the Year Nominee in 2008...member of the National Honor Society her junior and senior year…was a homecoming queen nominee.

PersonalBorn on June 18, 1989…Daughter of Mark and Amy Hutcheson…Biggest influence in her life has been her parents…Mom played volleyball and softball at Iowa State…Dad played baseball at Westmar…Chose UNI because of the softball program.

Jaye HutchesonSophomore1 LetterPitcher/First BaseMarion, Iowa(Linn-Mar) 12

Career HighsAt-bats ............... 2 (Nebraska, 4/22/09)Runs ....................................................... N/AHits ......................................................... N/ARBIs ........................................................ N/ADoubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks ..................................................... N/AStrikeouts ......... 1 (twice: last, Bradley, 5/7/09)Steals ..................................................... N/AHit by pitch ......................................... N/A 2009

Made 24 appearances, including 21 starts … finished with a 4.66 ERA in 104.1 innings of work … struck out 68 … threw 10 complete games, including one shut out … struck out seven against Minnesota (Feb. 13) … struck out four and allowed just one hit in 7.0 innings in UNI’s 8-0 win over Wisconsin (April 8) … threw a complete game in UNI’s 6-3 win over Nebraska (April 22).

2008Redshirted.

High SchoolAmong numerous high school honors, was named first team All-Eastern League (2004-2007), first team all-section (2004-2007), first team All-Division I CIF (2005-2007) and second team All-Division I CIF (2004)…Helped team to division champion-ship in 2004…In 2007 moved into second on all-time strikeout list for San Diego prep pitchers…Named to all-academic team (2006, 2007)…Named captain of the all-academic team in 2007.

PersonalBorn Feb. 11, 1989 in El Centro, Calif.…Daughter of Duane and Cena Tillett…Chose UNI because of its nationally-recognized accounting program.

Melissa TillettSophomore1 LetterPitcher San Diego, Calif.(Mira Mesa) 16

Career HighsInnings pitched ............8.0 (twice: last, Indiana State, 4/18/09)Runs allowed ....... 6 (three times: last, Bradley, 4/1/09)Earned runs ..............5 (four times: last, Wichita State, 4/10/09)Strikeouts .......7 (Minnesota, 2/13/09)Hits allowed ......... 10 (Bradley, 4/1/09)

34 35

2009Appeared in two games for UNI.High SchoolEarned five varsity letters in soft-ball…Named second-team all-state her sophomore and junior…Named first-team all-district sophomore and junior year…Owns school record for home runs in a game (3) in her junior year…Earned the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union Excellence in Academic Achievement award five times…Member of dance team and was involved with the Science Fair

PersonalBorn on Dec. 11, 1989, in Burlington, Iowa…Daughter of Thomas and Tami Plein…Also recruited by Simpson…Lists parents as biggest influence in her life because have been there for me and encouraged me.

2009Played in seven games, starting two … hit .250 on the season … finished 1-of-1 with a double against North Dakota (Feb. 8).

High SchoolEarned five varsity letters for softball and named MVP and Best Offensive player for the Racine Belles five times…Four-time first-team all-conference…Four-time first-team All-Area Kenosha County…USSSA All-Tournament Team junior and senior year…Hit .459 her junior year, including 67 hits and eight home runs…Earned the scholar athlete award and was a 4.0 student…Earned letters in volleyball and basketball also…President of the student council.

PersonalBorn on Sept. 22, 1989, in Kenosha, Wis....Daughter of Tom and Char Wachholder.

Whitney PleinSophomore1 LetterThird BaseBurlington, Iowa(IBurlington) 26

Career HighsAt-bats .................................................. N/ARuns ............ 1 (Wichita State, 4/10/09)Hits ......................................................... N/ARBIs ........................................................ N/ADoubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks ..................................................... N/AStrikeouts ............................................ N/ASteals ..................................................... N/AHit by pitch ......................................... N/A

N/A

Kim WachholderSophomore1 LetterInfieldSalem, Wis. (Central Westosha) 21

Career HighsAt-bats ..........................2 (UAB, 2/22/09)Runs ............................1 (Kansas, 3/8/09)Hits .................................1 (UAB, 2/22/09)RBIs ........................................................ N/ADoubles ................................................ N/ATriples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks ..........................2 (Kansas, 3/8/09)Strikeouts ............................................ N/ASteals ............................1 (Drake, 5/3/09)Hit by pitch ......................................... N/A

2009: Played in 11 games for the Panthers … hit .167 on the year.

High SchoolEarned All-State honorable mention as a senior at catcher…Played on two state championship teams at Valley High School (junior and senior year)…Named first-team all-confer-ence catcher as a senior and earned second-team all-conference honors as an infielder during her junior year…Earned three academic letters in high school.

PersonalBorn on May 23, 1990…Daughter of Brian and Jane Turner…Lists parents as biggest influence in life because they were always there for her dur-ing the learning process in life and through the winning and losing…Volunteered at the Catholic Worker Houser and Interfaith Hospitality throughout high school.

Laura TurnerSophomore1 LetterCatcher/Third Base West Des Moines, Iowa(Valley) 20

Career HighsAt-bats .........................3 (Drake, 5/3/09)Runs ....................................................... N/AHits ..........1 (twice: last, North Dakota, 2/8/09)RBIs ........................................................ N/ADoubles ....... 1 (North Dakota, 2/8/09)Triples ................................................... N/AHome runs .......................................... N/AWalks ..........................1 (Kansas, 3/7/09)Strikeouts ...................2 (Drake, 5/3/09)Steals ..................................................... N/AHit by pitch ......................................... N/A

36 37

Wisconsin: Played two seasons at Wisconsin, starting 107 games for the Badgers … hit .231 as a sophomore in 2009.

High School: Lettered four seasons at Lawrence (Kan.) Free State … helped the Firebirds set the school record for wins in 2007 … finished as Sunflower league Champion in 2007 … advanced to state in 2005, 2006 and 2007 … hit .512 and committed just one error as a middle infielder as a senior to earn first-team all-state, all-metro and all-conference honors … also earned second-team all-state honors as a junior, along with being an all-conference selection … also lettered two seasons in basketball.

Personal: Born Dec. 28, 1988 in Susanville, Calif. … worked as a volunteer assistant coach with the KC Zephyrs in 2008 … has two sisters, Brooke and Lauren … daughter of Steve and Cheryl Abney … majoring in family services.

Livi Abney JuniorTransferSecond BaseLawrence, Kan.(Lawrence Free State/Wisconsin) 7

High School: Played four years at Roland-Story High School … was a first-team all-conference outfielder as a junior and senior and was an honorable mention as a fresh-man … earned honorable mention all-state honors as a junior … named the team MVP as a senior … also earned all-conference honors in volleyball and qualified for state in track.

Personal: Born Nov. 19, 1990 in Ames, Iowa … daughter of Troy and Terri Carlson … has volunteered with Meals on Wheels, the Chrons and Colitis Walk, Walk for Cystic Fibrosis and a senior citizen prom … hobbies include hunting and fishing … majoring in physical education.

McKena Carlson FreshmanOutfieldStory City, Iowa(Roland-Story)

25

High School: Lettered four years at Turkey Valley … first-team all-conference and all-state selection as a junior and senior … hit .366 with 22 RBIs as a senior … helped the Trojans finish as conference champion in 2006, 2007 and 2008 … helped TVHS finish third in state in 2006 and advance to the fifth-place game in 2008, which was rained out … also lettered in basketball and volleyball … set the school record for assists in a game and in a season in her senior basketball season .. was also an all-conference selection in basketball.

Personal: Born Dec. 18, 1990 in Decorah, Iowa … daughter of Jim and Danna Kriener … has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity … undecided on a major.

Haley Kriener FreshmanThird BaseFort Atkinson, Iowa(Turkey Valley)

19

High School: Lettered five seasons at Wahlert High School … named Mississippi Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2009 … first-team all-state as a senior, and a second-team selection as a junior … first-team all-conference and all-district all five seasons … helped the Eagles finish as conference champion in 2008 and 2009 and advance to state for the first time in school history in 2009 … set the Wahlert career home run and batting average records.

Personal: Born Nov. 12, 1990 in Dubuque, Iowa … daughter of Jeff and Jill Reimer … majoring in biology … volunteered on mission trips to Haiti and Honduras … lists scrapbooking and horseback riding among her hobbies.

Samantha Reimer FreshmanCatcherDubuque(Wahlert)

5

2009: Played at Northwest Missouri State University.

JUCO: Played two seasons at Muscatine Community College, hitting above .500 both seasons …earned first-team all-region honors both years … was a second-team all-America selection in 2007 and a first-team pick in 2008 … was also an academic all-American.

High School: Played four years at Davenport West … set the school record for doubles … named Mississippi Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a senior … was a first-team all-conference selection as a junior and senior … honorable mention all-state as a junior and second-team as a senior … earned academic all-conference honors … also competed in volleyball, basketball and track.

Personal: Born May 29, 1987 in Davenport, Iowa … daughter of Steve and Joy Saladino … volunteered with Special Olympics, Up With Families and with youth volleyball and softball teams … majoring in early childhood education.

Sarah SaladinoSeniorTransferFirst BaseDavenport, Iowa(West/Northwest Missouri State) 17

38 39

2009 in Review 2009 Season in Review• Second-year head coach Ryan Jacobs and his staff of Julie Gerdes, Stephanie Winter and Mandi Daigh were named the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year. Jacobs and his staff orchestrated a 14-win improvement from a year ago, a 7.5 game improvement in Missouri Valley play and coached the Panthers to the most conference wins (15) in school history after the Panthers had only won 11 MVC games the past three seasons combined. The regular-season finish was also the top Valley finish for the Panthers since 2000, and it was the second-high-est finish in school history. The Panthers were picked to finish last in the preseason poll.

• The Panthers finished the season 34-22 in 2009. The 34 wins rank tied for fourth on UNI’s single-season wins list. The Panthers needed just one more win to move into a tie for second with the 1982 and 1988 teams that each won 35 games. The 1994 team holds the current single-season wins record with 40. The Panthers played a stiff schedule this season, which included 10 NCAA qualifying teams. The Panthers went 6-12 against NCAA qualifying teams and 2-5 against ranked opponents.

• The Panthers set two new single-season school records and tied one other record. The Panthers set records in home runs (52) and MVC wins (15), while also tying a school record with 24 double plays turned.

• UNI juniors outfielders Rachel Gerking and Megan Machovec were named first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference and Brittney Balduf, Mackenzie Daigh, Jen Larsen and Kelly Papesh all landed spots on the MVC second-team. The six All-MVC performers is a new school record.

• UNI freshman Mackenzie Daigh was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year the league. Daigh is only the second Panther in school history to earn the honor, as former Panther great Lindsay Wood won the award in 1999. Daigh batted .316 and slammed three homers in her freshman campaign. Daigh notched 53 hits in 53 games and ended the season on a nine-game hitting streak.

• UNI junior Rachel Gerking set the MVC and UNI single-season RBI records this season after driving in 59 runs. Gerking broke the previous MVC single-season RBI record of 55 held by Brittany Mynsberge of Bradley, and Gerking drove in 15 more runs than any other Panther softball player in a single-season. Gerking tallied a hit in 18 of the last 19 Panther games.

40 41

INDIVIDUAL GAME HIGHSBATTING:At bats: 5 14 times Runs scored: 4 Larsen (Drake, 5/2)Hits: 4 4 timesRBIs: 5 Larsen (Dayton, 2/7); Balduf (Missouri St., 3/14)Doubles: 2 Machovec (Western Ill., 2/13); Gerking (Wisc., 4/8)Triples: 1 11 timesHome runs: 2 Gerking (twice)Total bases: 8 Gerking (twice)Walks: 3 Daigh (UAB, 2/22)Strikeouts: 3 Seven timesSac hits: 2 Waters (UAB, 2/22) Sac files: 1 Paulson (twice)Hit by pitch: 1 19 timesStolen bases: 2 Three times

FIELDING:Putouts: 16 Paulson (LSU, 2/20)Assists: 6 Five timesErrors: 2 Four timesPassed balls: 2 Papesh (twice)

PITCHING:Innings pitched: 10.0 Larsen (Evansville, 4/5)Runs allowed: 9 Larsen (Bradley, 4/1)Earned runs: 6 Larsen (Bradley, 4/1)Walks allowed: 6 Daugharthy (W-Green Bay, 2/14)Strikeouts: 8 Larsen (South Dakota State, 2/7)Hits allowed: 11 Larsen (twice)Doubles: 4 Larsen (Texas State, 2/22)Triples: 2 Larsen (Missouri State, 3/14)Home runs: 2 Larsen (Bradley, 4/1)

2009 BATTING TEAM LEADERS

Hits1.Megan Machovec .......................................... 702. Rachel Gerking ............................................ 673. 2 tied at ......................................................... 54

Runs1. Megan Machovec ......................................... 422. Jen Larsen .................................................... 403. Mackenzie Daigh ......................................... 38

RBI1. Rachel Gerking ............................................ 592. Jen Larsen .................................................... 383. Morgan Paulson ........................................... 29

Doubles1. Rachel Gerking ............................................ 142. Megan Machovec ........................................... 93. 2 tied at .......................................................... 8

On Base Percentage1. Rachel Gerking ......................................... .4142. Megan Machovec ...................................... .4173. Jen Larsen ................................................. .399

Home Runs1. Kelly Papesh ................................................ 122. Rachel Gerking ............................................ 113. Brittney Balduf ............................................. 10

Batting Average1. Rachel Gerking ......................................... .3662. Megan Machovec ...................................... .3543. Mackenzie Daigh ...................................... .316

Slugging Percentage1. Rachel Gerking ......................................... .6232. Jen Larsen ................................................. .5383. Kelly Papesh ............................................. .528

Total Bases1. Rachel Gerking .......................................... 1142. Megan Machovec ......................................... 943. Jen Larsen .................................................... 93

2009 PITCHING TEAM LEADERS

ERA1. Jen Larsen ................................................. 2.002. Jaye Hutcheson ......................................... 2.643. Melissa Tillett............................................ 3.62

W-L Records Listed by Wins1. Jen Larsen ............................................... 18-122. Jaye Hutcheson ........................................... 6-12. Melissa Tillett.............................................. 7-94. Sarah Bakey ................................................ 2-05. Eranne Daugharthy ..................................... 1-0

HITTING STREAKS Longest CurrentGerking 15 3Machovec 10 1Daigh 9 9Larsen 8 1Papesh 7 -

MULTIPLE HIT GAMES 2 3 4 5+ TotalMachovec 14 4 2 - 20Gerking 14 2 1 - 17Daigh 14 - - - 14Larsen 9 3 - - 12Paulson 6 4 1 - 11Balduf 9 2 - - 11

TEAM GAME HIGHS

BATTING:At bats: 39 Twice Last: UE, Apr.4Runs scored: 14 Dayton Feb. 7Hits: 16 Dayton Feb. 7RBIs: 13 Dayton Feb. 7Doubles: 5 Dayton Feb. 7Triples: 2 Twice Last: Wisc., Apr. 8Home runs: 4 Bradley Apr. 1Total bases: 27 Dayton Feb. 7Walks: 11 UAB Feb. 22Strikeouts: 14 Drake May 3Sac hits: 3 Evansville Apr. 4Sac files: 1 Three times Last; Drake, May 2Hit by pitch: 3 Twice Last: KU Mar. 8Runners LOB: 14 UAB Feb. 22

FIELDING:Putouts: 33 UAB Feb. 22Assists: 16 Twice Last: UE, Apr. 4Errors: 4 Bradley May 7 Passed balls: 2 Twice Last: Bradley, Apr. 1DPs turned: 2 Twice Last: WSU, Apr. 11

PITCHING:Innings pitched: 12 Twice Last: Ill. St., Apr. 25Runs allowed: 9 Twice Last: OSU, Mar. 19Earned runs: 9 North Dakota Feb. 8Walks allowed: 8 Nebraska Feb. 8Strikeouts: 8 Twice Last: ND, Feb. 8Hits allowed: 12 Bradley Apr. 1Doubles: 4 Texas State Feb. 22Triples: 2 Missouri State March 14Home runs: 2 Six times

FINAL 2009 MVC SOFTBALL STANDINGS Conference Overall W L Pct. W L Pct.Creighton 19 6 .760 35 16 .686Southern Illinois 15 7 .682 33 13 .717UNI 15 11 .577 34 22 .607Drake 13 10 .565 30 23 .566Illinois State 12 11 .522 24 26 .480Bradley 12 12 .500 25 26 .490Missouri State 8 12 .400 19 25 .432Indiana State 10 15 .400 20 27 .426Wichita State 10 15 .400 21 32 .396Evansville 4 19 .174 14 34 .292

MVC SOFTBALL RPI (MAY 5) 1. Southern Illinois ......................50 2. Creighton .................................60 3. UNI ..........................................69 4. Drake ........................................76 5. Illinois State .............................107 8. Bradley .....................................136 7. Wichita State ............................150 8. Missouri State ..........................158 9. Indiana State ............................190 10. Evansville ................................196

2009 PRESEASON MVC COACHES POLL 1. Creighton (9)............................97 2. Illinois State .............................88 3. Southern Illinois ......................78 4. Drake (1) ..................................60 5. Wichita State ............................58 6. Missouri State ..........................45 7. Evansville ................................42 8. Indiana State ............................33 9. Bradley .....................................25 10. UNI ..........................................24

First-place votes shown in parentheses. Voting by Missouri Valley Conference coaches

MVC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM1B Renae Sinkler Jr. Creighton2B Kara Nelson Jr. Illinois State3B Katie Wagner Sr. Southern IllinoisSS Meredith Simpson Sr. Indiana StateC Krista Price Jr. EvansvilleDP Amber Smith Sr. Illinois StateUT Abby Olson So. Illinois StateOF Jessie Buker Jr. Illinois StateOF Jessica Wakasugi Sr. CreightonOF Brooke Kempker Sr. Missouri StateP Tara Oltman Jr. CreightonP Ashley Birdsong Sr. Bradley

UNI SOFTBALL 2009 SEASON GAME HIGHS

2009 MVC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK2/9 - Kara L’Huillier, Wichita State2/16 - Lissa Fehlman, Evansville2/23 - Elena Leon, Drake3/2 - Torey Craddock Drake3/9 - Kelly Papesh, UNI3/16 - Brittney Balduf, UNI3/23 - Laura Kratochvil, Creighton3/30- Jessie Smith, Missouri State4/6- Rachel Gerking, UNI4/13- Kylie Wagner, Evansville4/20- Sinkler (CU), Olson (ILS)4/27-Katie Armour, Indiana State5/4- Janay Mitchell, Bradley

2009 MVC PITCHERS OF THE WEEK2/9 - Danielle Glosson, Southern Illinois2/16 - Katie McNamara, Southern Illinois2/23 - Katie McNamara, Southern Illinois3/2 - McGinley, MSU and Birch, ILS3/9 - Tara Oltman, Creighton3/16 - Katie McNamara, Southern Illinois3/23 - Tara Oltman, Creighton3/30 - Amber Smith, Illinois State4/6- Jordan Birch, Illinois State4/13- Darcy Wood, Indiana State4/20- Tara Oltman, Creighton4/27- Darcy Wood, Indiana State5-4- Birdsong, Bradley and DeLong, Drake

42 43

2009 UNI SOFTBALL STATISTICS 2009 UNI SOFTBALL STATISTICS

44 45