Valdez Named An NAIA All-America First Team Honoree, Nunn Receives Honorable Mention Accolades

KANSAS CITY, MO. (June 7, 2023) - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2023 Softball All-America teams as selected by the NAIA Softball Coaches' Association All-America Committee. Cassandra Valdez is the first-ever Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball student-athlete to be named to the 2023 NAIA All-America First Team. In 2014, Katrisha Arocha was named to the Honorable Mention Team, and in 2016, Taylor Doege was a Second-Team honoree. Last year, Valdez was an Honorable Mention Selection.

Madison Nunn has also been selected to the 2023 NAIA All-America Honorable Mention Team.  

Cassandra Valdez played two years for the Saints. In the season, she led the team in at-bats with 56, runs with 46, hits with 58, triples with five, home runs with 14, RBIs with 47, walks with 24, stole bases with 17, on-base percentage with .454 and slugging percentage with .782. In the circle, she was 28-5 and had three saves in 211.2 innings pitched with 274 strikeouts for an ERA of 1.72. She was named All-Conference First Team and received Pitcher and Player of the Year honors. She was also selected Tournament MVP. In addition, she was named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Madison Nunn played in her final year for the Saints. In the season, she recorded 137 at-bats, had 43 runs, 52 hits, 11 doubles, a leading five triples, 11 homer runs, a leading 47 RBIs, 16 walks, a leading 17 stolen bases, a leading .380 batting average, on-base percentage of .449 and a .774 slugging percentage. Nunn marked a 1.000 fielding percentage. She received All-Conference First-Team honors and was part of the All-Tournament Team. Earlier this year, she received NAIA Softball Player of the Week honors. In addition, Nunn was selected OLLU's Big Blue Top Saint Female Athlete of the Year.