May 19, 2011
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern junior Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) and sophomore Emily Allard (Antioch, Calif./Deer Valley) have been named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Great Lakes Region performers today (May 19), the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced.
Monka earned a first-team selection at first base while Allard was named a second-team selection at shortstop. The awards are the second for both Wildcats; Monka earned her previous nod in 2009 when she was the first baseman on the NFCA All-America first team while Allard was second-team choice a year ago. Members of both the first- and second-teams are eligible for All-America consideration.
Monka had an incredible year at the plate, slugging her way to receiving more respect from opposing pitchers than anyone else in the nation. While ranking sixth in the country with a .461 batting average and eighth with an .865 slugging percentage, Monka began to receive walks at a near-record rate. She compiled a school-record 66 to lead the country with 1.53 per game -- the second-highest rate in NCAA Division I history. Monka also led the nation with a .707 on-base percentage, .090 points higher than anyone else and unofficially the second-highest OBP in Division I history.
Monka was an NFCA Division I National Player of the Week on April 26 in the midst of an incredible streak during which she reached base in 25-consecutive plate appearances. That stretch consisted of seven hits, 14 walks and a hit by pitch. Despite all the free passes, Monka still ranked 20th in the nation with 1.09 RBIs per game this season.
Allard put together an All-America caliber season of her own at the plate, playing her way on the top-25 finalist list for USA Softball Player of the Year. The All-Big Ten first-team selection ranked fourth in the country with a school-record .491 batting average and was second in the nation with 1.05 steals per game, giving her 45 total -- one shy of the NU single-season record. Allard also was top-20 in the nation in runs per game, crossing the plate 46 times for a 1.07 rate that ranked 16th.
In Northwestern's 43 games, Allard compiled 23 multi-hit efforts including 12 with three-or-more hits. She failed to get a base knock in a game just five times all season and at one point strung together a 22-game hitting streak -- the second-longest in Northwestern history. In 17 games against teams that made the NCAA Championship field, Allard hit .443 with 13 runs and 12 steals.
To view the complete NFCA All-Region teams, link to NFCA.org.
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