Thursday, May 13, 2004

Valparaiso University catcher Karen Constien (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North H.S.) has been named to the Mid-Continent Conference First Team the league announced tonight.

The Crusaders' senior leads the team and ranks eighth in the Mid-Con with a .317 batting average. She has set the school's single season homerun record this year with nine, while also posting a career-best 24 RBI. Her .590 slugging percentage and 16 stolen bases also were team highs.

As solid as Constien's numbers were throughout the entire season, she excelled during Mid-Con play helping lead the Brown and Gold to a fourth place finish and earning the school's first trip to the conference tournament since 2000. During league play, she hit .385 with seven homers and 17 RBI, while slugging .800. She was also a perfect 13-of-13 stealing bases. Behind the plate she also threw out 31% of would-be base stealers during Mid-Con action.

This season, Constien was twice named Mid-Con Player of the Week by the league office.