Freshman Sara Strickland (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon) was named Newcomer of the Year and represented Valparaiso on the All-League First Team as the Horizon League announced its postseason award winners on Wednesday evening.  Seniors Karen Korb (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran) and Ashley Wolter (Denver, Iowa/Denver) each were named to the All-League Second Team, while Joylyn Ichiyama (Torrance, Calif./Redondo Union) joined Strickland on the All-Newcomer Team.

Strickland earns her Newcomer of the Year and First Team accolades after hitting a team-best .376 during the regular season, good for fourth in the Horizon League.  The freshman has scored 42 runs on the season, a new Valpo single-season record and second-most among league players.  She ranks among the top-five in Valpo single-season history in hits (53), doubles (13), stolen bases (27) and total bases (80), and is among the league’s top-five in on-base percentage (.463), hits, doubles and steals.

Korb receives Second Team honors, the second All-League recognition of her career, after batting .331 during the regular season with 39 runs scored, second-most in a single season in Crusader history.  The senior has swiped a single-season record 33 bases this year, among the top-ten in the nation, and now has 98 career steals, more than double anybody else in team history.  She has also broken the program career record for runs scored (99) and has tallied 53 hits on the season to date, tied with Strickland for second-most in a single year in program history.

Wolter earns Second Team accolades, the second time she has received All-League honors in her career, after enjoying another powerful season at the plate.  The senior is hitting .340 with a Valpo single-season record 33 RBIs on the year, fifth-most in the league.  She also has eight home runs on the season and broke the Crusaders’ career home run record earlier this season.  Wolter has now totaled 85 RBIs for her career, just three shy of Valpo’s all-time record in that category.