University of Memphis Athletics
Mott, Valle Named to All-Academic Team
May 10, 2011 | Softball
May 10, 2011
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis softball team placed two representatives on the 2011 Conference USA All-Academic Team, as announced by the conference, Tuesday afternoon.
Senior pitcher Janelle Valle and senior shortstop Heather Mott were bestowed the honor by Conference USA, marking the second time in school history that two Tigers have been named to the All-Academic team for softball (the 2007 duo of Lindsay Kelso and Jenna Kubesch were the only pair of teammates so honored).
In order to be eligible for the recognition, student-athletes must hold a 3.2 cumulative grade point average, be of at least sophomore academic standing and have competed in at least 60 percent of games this season as a starter or key reserve. The All-Academic team is selected by the sports information contacts at each of the nine softball schools.
For Valle, this is her second time to be named All-Academic; she was also an honoree in 2009. She recently received her degree in biology, and carried a 3.91 grade point average during her college academic career.
On the field, Valle is 6-2 with a 1.61 ERA this season. After one-hitting East Carolina in her first conference start this season, Valle was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week.
In her Memphis career, the Lake Elsinore, Calif., native is 23-22 with a 2.80 ERA, and is first all-time in saves and appearances in Memphis history.
Last week, Valle was named to the Capital One Academic All-District IV First-Team, just the second Memphis softball player to ever be named to the first team.
Mott graduated from the U of M with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science in August 2010; she finished her college career with a 3.46 grade point average.
On the field, Mott will go down as one of the most important and exemplary Tigers in the young program's existence. She ranks first all-time in triples, and is second in school history in runs scored, home runs, and RBI.
The Pensacola, Fla., native's 2011 season ranks as one of the finest single-season displays of offense in school history. Currently, Mott tops the all-time single-season list in batting average (.372) and on-base percentage (.456), is second in slugging percentage (.686) and hit a career-high 10 home runs. Mott's .372 average in 2011 is nearly 100 points higher than her career average.
Mott is a three-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree, and was an NFCA Scholar Athlete in 2007.
Mott and Valle will join the rest of their teammates at this week's Conference USA Softball Championships, hosted by East Carolina, in Greenville, North Carolina, beginning Thursday.
2011 Conference USA Softball All-Academic Team
NAME - SCHOOL - YEAR - GPA - MAJOR
*Toni Paisley - East Carolina - Senior - 3.55 - Social Work
*Jennifer Klinkert - Houston - R-Junior - 3.83 - Nutrition
*Katy Beth Sherman - Houston - Grad - 3.66 - Masters in Human Resource Development
Rebecca Gamby - Marshall - Junior - 3.69 - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Heather Mott - Memphis - Senior - 3.46 - Exercise and Sport Science
*Janelle Valle - Memphis - Senior - 3.91 - Biology (Minor: Criminal Justice)
Leslie LeJune - Southern Miss - Junior - 3.68 - Kinesiotherapy
Catherine Douglass - UAB - Junior - 3.90 - Psychology
*Mandy Lowman - UAB - Junior - 3.86 - Math
Sallie Van Kirk - UAB - Senior - 3.88 - Nursing
*Natalie Land - UCF - Junior - 3.678 - Athletic Training
**Abby McClain - UCF - Senior - 3.804 - Biology
*Repeat Selection
