May 14, 2009

EVANSTON, Ill. -- A trio of Wildcats have been named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region selections, announced today by the NFCA. Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola), Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) and Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) are Northwestern's honorees.

The NFCA made several changes to its program this year, beginning with the elimination of first- and second-team award winners. Everyone winning the honor now is a first-teamer, with the same number of selections as in years past. Williams, Pauly and Monka all are eligible now for All-America consideration. Also, Northwestern moved from the Mideast Region into the Great Lakes Region for 2009.

Williams is a four-time All-Region selection, joining Lisa Ishikawa (1984-87) and Garland Cooper (2004-07) as Northwestern's only four-time honorees. Williams is one of 10 finalists for the both the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. She is the Big Ten Player of the Year for the second season in a row and has accepted an invitation to this summer's USA Softball Women's National Team selection camp.

Pauly now is a three-time selection, joining Williams, Ishikawa and Cooper as the lone 'Cats with three All-Region awards. Pauly was named to the All-Big Ten third team in 2009, currently batting .302 on the year with 33 runs scored, 11 home runs and 29 RBIs while boasting a .605 slugging percentage.

Monka's honor marks the seventh-consecutive year a freshman Wildcat has been named to the All-Region team. Monka is the 2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, ranking in the top-five in the nation in home runs per game (2nd), slugging percentage (3rd), RBIs per game (4th) and total home runs (5th).