SCHENECTADY, NY – The Union College softball team was honored Monday night for a dinner banquet. The event honored its seniors, Tiffany Ippoliti, Ginni Sack, Ashley Kovack and Diana Polli and head coach Jordan Stevens presented five awards to the student-athletes.

Ippoliti was awarded Most Valuable Player, Kovack was named Offensive Player of the Year while Lauren Hoffman earned the Defensive Performer of the Year award. Callee Heywood received the Unsung Hero award and Becky Gronczniak was awarded the Most Improved Player honor.

Ippoliti received the Most Valuable Player award for her pitching performance this season. She maintained a team-low 2.01 ERA, a team-high 120 strikeouts and a 17-3 record. While she was named Liberty League Co-Pitcher of the Year and selected First Team, she was also named Co-MVP in both the Liberty League and ECAC Tournaments.

Kovack was stellar at the plate this season. She led the team in batting average (.400), triples (three), home runs (four) and slugging percentage (.664). In addition, she drove in 21 runs and went a perfect 5-for-5 in the stealing category. Kovack along with Ippoliti were selected the ECAC Tournament Co-Most Outstanding Player award.

Hoffman spent a majority of the season at shortstop. While she recorded .939 fielding percentage, she made 41 putouts and 82 assists. She was also credited on two double plays this season.

Awarded the Unsung Hero award, Heywood maintained a .394 batting average with nine doubles and a triple. She was also stellar on the field this season. With a .927 fielding percentage, Heywood made 79 putouts and was credited 60 assists and with Hoffman made two double plays.

Gronczniak earned a lot more playing time this season. Offensively, she led the team and set a personal career-high in stolen bases with eight in nine attempts. In 2008, she successfully stolen six bases on seven attempts. Defensively, she only committed two errors.

Team Awards
MVP- Tiffany Ippoliti
Offensive Performer of the Year - Ashley Kovack
Defensive Performer of the Year - Lauren Hoffman
Unsung Hero - Callee Heywood
Most Improved Player - Becky Gronczniak