NEW YORK, N.Y. – For the second time in three years, the BIG EAST Softball Player of the Year is from the Villanova Wildcats as junior Tess Cites was named the conference's top player of the 2023 season.
The outfielder was also named a Unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST selection and was joined on the first team by sophomore infielder Ava Franz.
Villanova placed a league-high four players on the conference's second team in Kat Gallant, Ryan Henry, Ally Jones and Victoria Sebastian.
Cites earned the league's top player and unanimous first team honors after leading the Wildcats with a .474 batting average in 24 conference games, putting up a team-high 27 runs and 57 total bases in BIG EAST play. The junior also led the squad with 18 walks and a .583 on-base percentage in conference tilts while going a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen bases.
Franz received the first BIG EAST yearly honor of her career after finishing the season on a tear, totaling hits in each of the last eight conference games. The infielder went 27-for-67 in conference for a .403 average, driving in 23 runs while belting five home runs to tie for the team high. The Pennsylvania native crossed the plate 14 times, drew 10 walks and compiled a Wildcat-best .761 slugging percentage.
Gallant was the lone hurler to make the list for the Wildcats after tossing 60.2 innings in conference play to lead the staff. The freshman put up a 9-2 record with a 3.35 ERA and three complete games, surrendering just 29 earned runs and nine walks in 13 appearances while striking out 43.
Henry picked up her second career BIG EAST honor after hitting .344 in conference, totaling 21 hits and five home runs while leading the 'Cats with 25 RBI. The catcher contributed 41 total bases and stood as the lone VU regular to compile a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in conference.
Jones was named to her second All-BIG EAST Second Team to follow up a 27-hit performance in conference play. The New Jersey product otaled a .386 batting average in league tilts, putting together a 17-game on-base streak in BIG EAST games. The Wildcats' starting backstop contributed 103 putouts and eight assists, catching three runners stealing.
Sebastian earned her first BIG EAST season accolade after exploding offensively for Villanova, gathering 22 hits in 58 at bats while drawing 11 walks this year. The senior from New Jersey currently rides a 15-game reached-base streak in conference matchups and led the 'Cats in putouts with 157 from her first base position.
The Wildcats will now be the two seed heading into the 2023 BIG EAST Championship presented by JEEP, awaiting the winner of Wednesday's Seton Hall vs. DePaul contest.
BIG EAST Softball Player of the Year: Tess Cites, Jr., OF, Villanova
BIG EAST Softball Pitcher of the Year: Kelsey Carr, Jr., P/INF, Seton Hall
BIG EAST Softball Defensive Player of the Year: Abby Wingo, Sr., OF, Seton Hall
BIG EAST Softball Freshman of the Year: Grace Jenkins, Fr., C, UConn
BIG EAST Softball Coaching Staff of the Year: Seton Hall
First Team
Kelsey Carr, Jr., P/INF, Seton Hall*
Sydney Carter, So., INF, Butler*
Tess Cites, Jr., OF, Villanova*
Ava Franz, So., INF, Villanova
Lexi Hastings, So., OF, UConn*
Brooke Johnson, Sr., 1B, DePaul
Payton Kinney, Jr., P, UConn
Cameron Kondo, Gr., OF, Georgetown*
Cayla Nielsen, Jr., OF, Creighton*
Shelby Smith, Sr., P, Seton Hall
Abby Wingo, Sr., OF, Seton Hall
Anna Wohlers, So., 3B, DePaul*
Second Team
Paige Dorsett, INF, R-So., Butler
Mae Forshey, Gr., INF/C, Georgetown
Kat Gallant, Fr., P, Villanova
Mackenzie Griman, Sr., P/INF, Butler
Jacque Harrington, Jr., INF/UT, Providence
Ryan Henry, Gr., C/DP, Villanova
Aziah James, Gr., OF, UConn
Ally Jones, Sr., C, Villanova
Grace Jenkins, Fr., C, UConn
Cate Lehner, Fr., OF, Butler
Victoria Sebastian, Sr., 1B, Villanova
Kailey Wilson, Gr., INF, Creighton
