NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 4, 2021 – Howard University junior Kalita Dennis was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Preseason Player of the Year and
North Carolina Central senior Kiara Hurley was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year, presented by TowneBank, the conference announced today.
In addition, Howard was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Northern Division, while Florida A&M was picked to win the Southern Division.
All awards were voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
Dennis finished the shortened 2020 season among the league leaders in multiple hitting categories, including batting average (.400), slugging percentage (.700), total bases (49) and home runs (5). The Elk Grove, Calif., native was recently named to the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Watch List for the second consecutive year, and in her first full season with the Bison, 2019, she was named MEAC Rookie of the Year.
Hurley, who was named All-MEAC in 2019 and Preseason All-MEAC in 2020, has led the Eagles in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, innings pitched and opponents' batting average against each of the last two seasons. In her last full season, Hurley topped the MEAC with 18 wins, which tied a program Div. I era program record for wins in a season at NCCU. She also ranked in the top five of the MEAC in strikeouts (133, 2nd), opposing batting average (.240, 2nd), innings pitched (193.2, 3rd), ERA (2.73, 3rd), appearances (39, 2nd) while her 3.80 strikeouts-to-walk ratio led the MEAC and ranked 67th nationally and her 1.27 walks allowed per seven innings ranked second in the MEAC and 34th nationally.
In the Northern Division, Howard totaled 78 points and picked up eight first-place votes to finish first in the division this season. Norfolk State, with nine first-place votes and 77 points, was picked to finish second, followed by Morgan State (two first-place votes), Delaware State and Coppin State.
In the Southern Division, Florida A&M totaled 73 points and 16 first-place votes to finish first in the south. With two first-place votes and 50 points, North Carolina Central was picked to finish second, followed by North Carolina A&T State (one first-place vote) and South Carolina State.
Joining Dennis and Hurley on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team are Morgan State pitcher Stephanie Rundlett and catcher Haylee Bobos; North Carolina Central first baseman Joires Dumas; Delaware State infielder Jasmine Melgoza; Howard infielder Camille Navarro; Coppin State infielder Soraya Valdez-Frick and utility player Brissa Alvarado; and Norfolk State outfielders Shelby DesChamps and Jazzmaine Hammond.
The 2021 MEAC Softball Championship will be in Norfolk, Va., May 13-15. Only the top two teams from each division in the final standings will qualify for the tournament. The 2021 MEAC softball season begins the weekend of Feb. 13-14.