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University of Houston Athletics
Three Cougars Pick Up All-Conference Honors
5/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2006
 | "I thought that the All-Conference teams were a direct reflection of what happened on the field all season. Angel, Elaina and Jessica are a big part of why we are where we are at this point in the season." Head Coach Kyla Holas |
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IRVING - Angel Shamblin was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Year, Elaina Nordstrom notched C-USA Freshman of the Year honors and Jessica Valis also was named to the All-Conference First Team on Wednesday afternoon as announced by the league office.
"I thought that the All-Conference teams were a direct reflection of what happened on the field all season," head coach Kyla Holas said. "Angel, Elaina and Jessica are a big part of why we are where we are at this point in the season."
Shamblin was not only Pitcher of the Year and an All-Conference First-Team selection but also was named to the All-Conference Second Team as a utility player.
The sophomore righthander registered a 15-8 mark with a 1.84 ERA in the circle and was one of only three pitchers to win Conference USA Pitcher of the Week award three times. She was only the second player in C-USA history to hold the league Hitter and Pitcher of the Week award in the same week on March 13.
Shamblin's 15 victories are tied for second in C-USA and also match a program single-season record, while her 1.84 ERA is fourth in C-USA. She fired shutouts against Marshall, Southern Miss and UAB during the regular season.
The Davie, Fla., native racked up 165 strikeouts in 152.0 innings of work. The 165 strikeouts are fifth in Conference USA and are 11 Ks shy of setting a UH single-season record.
On offense, Shamblin is hitting .269 with two home runs and 23 RBIs, registering starts at first base and designated player.
 Elaina Nordstrom broke a program-record with 52 RBIs and was selected C-USA Freshman of the Year  | |
Elaina Nordstrom became the second Cougar to win the C-USA Freshman of the Year award, joining Kristen Glowacz, who won the honor in 2002.
Nordstrom eclipsed many of Glowacz's freshman records along the way en route to winning the Cougar Triple Crown on offense with a .370 batting average, nine home runs and 52 RBIs. The .370 batting average and 52 RBIs are program single-season records and rank second in Conference USA.
Nordstrom has tallied a hit in 44 of 59 games and has picked up a RBI in 28 of 59 contests, tallying 15 multi-hit and a team-best 14 multi-RBI games. The LaPalma, Calif., native's 64 hits are second in C-USA.
Defensively, Nordstrom has allowed just six passed balls in just over 350 innings behind the plate and has thrown out 13 batters in 47 attempts.
The duo joins Jessica Valis, who also was named All-Freshman and to the All-Conference First Team. She joins Areles Ferreris as the only Cougar to be named the All-Conference First Team as a freshman.
 Jessica Valis is only the second player in program history to be named All-Conference First Team as a freshman. | |
Valis concluded the regular season ranked in the Top 5 of six different Conference USA categories, including hits (70), batting average (.365), runs scored (45), on-base percentage (.453), stolen bases (25) and walks (31) .
Her 70 hits not only paced C-USA but were also a program single-season record. The Shiner, Texas, native also set a program record swiping 25 stolen bases.
The Cougars open the Conference USA Championship Thursday morning against Southern Miss.
First pitch against the Golden Eagles is slated for 10am from the Donna J. Hardesty Complex on the Tulsa campus. Live stats will be available on UHCougars.com
