BIG EAST Softball Player of the Week
Tess Cites, Jr., OF, Villanova
Cites powered Villanova to a 4-1 week, batting .625 (10-16) with eight RBI, eight runs scored, two doubles, and a pair of home runs. The New York native headlined Villanova’s sweep of BIG EAST foe St. John's, averaging .727 at the plate with at least two hits in each of the three games. Cites particularly excelled in Saturday’s run-rule victory (12-0), going 4-for-4 with a home run and double for three RBI and three runs scored. The junior also produced a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage this week, making seven putouts for the 'Cats in left field.
 
BIG EAST Softball Pitcher of the Week
Brooke Plonka, Gr., P, Georgetown
Plonka pitched the first perfect game in Hoya history, while setting a new school record in strikeouts (15), during Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Coppin State. The graduate transfer dismissed 21 consecutive batters to register the first perfect performance by a BIG EAST pitcher since 2017. The leftie added five strikeouts over five innings pitched in the Hoyas’ 9-1 (5) victory over Creighton on Saturday.
 
BIG EAST Softball Freshman of the Week
Kat Gallant, Fr., P, Villanova
Gallant registered two wins for the Wildcats, combining for 13.1 innings pitched against Drexel and St. John’s. The right-handed rookie owned a 1.58 ERA across three appearances, striking out 14 batters. During Friday’s series-opening victory (W, 8-3) in Queens, Gallant struck out a career-high eight batters. To date, Gallant leads the Wildcats staff with 11 wins and a 2.33 ERA.
 
Honor Roll
Lexi Hastings, So., OF, UConn
Lexi Hastings was hot in the leadoff spot, producing six hits (.400) atop the BIG EAST-leading Husky lineup. She registered the game-tying run against ACC contender Boston College on Tuesday, launching a two-run homer to centerfield on the final strike of the seventh inning. For the week, Hastings drove in three runs, scoring three herself, with three extra base hits.
Meghan O’Neil, Sr., P, UConn
O’Neil played a critical role in the Huskies’ circle, making four appearances in relief as UConn went 3-1 while sweeping BIG EAST competitor Butler. The senior owned a 0.75 ERA with nine strikeouts over 8.1 innings pitched. In Sunday’s series finale (W, 3-2), O’Neil closed the contest with a nine-pitch 1-2-3 inning for her sixth save of the season (NCAA, 2^nd).
Lela Allen, Jr., INF, Seton Hall
Allen hit .571 over four games to drive in five runs and score three herself as Seton Hall swept Drexel and DePaul this week.. The Arizona product emphasized a .636 batting average in the DePaul series with back-to-back three hit games to close the campaign.
Kelsey Carr, Jr., P/OF, Seton Hall
Carr dominated on both sides of the diamond this week, leading the Pirates in batting average (.583), RBI (9), and ERA (2.42). The junior tied Seton Hall’s single-game RBI record on Sunday, knocking in seven runs in a 13-11 win over DePaul. She launched a grand slam in the second inning before hitting a three-run double in the fifth to pad the lead. In the circle she earned the win in Friday’s conference matchup at DePaul, pitching all six innings while allowing just one run and striking out seven (W, 9-1).
Victoria Sebastian, Sr., INF, Villanova
Sebastian hit .545 during Villanova’s 4-1 week, logging six hits, four runs, and seven RBI. The senior produced two hits and three RBI in back-to-back games at St. John’s for six runs batted in and two runs scored.