NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Regular Season Champion Illinois Wesleyan University softball team hauled in a conference-best eight All-CCIW selections as the league office released its postseason honors Wednesday, May 7. Senior shortstop Jen Kuhn (Normal, Ill.-University High) was voted the CCIW Defensive Player of the Year and sophomore Mallory Holland (Shelbyville, Ill.-Shelbyville) was named the CCIW Pitcher of the Year. The Green and White's eight selections led the league and are the most for IWU since 2015.

Kuhn and Holland were joined on the All-CCIW First Team by senior Ava Khoury (Columbia, Ill.-Columbia) and juniors Gianna Certa (Third Lake, Ill.-Grayslake North) and Anna Beckman (Bourbonnais, Ill.-Bishop McNamara). Juniors Casey Wissmiller (Bloomington, Ill.-Olympia) and Claire Post (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) along with freshman Bella Pinter (LaMoille, Ill.-Saint Bede Academy) garnered Second Team All-CCIW status. IWU's staff was also tabbed the CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year for the third straight season, while freshman Riley McDoniel (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) was named IWU's CCIW RESPECT Award recipient.

Completing the first undefeated conference season in the CCIW since 2009, Illinois Wesleyan posted a 16-0 record in league play to earn the No. 1 seed and hosting rights for this week's CCIW Tournament. In all, the Green and White raked in eight CCIW weekly awards.

Kuhn secured all-conference honors for the fourth straight season, while being named to the first team for the third time in her career. A nominee for the CCIW's Offensive Player of the Year, Kuhn has done it all for the Green and White this season. She is the second player in program history to be voted the league's top defensive player, joining Bailey Turner who won the award in 2024, and has proven herself as one of the best shortstops in the country. Offensively, Kuhn hit a whopping .407 over 16 games with a .695 slugging percentage and 1.167 OPS, all of which led the team. She cranked out 24 hits, scored 19 runs, and drove in 21. Kuhn tied for the CCIW lead with four home runs and carried an on-base percentage of .444. She was tabbed the CCIW Hitter of the Week three times throughout the season and recorded a hit in 15-of-16 CCIW games. Kuhn collected five multi-hit games and registered multiple RBI in seven contests.

Holland burst onto the scene this year and is amid a sensational sophomore season. She marks the eighth time a Titan has been voted the CCIW's Pitcher of the Year. Holland joins Certa (2024), Ally Wiegand (2019), Molly McCready (2012 & 2014), Christy Engel (2008, 2009, 2010), Lauren Hyland (2007), and Kelly Murray (2002 & 2004) as IWU's all-time awardees. The Shelbyville, Ill. native led all starting pitchers with a conference-best 1.07 earned run average, while limiting opponents to a CCIW-best .141 batting average. She tossed 39.1 innings, striking out 13, and allowed just six earned runs over 10 appearances. A three-time CCIW Pitcher of the Week selection, Holland amassed a 6-0 record with a CCIW-best two saves. Holland nabbed a save in IWU's 5-4 comeback win over Augustana, April 30, clinching the CCIW Regular Season Championship outright. 

Repeating as an all-conference performer for the third straight season is Khoury, IWU's everyday starter at first base. In her final season donning the Green and White, Khoury hit .362 in CCIW play. She was third on the team in league play with 16 driven in and led the squad with six doubles. Khoury also tied for the team lead with eight walks.

Earning first team distinction in back-to-back seasons is Certa. Compiling a 6-0 record over 11 appearances, Certa held a 1.85 ERA with 29 strikeouts over a team-high 41.2 innings. She picked up two saves, tying for the conference lead, and tossed four complete games. Certa, who threw a perfect game during the non-conference season, fanned a career-high nine in IWU's win over Elmhurst, April 19.

Beckman earned First Team All-CCIW status for the second straight year. A sure-handed leader in centerfield, Beckman finished the league season second on the team with a .400 batting average. She tallied 22 hits with five doubles and one homer, while racking up 17 RBIs and scoring a team-best 20 runs. Beckman swiped a team-leading 12 bases during league play, being thrown out just once. She posted six multi-hit games over the 16-contest slate, including three games in which she notched three hits.

Starting third baseman, Wissmiller, was one of seven Titans to start all 16 CCIW games this season. She hit .378 with 17 hits, 11 runs scored, and 10 RBIs. The Bloomington, Ill. native finished one off the team lead with seven walks, while her 17 hits tied for fourth-most.

Post, the catcher for the top pitching staff in the conference, collected 15 hits in 48 at bats, good for a .313 average. She tied for first in the conference with four home runs and accrued 12 RBIs. Behind the plate, Post limited opponents to just 10 stolen bases over 16 games, throwing out two baserunners.

Pinter thrived in IWU's DP role, hitting .364 in her first trip around the CCIW. She carried a .568 slugging percentage with a 1.021 OPS, while notching 16 hits with five extra-base knocks. She tallied three doubles and cranked two homers alongside 11 RBIs, while tying for the team lead with eight walks.

Illinois Wesleyan, the top seed in the tournament, will open up CCIW Tournament play Thursday, May 8, at 4 p.m. at Inspiration Field. The Titans' first game opponent will be determined by the day's 12 p.m. game between Carthage College and North Central College. For more information on the CCIW Softball Tournament, please click here.

CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Clare Rettler, Carthage

CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Jen Kuhn, Illinois Wesleyan

CCIW Pitcher of the Year
Mallory Holland, Illinois Wesleyan

CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Lexi Duke, Augustana

CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year
Illinois Wesleyan

All-CCIW First Team
C, Olivia Nahorniak, Wheaton
1B, Aubrey Gradin, Augustana
1B, Ava Khoury, Illinois Wesleyan
2B, Abby Willis, Millikin
3B, Emma Evans, Augustana
SS, Jen Kuhn, Illinois Wesleyan
OF, Clare Rettler, Carthage
OF, Anna Beckman, Illinois Wesleyan
OF, Charley Condill, Millikin
OF, Ronnie Latka, North Central
DP, McKensey Stontz, Augustana
UT, Alexis Duke, Augustana
UT, Talia Torosian, North Central
P, Gianna Certa, Illinois Wesleyan
P, Mallory Holland, Illinois Wesleyan
P, Kelsey Bruno, Millikin

All-CCIW Second Team
C, Alaina Diaz, Augustana
C, Claire Post, Illinois Wesleyan
1B, Izzy Hernandez, Carthage
2B, Maddie Tan, North Park
3B, Casey Wissmiller, Illinois Wesleyan
SS, Ava Zukowski, Millikin
SS, Kayla Lorenz, North Park
OF, Anna Maciejewski, Augustana
OF, Abby Curtis, Carroll
OF, Gwen Hendrick, Carthage
DP, Bella Pinter, Illinois Wesleyan
DP, Hailey Morsovillo, North Central
UT, Danielle Hood, Elmhurst
P, Lauren Koster, Augustana
P, Olivia Hristov, Carthage
P, Julianna Maude, North Central

CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Mikaylin Hofer, Augustana
Jenna Andler, Carroll
Rylee Boyd, Carthage
Ali Mockenhaupt, Elmhurst
Riley McDoniel, Illinois Wesleyan
Brynn McNeill, Millikin
Sarah Lynch, North Central
Kayla Sapolu, North Park
Nicole Allen, Wheaton