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Softball

Northern Kentucky’s Flores, Pastin, Rhoads Selected to Valeo #HLSB All-Academic Team

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Three Northern Kentucky University Norse Softball student-athletes were selected to the 2025 Valeo Horizon League Softball All-Academic Team, the league announced on Thursday. Alicia Flores, Olivia Pastin, and Jena Rhoads all earned the honor, putting in work not only on the field but in the classroom. 

"I am incredibly proud of Alicia, Jena, and Olivia for being named to the All-Academic Team," said Head Coach Morgan Gerak. "This high honor is well-deserved. Watching these three chase after their academic goals with fervor brings me great joy. I am so grateful for the standard they set in the classroom for our program."

The selection marks the second for Norse senior pitcher Alicia Flores, who also earned the honor in the 2023 season. Flores, a biological science major, is a five-time member of the Horizon League Honor Roll, a four-time President's Honor's List selection, and a three-time Dean's List honoree over her four years with the Norse. On the field, Flores has thrown 90 innings with a 7-6 record for the Norse and leads the team in saves (3), batting average against (.277), and shutouts (2). Flores threw a five-inning no-hitter on March 14th against Green Bay, striking out five batters. 

A chemistry major, Senior outfielder Olivia Pastin earned her first selection to the All-Academic team. Pastin is a five-time selection to the Horizon League Honor Roll and a five-time Dean's List selection over her four years with the Norse. On the field, Pastin has been a dominant hitter, leading the conference with 14 doubles. The senior leads Northern Kentucky and ranks inside the top ten in the conference in OPS (.948), hits (49), home runs (6), RBI (37), and slugging percentage (.565). 

Junior outfielder Jena Rhoads is also a first-time honoree for Northern Kentucky, as she's been named to the President's Honor's List on four occasions and is a three-time selection to the Horizon League Honor Roll as a nursing major. On the field, Rhoads ranks second in the Horizon League with four triples and places fifth in the league with ten stolen bases. She also ranks top four on the Norse in batting average (.277), runs scored (28), hits (43), RBI (22), and total bases (63). 

Northern Kentucky's three selections are the most of any Horizon League team, and mark the most selections in a single season for the Norse since 2020. 

View the full list of selections below. 

2025 Valeo #HLSB All-Academic Team
Brooke Albaugh, Cleveland State
Peyton Mueller Stenz, Cleveland State
Jenna Holt, Detroit Mercy
Paige Hanson, Green Bay
Bella Herman, Green Bay
Kendal Calvert, IU Indianapolis
Alicia Flores, Northern Kentucky
Olivia Pastin, Northern Kentucky
Jena Rhoads, Northern Kentucky
Brooklyn Plitz, Oakland
Aglaia Rudd, Purdue Fort Wayne
Logan Black, RMU
Courtney Poulich, RMU
Autumn Behlke, Youngstown State
Lydia Wilkerson, Youngstown State
 
Honorable Mentions
Paige McPhearson, IU Indianapolis
Grace Hollopeter, Purdue Fort Wayne
Bailey Manos, Purdue Fort Wayne
Anna Resnik, RMU

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Players Mentioned

Alicia Flores

#9 Alicia Flores

P
5' 8"
Senior
R/R
Olivia Pastin

#21 Olivia Pastin

OF
5' 8"
Senior
L/R
Jena Rhoads

#1 Jena Rhoads

OF
5' 6"
Junior
L/L

Players Mentioned

Alicia Flores

#9 Alicia Flores

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
P
Olivia Pastin

#21 Olivia Pastin

5' 8"
Senior
L/R
OF
Jena Rhoads

#1 Jena Rhoads

5' 6"
Junior
L/L
OF