- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- MOC Homepage
- Athletics Mission Statement
- Recruiting Questionnaire
- Multimedia
- Athletics Directory
- Athletics News
- MOC Awards Banquet
- Athletic Training
- Athletics Facilities
- Cheerleading
- Trojan Club
- Camps
- Hall of Fame
- Student-Athlete Affairs
Athletic News
07/08/2010 -
Trojans Sign Seven To Softball NLI
Mount Olive College head softball coach Jaime Kylis has signed seven recruits, including one transfer student, to National Letters-of-Intent, it was announced Thursday. Incoming freshmen Brooke Bennett, Dayvee Daniels, Kassie Lowe, Katie Moore, Kalie Smith and Carly White, along with transfer student Kara Tucker, will enroll at Mount Olive in the fall. The recruiting class includes two pitchers, two catchers, two infielders and a utility player.
Bennett, an infielder from Silver Springs, Fla., was a two-time All-Area selection at Forest High School. In her senior year, she was selected to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Team and earned All-MCIAC (Marion County Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) honors. Bennett, who may also see time behind the plate, was a four-time scholar athlete and graduated with high honors.
“Brooke has the potential to make an immediate impact for us in the infield and in the lineup,” said Kylis, who is beginning her ninth year at Mount Olive. “She has a great athletic build with great speed and I am looking forward to advancing her game to the next level.”
Daniels, a pitcher from Beaufort, N.C., earned a wide range of athletic and academic honors during her career at East Carteret High School. Daniels was a two-time North Carolina Fastpitch Coaches Association (NCFCA) 1A All-State Team selection and was named to the East squad for the 2010 North Carolina East-West All-Star Game. She was the 2010 NCFCA District 2 Pitcher of the Year and 2010 Coastal Plains Conference Player of the Year. In the classroom, she received the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award and Presidential Education Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
“Dayvee is extremely talented and can move the ball in all parts of the zone,” said Kylis. “She is a very determined player in both the defensive and offensive aspects of the game. She is also an honors student who will help us continue our strong academic reputation.”
Lowe, a catcher from Staley, N.C., batted .705 with seven doubles, four triples, one home run and 14 runs batted in during her senior year at Providence High School. An All-District and All-Conference selection, Lowe was also a Wendy’s High School Heisman Award winner and the 2009-10 Providence High School Female Athlete of the Year. She was her class Salutatorian and graduated with honors.
“Not only will Kassie help deepen our strength behind the plate and at the plate, she will also help continue the pace we have set with high academic standards in the classroom,” said Kylis. Kassie is a great young catcher who makes great decisions behind the plate and has already shown some leadership potential on both her travel team and high school team.”
Moore, a utility player from Cary, N.C., was a three-time All-Conference first team selection and a two-time All-Conference Academic selection at Panther Creek High School. Moore also played travel ball for Team TFS and was selected as an All-Star at the 2009 Colorado Sparkler Tournament.
“Katie is that amazing player who has slipped through the radar of many college coaches,” said Kylis. “I’m so blessed that we were able to snag her late in the recruiting cycle. Katie is extremely versatile with a great arm and amazing range, and she brings an offensive punch with her. She can expect to see time in the middle infield and possibly the outfield.”
Smith, an infielder from Roanoke Rapids, N.C., earned All-Conference honors in each of her four years at Roanoke Rapids High School. She represented District 3 in the 2009 North Carolina State Games and has been selected to the East Region Seniors team for the 2010 State Games. Smith was the 2008 Area Player of the Year and has played on three travel ball championship teams. In the classroom, she is a three-time Scholar Athlete.
“Kalie is a very versatile talent who should come in and help us immediately,” said Kylis. “She has a very strong arm and a great eye at the plate. Kalie has played for both a strong high school team and a high caliber travel ball club, so I’m sure that she will not have a problem molding to a higher level of play.”
White, a pitcher from Shallotte, N.C., compiled a 41-16 record on the mound in two seasons at West Brunswick High School, while breaking the school career home run record and notching a team-high .485 batting average during her senior year. She was the 2009 Pitcher of the Year for Brunswick and New Hanover Counties and was named to the Toast of the Coast Team in each of the last two years. White helped lead the South Carolina Bandits 18-Under Team to ASA State Championships in 2008 and 2009. She was also a member of the 2008 Indoor Cup Team, which competed in The Netherlands against teams from Czech Republic, France, Italy and Russia. The 6-foot-4 White will also play for head coach Cole Tallman on the Trojan women’s volleyball team.
“Carly has had a very successful high school career in both volleyball and softball, and Coach Tallman and I are anxious to see how she does at the next level,” said Kylis. Carly has a great build and has great velocity on the ball. She also has excellent potential as a hitter.”
Tucker, a catcher/infielder from Kinston, N.C., transfers to Mount Olive from UNC Pembroke and is a graduate of South Lenoir High School. Tucker is the second member of her family to play for Kylis, following 2008 Mount Olive College graduate and three-time All-Conference Carolinas catcher Bailey Harrell. Tucker was a three-time All-Conference first team selection and two-time All-District first team selection in high school.
“It’s nice to get Kara at Mount Olive and a bit closer to home,” said Kylis. “I have no doubt that Kara will come in and fight for a spot behind the dish. She also handles herself very well offensively, so I’m excited to see what she can contribute to our still young squad.”
Mount Olive posted a record of 23-29 in 2010 and finished fifth in the Conference Carolinas standings with an 11-8 mark. Only three of Mount Olive’s 17 returning players are seniors. The Trojans bring back three pitchers and eight position starters from this past season, including five All-Conference Carolinas selections.