Kylee Hanson Named C-USA Female Athlete of the Year

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Adding to an already lengthy list of accolades, Florida Atlantic University softball pitcher Kylee Hanson was named Conference USA Female Athlete of the Year, the league office announced on Thursday.

“This honor caps off an extraordinary year for an extraordinary student-athlete,” said Pat Chun, FAU’s vice president and director of athletics. “Kylee Hanson sets the bar for our entire athletics program both on the field and in the classroom. We are proud of Kylee’s accomplishments as well as the accomplishments of the entire softball program.”

Hanson, who recently completed her junior season, finished the year with a 28-5 record and led the nation in ERA (0.76), shutouts (15) and hits per seven innings (3.33). She also was named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year. At the C-USA tournament, Hanson won tournament MVP after leading the softball team to the school’s first C-USA tournament title in any sport. Her 16-0 mark in league play during the year set a C-USA record.

Hanson, FAU’s Female Athlete of the Year, earned Conference USA Pitcher of the Week seven times in 2016 and was named National Player of the Week by both ESPNW and NFCA. She was a Top-10 Finalist for the National Player of the Year Award and ended her junior season second in school history in career ERA, opponent batting average and strikeouts per seven innings, trailing only Nikki Myers, who, like Hanson, garnered All-American honors.

“It’s an honor to receive this award, I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, coaching staff and support system that’s here at FAU,” said Hanson. “I’m very excited about this accomplishment, but I’m looking forward to what’s to come in my senior year.”

Florida Atlantic finished the 2016 season with a 51-9 record. The Owls set a school record by winning

21 consecutive games, sweeping the C-USA regular season and tournament titles, and advancing to its second straight NCAA Regional.