HAMMOND, La. – After excelling on the field and in the classroom, Southeastern Louisiana junior outfielder Aeriyl Mass was named to the 2021 Southland Conference Softball Academic All-Conference Teams presented by GEICO, which were released by the league office on Tuesday.
 
Mass, a Lake Charles, Louisiana native, was a first team selection. A criminal justice major, the Lady Lion leadoff hitter carried a 3.01 cumulative grade point average into the spring semester and earned her degree in May.
 
The academic recognition was the latest honor for Mass, who just finished her first full season in Hammond after transferring from UL Lafayette. Mass was named first team All-Southland Conference last month. Mass ranked among the Southland leaders in batting average (.368, 9^th), runs scored (39, 3^rd), hits (64, 2^nd), doubles (10, 8^th), triples (2, 5^th) and stolen bases (30, 2^nd), while also leading the team with three home runs and 30 RBI.
 
The All-Academic teams are voted on by head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance staff members from each Southland Conference institution. Student-athletes must possess a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution to qualify for All-Academic selection, and have competed in at least 50 percent of their team's contests on the season, excluding pitchers.
 
The Southland Conference awards committee, which consists of one administrator from each of the 13 member schools, votes for the Student-Athlete of the Year, which this season went to Central Arkansas outfielder Jenna Wildeman. The Southland Student-Athlete of the Year award is presented to one student-athlete who achieves excellence in both academics and athletics. All nominees must have earned at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and demonstrated athletics achievement for at least two years at the nominating institution.
 
Mass will return to the SLU roster for her senior season with the preseason opening on Sept. 24 with a 5 p.m. 10-inning exhibition versus Northwest Florida State College at North Oak Park. Southeastern will open the 2022 season on Feb. 11, hosting Southeast Missouri at 5 p.m. on the opening day of Lion Classic I at North Oak Park.
 
2021 Southland Conference Softball All-Academic Teams
 
Student-Athlete of the Year: Jenna Wildeman, Central Arkansas
 
First Team
Name – Institution – Class – Hometown – GPA – Major
Aeriyl Mass – Southeastern Louisiana – Jr. – Lake Charles, La. – 3.01 – Criminal Justice
Kayla Beaver – Central Arkansas – So. – Jackson, Tenn. – 3.38 – Communication
Jenna Wildeman – Central Arkansas – So. – Bentonville, Ark. – 4.00 – Education
Heidi Jaquez – Houston Baptist – Gr. – Wharton, Texas – 4.00 – Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Psychology (Master's)
Haylee Brinlee – McNeese – So. – Rosepine, La. – 3.30 – Agricultural Animal Science
Cori McCrary – McNeese – Gr. – McCarley, Miss. – 4.00 – Health and Human Performance
Whitney Tate – McNeese – So. – Columbia, La. – 4.00 – Biology/Pre-Med
E.C. Delafield – Northwestern State – Sr. – Stonewall, La. – 3.38 – Health and Exercise Science
Megan McDonald – Sam Houston – Gr. – Georgetown, Texas – 4.00 – Public Administration (Master's)
Shaylon Govan – Stephen F. Austin – So. – Katy, Texas – 3.50 – Nursing
Bryana Novegil – Stephen F. Austin – Sr. – Houston, Texas – 3.20 – Sports Business
Kassidy Wilbur – Stephen F. Austin – Jr. – Bridge City, Texas – 3.34 – Kinesiology
 
Second Team
Name – Institution – Class – Hometown – GPA – Major
Donelle Johnson – Abilene Christian – Gr. – McKinney, Texas – 3.55 – Conflict Management (Master's)
Mary Kate Brown – Central Arkansas – So. – Atkins, Ark. – 3.83 – Family and Consumer Science
Jordan Johnson – Central Arkansas – Jr. – Paola, Kan. – 3.90 – Homeland Security and Law Enforcement
Caitlyn Brockway – Houston Baptist – Jr. – Tomball, Texas – 3.69 – Psychology
Jasie Roberts – Houston Baptist – So. – Pasadena, Texas – 3.94 – Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Sarah Venker – Houston Baptist – Jr. – Houston, Texas – 4.00 – Nursing
Kendall McGary – UIW – So. – Katy, Texas – 4.00 – Business Marketing
Kaylee Lopez – McNeese – So. – Indian Bayou, La. – 3.74 – Early Childhood Education
Alayis Seneca – McNeese – Sr. – The Woodlands, Texas – 4.00 – Health and Human Performance
Kennedy Hebert – Nicholls – So. – Morgan City, La. – 4.00 – Accounting
Keely DuBois – Northwestern State – So. – Robeline, La. – 3.78 – Human Health and Performance
Kaitlyn St. Clair – Northwestern State – Sr. – Cypress, Texas – 3.66 – Psychology
Ellie Grille – Sam Houston – So. – Angleton, Texas – 4.00 – Education
Gaby Garcia – Stephen F. Austin – Jr. – Southlake, Texas – 3.90 - Marketing
 
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HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.