May 7, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. - University of Maryland softball players Breanna Shaw and Kerry Hickey have been named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team, the conference announced Thursday evening at its annual awards banquet.

For Shaw, a senior infielder, and Hickey, a sophomore pitcher/designated player, the conference honors are the first of their respective careers. The Terrapins now have placed multiple players on the All-ACC teams in three of the last four seasons.

Shaw, a team co-captain, has served as a leader for the Terps throughout the 2009 season. The Ellenwood, Ga., native has been Maryland's most consistent batter and has excelled defensively playing primarily second base.

Having established new career highs in most offensive categories this season, Shaw ranks among the conference leaders with a .326 batting average and nine doubles. She leads the team with 12 extra-base hits and has compiled 18 RBIs. Displaying remarkable discipline at the plate, Shaw has accounted for nearly as many multi-hit games (11) as strikeouts (12) this season.

Despite being in only her second collegiate season, Hickey has developed into one of the best two-way players in the ACC this season. The Huntingtown, Md., native is one of three players in the conference (along with North Carolina's Danielle Spaulding and Georgia Tech's Tiffany Johnson) to rank both in the top-10 in pitching and top-25 in batting this season.

Serving as Maryland's ace pitcher, Hickey leads the ACC with four saves, 19 relief appearances and 18 games finished pitching this season. The right-hander, who also serves as team co-captain, has compiled a record of 12-9 with an ERA of 2.43 and 169 strikeouts in 158.2 innings in the circle this season. Hickey's single-season strikeout total ranks seventh all-time in team history, and her 38 pitching appearances are good for fifth on Maryland's single-season list.

At the plate Hickey has been a constant force in the middle of Maryland's lineup this season. She is batting .282 with a team-high 48 hits, seven doubles and 61 total bases. Hickey also enjoyed a team-best eight-game hit streak to start the season.

"Kerry and Bre have been integral parts of our team this season, and they are very deserving of this honor," head coach Laura Watten said. "They have been leaders for our team on and off the field, at the plate and in the field. I am extremely proud of both of them for their contributions to our program."

Shaw and fellow seniors Sarah Dooley and Devon Williams were saluted by the conference during Thursday's awards ceremony.

The 10-player first and second team All-ACC nominees were voted on by the conference's eight head coaches. North Carolina junior Danielle Spaulding claimed ACC Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, and Florida State sophomore Sarah Hamilton was named Pitcher of the Year. Conference leader Georgia Tech swept the other individual awards, with head coach Sharon Perkins earning Coach of the Year honors, and Kelsi Weseman being recognized as Freshman of the Year.

Thanks in large part to Shaw and Hickey's contributions, Maryland (29-25, 9-11 ACC) concluded the regular season by winning nine of its last 14 games to earn the No. 4 seed in the annual tournament - its highest seeding under the current eight-team format. The Terps tallied their highest conference victory total in 10 years during the regular season, claiming ACC series victories against Boston College, NC State, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Fourth-seeded Maryland opens the 2009 ACC Championship by taking on fifth-seeded Virginia Tech at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a first-round matchup in NC State's Curtis and Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium. ACC Select will provide free streaming video of Friday's matchup.