Senior Day - 2014
This weekend marks the final regular-season home appearance for six members of the Kennesaw State softball program. Seniors Bianca Durant, Stephanie Phillips, Carly Van Auken, Angie Dascoli, Sara Sikes and Amanda Henderson are winding down their Kennesaw State careers.
Heading into Saturday’s doubleheader against East Tennessee State, the group has helped lead the Owls to 117 total victories, including 51 conference wins, during their time in Owls uniforms. The class of 2014 has advanced to the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament each of their three seasons and also helped lead KSU to a share of the A-Sun Conference regular season championship in 2012.
“This senior class has shown exceptional growth in its four years at Kennesaw State and has helped pave the way for setting the foundation of higher standards for the program and the university,” head coach Wes Holly, Jr. said. “I wish all of them the best with every endeavor they pursue in the future. They are all fine young women and I am positive they will be successful in whatever they choose to do beyond KSU. The Owl family will miss them as they now join a great legacy and tradition.”
The following are capsules on each Kennesaw State’s six seniors.
Bianca Durant
A four-year member of the Kennesaw State softball team, Durant has seen action in 181 games, starting 170. She has recorded 128 hits, including 21 doubles, one triple and 10 home runs, while notching 52 RBI and 58 runs scored. As a sophomore, Bianca ranked third on the team with 85 total bases, 51 hits, 27 runs, eight doubles and eight home runs. A 2011-12 Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic honoree, she owns 30 multiple-hit games and 11 multiple-RBI games in her Owl career. A native of Douglasville, Ga.
A resident of Douglasville, Ga., Bianca is majoring in nursing.
Stephanie Phillips
Phillips has been the consummate teammate during her four-year career as a member of the Kennesaw State softball program, playing in 60 games and starting 31. She has posted seven hits, including three doubles, while also scoring eight runs and contributing five RBI and three sacrifice hits. Defensively, she has totaled 52 putouts and 49 assists, mainly seeing action behind the plate. Stephanie is a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic honoree after earning accolades following her freshman and sophomore seasons.
A resident of Marietta, Ga., Phillips is majoring in sports management.
Carly Van Auken
After starting her college career at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, Van Auken transferred to Kennesaw State following her freshman season and made an immediate impact for the Owls. She was one of only five players to start all 57 games in 2012. In her three seasons at KSU, Van Auken has played in 151 contests, starting 148. She has registered 90 hits, including 12 doubles, a triple and three home runs, two of which have come during her senior season. She has also posted 42 RBI and 51 runs scored during her three seasons as an Owl while primarily playing second base and shortstop. Van Auken has also has been a team leader defensively, recording 198 putouts and 195 assists.
A resident of Largo, Fla., Van Auken is majoring in psychology.
Angie Dascoli
A standout player at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota before joining the Owls prior to her junior season, Dascoli has been a mainstay behind the plate for KSU. She has played in 102 games in her career as an Owl, starting in 100. In her two seasons with the Owls, Dascoli has posted a .302 batting average with 86 hits, including 13 doubles, one triple and eight home runs, while also registering 42 RBI and scoring 32 runs. Defensively, she has recorded 602 putouts and 58 assists and owns a career fielding percentage of .991. As a senior, Dascoli is leading the team with a .353 batting average and 23 RBI, while ranking second with six doubles and third on the team with 47 hits.
A native of Melbourne, Fla., Dascoli is majoring in psychology.
Sara Sikes
A consistent contributor for the Owls since transferring from Georgia following her freshman season, Sikes has started all 149 games she has played for Kennesaw State. A career .304 hitter, Sikes has recorded 150 hits, 27 doubles 54 RBI and scored 71 runs in three seasons for KSU. As a junior, Sikes ranked second on the team with a .312 batting average, 53 hits and 21 runs scored, while leading the Owls with 13 doubles. Sara is a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic honoree and earned A-Sun second-team all-conference accolades following her sophomore campaign.
A resident of Douglasville, Ga., Sikes is majoring in finance.
Amanda Henderson
One of the most prolific pitchers in Kennesaw State history, Henderson has been a leader in the circle for since her freshman year in 2011. She ranks among the Top 10 in virtually every pitching statistical category. Henderson has made 124 appearances as an Owl, starting 79 games. She ranks eighth in program history with 54 and owns a 2.98 career ERA Her 658 strikeouts in 565.2 innings rank second in KSU history. Henderson’s 194 strikeouts a season ago led the conference and she entered Saturday with 175 strikeouts on the season. Henderson has posted 10 shutouts and eight saves, including leading the A-Sun Conference in saves in both her sophomore and junior seasons. A four-time A-Sun Conference Pitcher of the Week, she earned Atlantic Sun Conference First-Team All-Conference honors following her sophomore season and second-team accolades following her junior campaign.
A resident of Covington, Ga. Henderson is majoring in English.
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