Four Huskers Honored by the Big Ten

May 8, 2024 / NU Athletics

Photo Credit: NU Athletic Communications

Four Nebraska softball players were recognized by the Big Ten on Wednesday when the conference announced its all-conference teams and award winners. Billie Andrews was named to the All-Big Ten first team, Sydney Gray earned second-team All-Big Ten accolades and Samantha Bland was named to the All-Freshman team while Mckinley Malecha was a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner.

Andrews was selected as an All-Big Ten performer for the fourth straight season. She is just the eighth Husker to be a four-time all-conference selection and joins MJ Knighten as the only players in program history to be a four-time All-Big Ten honoree. Andrews was named to the All-Big Ten first team for the second straight season and for the third time in her career. Andrews joins Tristen Edwards as the only Huskers to earn three first-team All-Big Ten awards, while Andrews is the 10th player overall in program history to be a three-time first-team all-conference selection.

Andrews was recognized after batting .363 during the regular season with 61 hits, 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 51 runs, 39 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 47 games. She led Nebraska in eight offensive categories and ranked third in the Big Ten in runs and home runs, fifth in slugging and OPS, sixth in stolen bases and seventh in hits.

Gray was selected to an All-Big Ten team for the first time in her career. She hit .288 during the regular season with 11 doubles, 12 home runs and a team-high 40 RBIs. During the conference season, Gray batted .351 with six doubles, five home runs and 21 RBIs in 21 games. She led the Huskers in hits, extra-base hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs in Big Ten Play. Gray was also chosen as a three-time Big Ten Player of the Week in 2024, tying the conference record for most player-of-the-week awards in a single season.

Bland was recognized as one of the top freshmen in the conference with her appointment to the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Bland hit .290 in the regular season with 47 hits, 14 doubles, six homers and 36 RBIs in 50 games. She is tied for the team lead in doubles and ranks second in RBIs. Bland not only produced at the plate, but she was a versatile player for the Big Red, starting games in left field, center field, second base and shortstop.

Rounding out the Husker honorees was Malecha, a team captain who was Nebraska's recipient of a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Malecha has played in 28 games this season with four starts and has scored a career-high 12 runs while producing four RBIs in only 12 at bats. Off the field, Malecha was named to the 2024 Tom Osborne Citizenship Team for her community outreach.

Nebraska Big Ten Honors

Billie Andrews, First-Team All-Big Ten
Sydney Gray, Second-Team All-Big Ten
Samantha Bland, Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Mckinely Malecha, Big Ten Sportsmanship Award