Three Bulldogs Named To USA Softball Collegiate Player Of The Year Watchlist
January 27, 2021 | Softball
Mississippi State is one of seven schools, and just two SEC programs, with three or more players on the list.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's Mia Davidson, Fa Leilua and Emily Williams are among the 50 student-athletes named to USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist.
MSU's three selections trail only No. 1/1 UCLA (6), No. 2/2 Washington (4) and No. 8/8 Alabama (4). The Bulldogs are one of seven schools, and just two SEC programs, with three or more players on the list.
Davidson and Leilua were also named to the 2020 edition of the watchlist before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is Williams' first recognition.
USA Softball is the national governing body of softball in the United States and is in its 19th season of honoring a Collegiate Player of the Year. The Top 25 Finalists for the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 21. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists.
That list will be trimmed to the Top 10 Finalists, announced on May 5 and the Top Three announced on May 19. The 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed June 1.
No Bulldog has won the award, but State has seen three student-athletes named finalists. Most recently, Davidson was among the Top 10 Finalists in 2019. Chelsea Bramlett was finished in the Top 25 in 2008 and 2009 before reaching the Top 10 stage in 2010. Iyhia McMichael was a Top 10 selection in 2003 and became the only Bulldog to reach the Top Three in 2004.
In 2020, Davidson started every game, making 21 appearances behind the plate. The Hillsborough, North Carolina, native was tied for fifth in the SEC with a pair of triples and tied for third with five runners caught stealing. She enters the 2021 campaign needing just 16 home runs to surpass MSU legend Rafael Palmeiro (67) for the most by any Mississippi State student-athlete in baseball or softball.
In her last full season, the Hawthorne, California, native hit 26 home runs, which was tied for seventh in SEC single-season history and trailed only Davidson in MSU's single-season record books. She is currently second in MSU career history with a .768 slugging percentage.
The Carrollton, Georgia, native enters 2021 as MSU's all-time career leader in opponents' batting average (.190) and is among the top five in strikeouts per seven innings (7.58, 2nd), saves (10, 3rd) and hits allowed (186, 4th). For her career, she is 25-11 in 73 appearances with 292 strikeouts over 269.2 innings pitched.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Jocelyn Alo – Oklahoma – Utility – Sr.
Aliyah Andrews – LSU – Outfield – Sr.
Sis Bates – Washington – Infield – Gr.
Amber Bishop-Riley – Liberty – Infield – Sr.
Jenna Cone – George Washington – Infield – Gr.
Georgina Corrick – USF – Pitcher – Jr.
Haley Cruse – Oregon – Outfield – Sr.
Mia Davidson – Mississippi State – Catcher/Infield – Sr.
Kalita Dennis – Howard – Infield – Jr.
Carrie Eberle – Oklahoma State – Pitcher – Gr.
Charla Echols – Florida – Infield – Jr.
Tristen Edwards – Nebraska – Outfield – Sr.
Summer Ellyson – Louisiana – Pitcher – Sr.
Megan Faraimo – UCLA – Pitcher – RS So.
Morganne Flores – Washington – Catcher – Gr.
Tatyana Forbes – NC State – Outfield – RS Sr.
Montana Fouts – Alabama – Pitcher – Jr.
Rachel Garcia – UCLA – Pitcher/Infield – RS Sr.
Kelli Godin – UCLA – Outfield – RS So.
Kate Gordon – James Madison – Outfield – RS Sr.
Kindra Hackbarth – Arizona State – Outfield – 5th
Jessie Harper – Arizona – Infield – RS Sr.
Bailey Hemphill – Alabama – Utility – Gr.
Mary Iakopo – Texas – Catcher/Utility – Jr.
Janae Jefferson – Texas – Infield – Jr.
Aaliyah Jordan – UCLA – Outfield – RS Jr.
Giselle "G" Juarez – Oklahoma – Pitcher – RS Sr.
Lexi Kilfoyl – Alabama – Pitcher – So.
Baylee Klingler – Washington – Infield – Jr.
Fa Leilua – Mississippi State – Infield – Gr.
Kendyl Lindaman – Florida – Infield – 5th
Nicole Mendes – Oklahoma – Utility – RS Sr.
Dejah Mulipola – Arizona – Catcher – RS Sr.
Bubba Nickles – UCLA – Utility – RS Sr.
Shealyn O'Leary – Texas – Pitcher – So.
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza – Arizona – Outfield – 5th
Briana Perez – UCLA – Infield – RS Jr.
Gabbie Plain – Washington – Pitcher – Sr.
Keely Rochard – Virginia Tech – Pitcher – Jr.
Linda Rush – Drexel – Infield – Sr.
Sydney Sherrill – Florida State – Infield – RS Jr.
KB Sides – Alabama – Outfield – Sr.
Makena Smith – Cal – Catcher/Infield – So.
Bailey Vannoy – Charlotte – Catcher – Jr.
Kayla Wedl – UIC – Infield – Gr.
Emily Williams – Mississippi State – Pitcher – Sr.
Danielle Williams – Northwestern – Pitcher/Utility – Jr.
Brooke Yanez – Oregon – Pitcher – Jr.
Samantha Yarbrough – Auburn – Pitcher – Jr.
MSU's three selections trail only No. 1/1 UCLA (6), No. 2/2 Washington (4) and No. 8/8 Alabama (4). The Bulldogs are one of seven schools, and just two SEC programs, with three or more players on the list.
Davidson and Leilua were also named to the 2020 edition of the watchlist before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is Williams' first recognition.
USA Softball is the national governing body of softball in the United States and is in its 19th season of honoring a Collegiate Player of the Year. The Top 25 Finalists for the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 21. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists.
That list will be trimmed to the Top 10 Finalists, announced on May 5 and the Top Three announced on May 19. The 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed June 1.
No Bulldog has won the award, but State has seen three student-athletes named finalists. Most recently, Davidson was among the Top 10 Finalists in 2019. Chelsea Bramlett was finished in the Top 25 in 2008 and 2009 before reaching the Top 10 stage in 2010. Iyhia McMichael was a Top 10 selection in 2003 and became the only Bulldog to reach the Top Three in 2004.
Mia Davidson, Sr., C
Davidson is coming off a down year that saw her hit .330 with a .659 slugging percentage. The 2019 All-American is a lifetime .363 hitter with 52 career home runs. She holds MSU's career records for home runs (52) and slugging percentage (.787). In 2019 she set the MSU and SEC single-season home run record with 26 long balls on her way to a school-record .882 slugging percentage.In 2020, Davidson started every game, making 21 appearances behind the plate. The Hillsborough, North Carolina, native was tied for fifth in the SEC with a pair of triples and tied for third with five runners caught stealing. She enters the 2021 campaign needing just 16 home runs to surpass MSU legend Rafael Palmeiro (67) for the most by any Mississippi State student-athlete in baseball or softball.
Fa Leilua, Gr., INF
Leilua returned for her fifth season of competition and sixth year in college after receiving an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA due to COVID-19. She is one of 12 active players nationally with 50 or more home runs in her career. She led MSU in total bases (66), hits (33) and RBIs (28) in 2020, while posting a .384 batting average.In her last full season, the Hawthorne, California, native hit 26 home runs, which was tied for seventh in SEC single-season history and trailed only Davidson in MSU's single-season record books. She is currently second in MSU career history with a .768 slugging percentage.
Emily Williams, Sr., P
Williams led the NCAA in hits per seven innings (2.30) in 2020 and averaged 11.5 strikeouts per seven innings, which was seven in the nation. She also posted a 0.46 ERA that ranked third nationally and led the SEC with a .099 opponents' batting average. In 16 appearances, she posted a 5-0 record with five saves, and she struck out 75 of the 178 batters she faced.The Carrollton, Georgia, native enters 2021 as MSU's all-time career leader in opponents' batting average (.190) and is among the top five in strikeouts per seven innings (7.58, 2nd), saves (10, 3rd) and hits allowed (186, 4th). For her career, she is 25-11 in 73 appearances with 292 strikeouts over 269.2 innings pitched.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist
Odicci Alexander – James Madison – Pitcher/Infield – RS Sr.Jocelyn Alo – Oklahoma – Utility – Sr.
Aliyah Andrews – LSU – Outfield – Sr.
Sis Bates – Washington – Infield – Gr.
Amber Bishop-Riley – Liberty – Infield – Sr.
Jenna Cone – George Washington – Infield – Gr.
Georgina Corrick – USF – Pitcher – Jr.
Haley Cruse – Oregon – Outfield – Sr.
Mia Davidson – Mississippi State – Catcher/Infield – Sr.
Kalita Dennis – Howard – Infield – Jr.
Carrie Eberle – Oklahoma State – Pitcher – Gr.
Charla Echols – Florida – Infield – Jr.
Tristen Edwards – Nebraska – Outfield – Sr.
Summer Ellyson – Louisiana – Pitcher – Sr.
Megan Faraimo – UCLA – Pitcher – RS So.
Morganne Flores – Washington – Catcher – Gr.
Tatyana Forbes – NC State – Outfield – RS Sr.
Montana Fouts – Alabama – Pitcher – Jr.
Rachel Garcia – UCLA – Pitcher/Infield – RS Sr.
Kelli Godin – UCLA – Outfield – RS So.
Kate Gordon – James Madison – Outfield – RS Sr.
Kindra Hackbarth – Arizona State – Outfield – 5th
Jessie Harper – Arizona – Infield – RS Sr.
Bailey Hemphill – Alabama – Utility – Gr.
Mary Iakopo – Texas – Catcher/Utility – Jr.
Janae Jefferson – Texas – Infield – Jr.
Aaliyah Jordan – UCLA – Outfield – RS Jr.
Giselle "G" Juarez – Oklahoma – Pitcher – RS Sr.
Lexi Kilfoyl – Alabama – Pitcher – So.
Baylee Klingler – Washington – Infield – Jr.
Fa Leilua – Mississippi State – Infield – Gr.
Kendyl Lindaman – Florida – Infield – 5th
Nicole Mendes – Oklahoma – Utility – RS Sr.
Dejah Mulipola – Arizona – Catcher – RS Sr.
Bubba Nickles – UCLA – Utility – RS Sr.
Shealyn O'Leary – Texas – Pitcher – So.
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza – Arizona – Outfield – 5th
Briana Perez – UCLA – Infield – RS Jr.
Gabbie Plain – Washington – Pitcher – Sr.
Keely Rochard – Virginia Tech – Pitcher – Jr.
Linda Rush – Drexel – Infield – Sr.
Sydney Sherrill – Florida State – Infield – RS Jr.
KB Sides – Alabama – Outfield – Sr.
Makena Smith – Cal – Catcher/Infield – So.
Bailey Vannoy – Charlotte – Catcher – Jr.
Kayla Wedl – UIC – Infield – Gr.
Emily Williams – Mississippi State – Pitcher – Sr.
Danielle Williams – Northwestern – Pitcher/Utility – Jr.
Brooke Yanez – Oregon – Pitcher – Jr.
Samantha Yarbrough – Auburn – Pitcher – Jr.
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