May 17, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Senior McKenna Hughes was named to the 2007 SEC All-Tournament Team, highlighting several end-of-season honors for three Gamecock softball players. Kate Pouliot was named to the SEC Community Service Team while Ashton Payne and Hughes earned CoSIDA All-District III Academic honors.

Hughes landed a spot on the SEC All-Tournament team held in Auburn, Ala. May 10-12 as she went 2-for-4 against All-SEC pitcher Dani Hofer, including a home run, the 32nd roundtripper of her career. The home run also marked the tenth of the season for Hughes, and tied her for South Carolina’s all-time single season home run leader. This is a first time honor for Hughes and it is the first Gamecock player since Jodi Fittro earned conference all-tournament team honors in 2003. Hughes is the 19th player overall to be named to the team.

Pouliot earned SEC Community Service Team honors for her active role in the Columbia community. Pouliot participated in several Harvest Hope food drives, helped the homeless in Finlay Park, worked with Midtown Church Home Works and Home Repair, and the Lake Murray Elementary After-School program. She also worked the Leaphart Elementary Walk to promote physical exercise among students, the Midtown Fellowship Serve the City Home Repair, and volunteered at Heathwood Elementary’s “Be Active Day” to promote healthy living to students.

For the fifth consecutive season, South Carolina has landed a selection to the CoSIDA Academic All-District III team. Hughes was named first team and Payne was named second team. Both are on the Dean’s List, while Hughes’s major is accounting and Payne’s is biology. Overall, this marks the tenth and 11th selection for the Gamecocks. Hughes will now be represented on the national ballot for Academic All-America.