LOUISVILLE, Ky. (5/27/26) – Franklin Pierce University softball standouts Alicia Ott (Stockton, Calif.) and Camryn Van Valkenburgh (San Dimas, Calif.) were named to the 2026 NFCA Division II All-America Third Team, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Wednesday afternoon.
Ott was selected as the Third Team shortstop, while Van Valkenburgh earned Third Team honors in the outfield. The pair were two of just 55 student-athletes across Division II selected to the NFCA All-America teams this season.
Ott put together a historic freshman campaign for the Ravens, starting all 53 games while hitting .420 with 68 hits, 21 doubles, five home runs and 59 RBI. Her 21 doubles. 68 hits and 59 RBI established new single-season program records.
The Stockton, California native collected 20 multi-hit games on the season, including a three-hit, five-RBI performance against Gannon on March 8 and another three-hit, four-RBI outing against Assumption in the NE10 Tournament on May 7. Ott was named to the NE10 All-Conference First Team, All-Rookie Team and All-Championship Team, while also earning NFCA All-East Region First Team and D2CCA All-East Region First Team recognition.
Van Valkenburgh capped off a dominant freshman season after being named the NE10 Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The outfielder became one of the top all-around players in the region, batting .429 with 57 hits, 40 RBI, 43 runs scored and 24 stolen bases while earning NFCA Division II Player of the Year Watchlist recognition and finishing as an NFCA Division II Freshman of the Year finalist.
The freshman was also named to the NE10 All-Conference First Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Rookie Team. Van Valkenburgh additionally earned NFCA All-East Region First Team and D2CCA All-East Region First Team accolades following her standout campaign.
The All-America honors conclude a record-setting 2026 season for Franklin Pierce softball. The Ravens earned the first national ranking in program history, captured the NE10 Regular Season Championship and hosted the NCAA Division II East Regional at Melissa Bisaccia Field.
The NFCA All-America teams are voted on by the Association's All-America Committees. In Division II, the committee is comprised of one member head coach from each of the NCAA's eight regions. All student-athletes who were nominated by a member head coach and voted to the first- or second-team All-Region squads were eligible for All-America consideration.
