AKRON, Ohio - Kent State senior left fielder Holly Finchum was presented with the Nan Harvey Award, while Alex Marcantonio was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team Wednesday at Firestone Stadium.

The Nan Harvey Award is given to a conference player who demonstrates commitment, love and passion for the game, toughness under pressure, commitment to her university and leadership skills on and off the field.  She must give back to the community, be a great student in the classroom and be a positive influence on everyone around her.  Much like Nan Harvey herself, the player must be tenacious with a never-give-up attitude.

Finchum displayed that never-give-up attitude at the beginning of the season after suffering a cranial fracture in a car accident in January.  She was forced to sit out the first 10 games of the season, but continued to provide leadership for her teammates.  After missing a month of practice time, Finchum worked her way into the starting lineup and hit .300 in conference play.

“Holly really fought her way back this year,” Head Coach Karen Linder said.  “And she has stayed positive throughout her career no matter what the situation was.”

 
A psychology major, Finchum is a two-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete and recently graduated cum laude.  She was named Student Leader of the Year at Kent State’s 2011 Spring Leadership Awards Ceremony hosted by the Center for Student Involvement.  Finchum’s off-the-field responsibilities included serving as vice president on Kent State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and president of KSU’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter.

Marcantonio was among the top freshmen in the conference offensively, hitting .378 in MAC play with a .525 on-base percentage.  Heading into the MAC Tournament, she had nine doubles, two home runs and 35 runs scored.

Marcantonio leads the Flashes with 14 multi-hit games.  She has been a regular in the starting lineup since the opening week of the season and has made starts at shortstop, left field and designated player.

Thirty players were named to the All-MAC First and Second Teams Wednesday as selected by conference coaches.  For the first time since 1994, there was not a single Kent State player on the all-conference team despite the fact that the Golden Flashes’ offense is having its best season since in 21 years.  

Ten players were selected to the all-freshman team, which included just one KSU player.  Abbey Ledford, who hit .352 with six home runs and 24 runs batted in, did not make the rookie squad.  Beth Cinadr, who hit .396 with with seven doubles and four homers in 19 conference games, was among those left off the All-MAC team.