River Hawks Announce Five Newcomers to 2024 Squad

LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Softball Head Coach Jen Starek has announced the addition of five newcomers, as her team prepares for the 2024 season.

Starek has added more depth and youth to the roster, with five incoming rookies, who hail from five different states across the country.

"We are really excited about this freshmen class. They are a very athletic and versatile group that will help get us towards our goal of an America East Championship," said Starek.

RIVER HAWKS PLAYER PROFILES

Name: Olivia DeCitise
Hometown/High School: Troy, N.Y./Troy
Class: Freshman
Position: Pitcher/First Baseman
Height: 5-8
Major: Mechanical Engineering

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Troy High School … named the 2023 Times Union Large School Softball Player of the Year 2023 and Suburban Council Player of the Year … 2023 Section 2 Suburban Council MVP … 2022 Times Union Athlete of the Year … 2022 NYS Sportswriter and Coaches All State Team Award … 2022 Suburban Council Pitcher of the Year … ranks 10^thin the NYS record book for most strikeouts in a game … totaled 758 career strikeouts … logged 10 home runs as a senior … helped lead her team to the Suburban Council Class A Sectional Championship and Section 2 Regional Championship as a junior … also a member of the bowling team.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Stephanie and Chuck … hobbies include going to Lake George and spending time with close friends … favorite TV show is Shameless … fan of the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Eagles … lists Kelly Maxwell and Derek Jeter as her favorite sports figures … greatest memory was winning Player of the Year in 2023 … chose UMass Lowell for the great people and "being able to be myself around my teammates and my coaches."

Name: Alexandria Kovacevich
Hometown/High School: Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln
Class: Freshman
Position: Second Base/Shortstop
Height: 5-3
Major: Business Administration

HIGH SCHOOL: Played softball for Gahanna Lincoln High School … served as team captain senior year … named All-OCC Ohio Scholar Athlete … batted .400 with a .675 slugging percentage for the Columbus Hawks in 2023 … ranked 26^th in the country by Extra Innings Softball as a sophomore … featured in the Baseball America July 2019 issue … Valedictorian and National Honor Society member.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Patricia and Mark … has a younger sister (Abigail) … hobbies include drawing and working with fashion … lists The Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl as her favorite TV shows … fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Columbus Blue Jackets … lists Jennie Finch, Bubba Nickles and Sis Bates as her favorite sports figures … greatest memory was playing in the championship game of the 12u All-American games in Oklahoma City … chose UMass Lowell for the beautiful campus and the people that she gets to surround herself with.

Name: Elizabeth Neeld
Hometown/High School: Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland
Class: Freshman
Position: Shortstop/Third Base
Height: 5-7
Major: Biology

HIGH SCHOOL: Played softball at Lower Moreland High School … two-time All-State and three-time All-Conference First Team selection … two-time team captain and three-time team MVP … batted .603 in her final season, setting school records for hits, runs, RBI and strikeouts as a pitcher … also played field hockey and basketball and was recognized as a multi-year All-Conference recipient for both sports … National Honor Society member.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Jacquelyn and Edward … has a brother (John) … hobbies include going to the beach, reading and going to concerts with friends … lists Grey's Anatomy and Game of Thrones among her favorite TV shows … fan of the Eagles, Phillies and USWNT … lists Bryce Harper, Julie Ertz and Jason Kelce as her favorite sports figures … greatest memory was being the first Lower Moreland softball player to make All-State … chose UMass Lowell because she wanted to play at a high level, while receiving a good education.

Name: Isabel Quintanilla
Hometown/High School: Puyallup, Wash./Emerald Ridge High School
Class: Freshman
Position: Outfield/Second Base
Height: 5-0
Major: Education

HIGH SCHOOL: Played softball at Emerald Ridge High School … two-time All-League First Team and All-Area Second Team selection … All-League MVP with a .474 batting average on 37 hits and 28 RBI as a senior … named 2021 Tacoma Softball Athlete of the Year after batting a career-best .571 with a 1.048 slugging percentage … also played basketball … received the Grit Award and was a National Honor Society member.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Letau and Robert… has an older brother (Ruben) … goes by her nicknames Izzy or IQ… hobbies include reading, going on long walks, and going on bike rides … lists Criminal Minds and Modern Family as her favorite TV shows … fan of the Golden State Warriors … lists Isiah Thomas as her favorite sports player … chose UMass Lowell because of the amazing environment surrounding the school.

Name: Alaina Santoli
Hometown/High School: Lovettsville, Va./Woodgrove
Class: Freshman
Position: Outfield
Height: 5-2
Major: Applied Biomedical Sciences

HIGH SCHOOL: Played softball for Woodgrove High School … helped lead her team to the VHSL Class 5A State Championship as a senior … named an All-District, All-Region and All-State First Team selection in her last season … received All-District Second Team accolades as a junior … National Honors Society and German National Honor Society member.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Alexandra and Nicolas … has seven siblings … enjoys reading, traveling and listening to country music … favorite TV shows are Gilmore Girls and Friends … favorite sports team is the New York Rangers … lists Artemi Panarin, Sis Bates and Haley Cruse as her favorite sports figures … chose UMass Lowell because it had the exact major she was looking for, as well as loving the coaches and environment of both the school and the softball team.

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