CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State senior Erica McNew (Canton, Ohio) has been named the 2016 Horizon League Softball Player of the Year, while senior Katelind Phillips (Farmland, Ind.) joined McNew on the All-Horizon League first team that was announced on Tuesday afternoon.

In addition, Riley Ries (Barberton, Ohio) was voted to the Horizon League All-Freshman team.

McNew becomes the second straight CSU player to earn League Player of the Year honors after Cynthia Woodard won the honor last year. She is the fifth player in school history to win League Player of the Year honors, joining Tenille Whiteside (1997), Tess Sito (2010 & 2011), Dara Toman (2013) and Woodard (2015).

McNew had one of the most dominant offensive seasons in Horizon League history, winning the Triple Crown with a .492 batting average, 14 home runs and 48 RBI. She was also tops in the League in slugging percentage (.903), on-base percentage (.659), walks (61) and intentional walks (23), which is tied for the sixth most in a season in NCAA history. McNew added 36 runs, and nine doubles this year.

McNew ranks second in the nation in batting average and on-base percentage and is sixth in slugging percentage, according to the latest NCAA statistics.

A four-time member of the All-Horizon League first team, McNew is also the first player in school history to earn all-league honors in all four years. She ranks first in school history with a .410 batting average and is second in runs (139), hits (216), home runs (50) and RBI (147). Earlier this year, she reached base safely in 14 straight plate appearances, the second longest streak in NCAA history.

Phillips is earning her first-ever selection to an all-league team after ranking fourth in the League with a .385 average and fifth with 12 doubles. Her 62 hits rank third in the League and she added 38 runs, three home runs and 19 RBI as CSU's leadoff hitter. One of the most versatile players in the League, Phillips made 19 starts at shortstop this year, 17 in the outfield, eight at third base and five at second base.

Phillips ranks fifth in CSU history with a .343 average, seventh with 182 hits and ninth with 30 doubles.

Ries had a strong freshman campaign and was rewarded with a spot on the League's All-Freshman team. She hit .296 with 16 runs, eight doubles, three home runs and 30 RBI. Two of her homers were grand slams.

The Vikings return to action on Wednesday (May 11) when CSU begins play in the Horizon League Championship in Chicago, Ill. The fifth-seeded Vikings play fourth-seeded Green Bay at 1:00 pm ET in a first round game at Flames Field.

UIC is the top seed and will host the tournament, while Wright State is the No. 2 seed. Third-seeded Youngstown State will play sixth-seeded Valparaiso in Wednesday's other first round game.

2016 HORIZON LEAGUE POSTSEASON AWARDS

First Team All-League
Erica McNew, Cleveland State (Sr., C/1B)
Katelind Phillips, Cleveland State (Sr., UTL)
Sarah Hartley, Oakland (Sr., SS)
Laura Swan, UIC (Sr., 1B)
Elaine Heflin, UIC (Jr., P)
Lexi Watts, UIC (Fr., CF)
LaRi Mitchell, UIC (Sr., LF)
Becka Peterson, Wright State (RS Jr., SS)
Honna Susor, Wright State (So., OF)
Ashley Sharp, Wright State (So., P)
Miranda Castiglione, Youngstown State (Sr., 3B)
Cali Mikovich, Youngstown State (So., OF)

Second Team All-League
Jordan Manno, Detroit (Fr., 2B/SS)
Christa McGahuey, Detroit (Sr., DP/P)
Acacia Tupa, Green Bay (Fr., OF)
Zahrya McFarland, Northern Kentucky (Fr., OF)
Haley Zemmer, Oakland (So., P)
Brittney Miller, Oakland (Fr., 3B)
Skylee James, UIC (Fr., SS)
Tiana Mack-Miller, UIC (So., 3B)
Taylor Weissenhofer, Valparaiso (Sr., P)
Carly Trepanier, Valparaiso (Fr., 2B)
Vivi Marquez, Wright State (Jr., UT/DP)
Sarah Down, Youngstown State (Jr., OF)

All-Freshman Team
Riley Ries, Cleveland State (C)
Jordan Manno, Detroit (2B/SS)
Acacia Tupa, Green Bay (OF)
Zahrya McFarland, Northern Kentucky (OF)
Brittney Miller, Oakland (3B)
Lexi Watts, UIC (CF)
Skylee James, UIC (SS)
Carly Trepanier, Valparaiso (2B)
Paige Geanangel, Youngstown State (P)

Player of the Year: Erica McNew, Cleveland State
Pitcher of the Year: Elaine Heflin, UIC
Freshman of the Year: Lexi Watts, UIC
Coach of the Year: Michelle Venturella, UIC