Lucey Named Co-Coach of the Year as Seven Vikings Earn All-Mountain Valley Conference Honors

CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, May 14, 2026

The Vikings softball program earned major recognition from the Mountain Valley Conference following a standout 2026 season, highlighted by Head Coach Katy Lucey being named Co-Coach of the Year and seven student-athletes receiving All-Conference honors.

Under Lucey's leadership in her first season, Hudson Valley emerged as one of the top teams in the region, earning the No. 2 seed in the Region 3 Tournament and putting together an impressive campaign built on offensive production, defensive versatility, and strong pitching performances.

Sophomores Samantha Graham and Katie Pryor, along with freshman Gracelyn Kilburn, were selected to the All-Mountain Valley Conference First Team.

Graham anchored the Vikings lineup with a dominant all-around season, batting .364 with 40 hits, 34 RBI, 10 doubles, three triples, and six home runs while posting a .673 slugging percentage. Behind the plate, she recorded a .965 fielding percentage with 180 putouts.

Kilburn delivered one of the top offensive seasons on the roster, hitting .398 with 41 hits, 38 RBI, 10 doubles, and five home runs while adding a .468 on-base percentage and .660 slugging percentage.

Pryor made an immediate impact despite appearing in 21 games after facing an injury, batting .394 with 24 RBI, 11 doubles, and two home runs while leading the team with a .662 slugging percentage.

Hudson Valley also placed four players on the All-Conference Second Team with Alexandria Castiglione, Keeley Kristel, Ella Sawitzki, and Katie Stevens earning recognition.

Kristel excelled both in the circle and at the plate during her freshman campaign. Offensively, she hit .310 with 19 RBI and three home runs while posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage defensively. In the circle, Kristel recorded 123 strikeouts across 121 innings and finished with nine wins.

Sawitzki contributed in multiple roles throughout the season, batting .320 while adding 11 wins in the circle over 93 innings pitched.

Stevens finished her freshman season batting .349 with 38 hits and a .423 on-base percentage while providing versatility defensively across the field.

Castiglione added consistent production offensively and defensively, totaling 22 hits, 18 RBI, and seven double plays during her sophomore campaign.

The postseason honors cap off a memorable year for the Vikings as the program continues building momentum under Lucey's leadership.