Jennifer Meade, Melody Blimline, and Laura Kot (left to right above) have led the Lady Cougars to a 76-70 record over the past four years (.521 winning percentage). During that span, the team has won one National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Tournament (2004) and qualified for the AMC playoffs once (2004). MVNU also took part in the 2004 NCCAA National Tournament and finished fifth out of 10 teams.

Meade, an outfielder from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, has seen action in 89 games during her four-year career. The former Reynoldsburg High School product has posted a .207 career batting average with nine doubles, one triple, 19 RBI, and 20 runs scored. This season, Meade is batting .188 in 17 games. She has also posted a 3.33 grade point average in the classroom.

"Jennifer has shown resiliency, stick-to-itiveness, and a desire to compete,” said MVNU head coach Jeana Howald. "She has played in the outfield all four years. She understands the meaning of team-above-self and will do whatever is asked of her on the field and in the dugout to make us a better team.”

Blimline, a first baseman from Bellbrook, Ohio, has played in 119 games and posted a .200 career batting average. The former Bellbrook High School standout has also registered nine doubles, one triple, two home runs, 24 RBI, and 29 runs scored, and she ranks third in school history with 662 putouts. This season, Blimline is batting .283 and is tied for the team lead with two home runs. In the classroom, she has compiled a 3.72 grade point average and will be a two-time NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete.

"When Mel came in as a freshman, she was a third baseman,” said Howald. "However, for the past three years, she has anchored our infield as a solid defensive first baseman. She has provided balanced leadership on and off the field. She is a competitor and has improved her skills both offensively and defensively and she is having her best season as a senior.”

Kot, a second baseman from Tallmadge, Ohio, has led the MVNU offensive attack the past four years from her lead-off spot. The former Tallmadge High School star has started 137 games and posted a .433 career batting average that ranks second in school history. Kot is also tied for first in career singles (183), tied for second in stolen bases (40), ranks third in hits (207), and is fifth in runs scored (111). This season, she leads the team with a .492 batting average and 16 stolen bases.

Among Kot’s many honors, she was recently selected as the NCCAA East Region Player of the Year and she has already been a two-time NCCAA All-American. She was named the AMC South Division Freshman of the Year in 2004 and was a member of the CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team in 2006. Kot has posted a perfect 4.00 grade point average in the classroom and will be a two-time NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete. She also received the NAIA’s A.O. Duer Award in 2006, which is given annually to the top male and female student-athlete in the country.

"Laura is an intense competitor who gives 100 percent all the time,” said Howald. "When her career at MVNU is complete, she will have left her mark in the softball record book. However, she also truly lives out our school motto "to seek to learn is to seek to serve”. Her leadership is not so much in words but through her actions.”

"All three of these young ladies have been people of strong character and have led our team in the right way,” Howald concluded. "They will be missed not only for their athletic achievements but also for how they have touched their teammates’ lives.”

Following Tuesday’s doubleheader with Shawnee State, the Lady Cougars will close out the regular season with a non-conference doubleheader at home against Taylor (Ind.) University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and a non-conference doubleheader at Ursuline College on Monday at 4:00 p.m.