Carson-Newman's Fiessinger Named 2020 South Atlantic Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Carson-Newman's Abby Fiessinger was voted the 2020 South Atlantic Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced today.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service, and leadership.

Fiessinger, a senior from Benton, Ky., holds a 3.85 GPA as a mathematics major. She is a four-time Carson-Newman Eagle Scholar and a four-time SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll selection. She was a 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-American and has been named to the Carson-Newman Dean's List every semester of her enrollment.

"This is a tremendous honor for a very deserving young lady," said Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves. "Abby is just as dedicated in the classroom as she is on the field. You couldn't ask for a better role model for someone to look up to. She comes from a very supportive family who deserves a lot of credit for raising their child the right way." 

A three-time SAC All-Conference selection, Fiessinger was a 2019 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American, and was named the D2CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year. In the shortened 2020 season, Fiessinger batted .414 with two home runs, 25 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. She closed out her career as an Eagle ranked in the top-five in several Carson-Newman statistical categories including, being second in total bases with 381, second in intentional walks with four, fourth in home runs with 29, fourth in sacrifice flies with five, fifth in on-base percentage at .473, fifth in hits with 225, and fifth in hit by pitch having been hit 28 times.  

Fiessigner is also an active member of the community. She works with the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church to send care packages to people in need and troops overseas, while also taking time once a month to read to the children at the Jefferson City Elementary School. She is also a member of the Kappa Mu Epsilon, has worked at the annual Carson-Newman youth softball camp, and has worked with Bags of Love, making goodie bags for service members overseas.

SAC Softball Scholar-Athlete Finalists

Alex Alverson, Coker
Anna Alloway, Tusculum
Courtney Pearson, Queens
Mary Claire Coyne, Wingate
Sierra Hucklebee, Lincoln Memorial
Talon LaClair, Lenoir-Rhyne

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