Alicia Abbott named assistant softball coach

NEWBERRY - Newberry College head softball coach Ciria Triplett has announced the hiring of Alicia Abbott as the Wolves' assistant coach.

Abbott comes to Newberry after serving as a volunteer assistant at North Carolina State for the 2012 season following her graduation in December 2011.

"Alicia will be a great addition to our team as assistant coach," Triplett said. "She was a strong college player who already has some great coaching experience. I look forward to her work with our hitters as we aim for a great season in 2013."

“I am tremendously excited for the opportunity to work with both coach Triplett and the Wolves," Abbott said. "Newberry is a great collegiate environment with a ton of support from the community as well as the alumni. The chance to make this program a leader and team to beat in the SAC, is something I am truly looking forward to.”

Abbott was a four-year Division I letterwinner, playing two years at Illinois-Chicago and two years at North Carolina State. In her freshman season of 2008, Abbott was named the Horizon League's Newcomer of the Year, hitting .307 and starting in all 57 games of the season.

In her collegiate career, she tallied 121 hits and a .283 average with 20 doubles and eight homeruns, including a career-high four homers in her senior season. She was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll as a junior and senior.

Abbott is a native of New Lenox, Ill., and was all-state as a senior at Lincoln-Way Central High School, hitting .516 that year.