WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Loyola Chicago head softball coach Alicia Abbott was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and freshman pitcher Anna Kiel earned Rookie of the Year, per the league's announcement on Thursday morning.
Four more Ramblers tabbed All-Conference honors: junior infielder Nat Lesnicki earned First Team and All-Academic, redshirt sophomore Liz Sedakis was named to the Second Team alongside Kiel and freshmen duo Katie Geydoshek and Megan Piotrowski joined their freshman counterpart on the All-Rookie Team.
Abbott became the third coach in Ramblers softball history to earn Coach of the Year after Stepahanie Henderson and Terri Laux claimed the honor in the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) in 2001 and 1993, respectively. An Illinois native, Abbott led Loyola to its fourth straight A-10 Tournament appearance and third 20+ win season in her 7-season tenure, finishing 26-22 overall and matching a program-best 18 conference wins. The success in 2026, and specifically the domination in league play, culminated in the No. 1 seed at the A-10 Tournament after clinching the regular season championship – marking the program's eighth overall and fifth outright.
Hailing from South Elgin, Ill., Kiel is the fourth-ever Rambler named Rookie of the Year, joining Jessica Shields (2019, Missouri Valley Conference), Brittany Gardner (2011, Horizon League) and Ellen Antonacci (1995, MCC), who all earned Newcomer of the Year in their respective conferences. The left-handed pitcher and two-time A-10 Pitcher/Rookie of the Week went 10-6 in her debut season and has the bullpen-best 2.80 ERA – good for sixth in the league – 54 strikeouts, four complete games, two shutouts and two saves through 102.2 innings pitched. She recorded a career-high six K's at George Mason (April 25). As the designated hitter, Kiel made 24 starts in 35 appearances at the plate, batting .277 with 18 hits, 16 RBI, nine doubles and only struck out nine times.
Lesnicki collected Loyola's first All-A-10 First Team and All-Academic honors since 2024. The two-time A-10 Player of the Week is the team leader in batting average (.377), hits (55) and doubles (11), and second in RBI (29). She's tied for first in walks drawn (15) and double plays (8). One of three Ramblers to start all 48 games, Lesnicki only struck out 16 times in 2026 and went 5-for-5 in stolen bases, was 4-for-4 against Saint Louis (March 22) and had three more perfect at-bats. At first base, she had nine total errors and a .972 fielding percentage while leading Loyola in putouts (297).
Freshmen tandem Geydoshek and Piotrowski joined Kiel on the All-Rookie Team. Out of Green Bay, Wis., Geydoshek went 6-6 inside the circle with a 4.35 ERA and 53 strikeouts through 82.0 innings pitched. The one-time A-10 Rookie of the Week recorded a career-high 13 K's in the series sweep at Dayton (March 8). Piotrowski, from Tinley Park, Ill., led the team in runs all season with 29 and in triples (2); the freshman batted .289 and went 12-for-14 in stolen bases while only striking out 11 times. Making 44 starts in 45 appearances, Piotrowski had 72 putouts, including a career-high five at Rhode Island (March 11).
The Ramblers rematch the Fordham Rams in the A-10 Tournament quarterfinals today, Thursday, May 7 at 12 p.m.
