SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Elon catcher Jaimie Rao has been named the SouthernConference softball Player of the Week for April 24 it was announced today.  This marks the third time this season that a member of the team has received a conference honor.  Pam DelPizzo was named pitcher of the week, while Melanie Helterbran collected player of the week honors,

Rao helped Elon to a 5-0 record this week, including a three-game sweep of SoCon rival Appalachian State, by batting .643 (9-for-14) with six RBI.  The junior from Sugar Hill, Ga., collected a pair of hits in both games of the non-conference doubleheader victory over North Carolina A&T on Tuesday. In Sunday’s series finale versus ASU, Rao was 3-for-4 with four RBI, a triple and a run scored, and she currently holds a six-game hitting streak.

Elon returns to East Field tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. for the first game of a double-header against non-conference for Radford.

2008 Softball Players of the Week

Feb. 18           Katie Boyd, Appalachian State

Feb. 25           Katie Blevins, Chattanooga

March 3           Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston

March 10         Robyne Siliga, Georgia Southern

March 17         Meredith Mielke, Furman

March 24         Melanie Helterbran, Elon

March 31         Katie Nutaitis, College of Charleston

April 7              Robyne Siliga, Georgia Southern

April 14            Katie Boyd, Appalachian State

April 21            Jaimie Rao, Elon