FORT MYERS, Fla. - The No. 23 FGCU softball team placed five players on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA South All-Region First Team as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Thursday, May 14. Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year Cheyenne Jenks earned first team honors along with seniors Jessica Carter and Jessica Paez, junior Catherine McDaniel, and sophomore Courtney Platt.

"Our girls helped us have a record-setting season, not only for FGCU Softball and the Atlantic Sun Conference, but for Division I as a whole," said head coach Dave Deiros. "Their inclusion with the nation's elite softball players is greatly deserved."

Jenks, a two-sport star from Naples, Fla. and the reigning A-Sun Player of the Year, hit 23 home runs to sit second in NCAA rankings while her .473 average ranks fourth. The senior also knocked in 73 runs to lead the A-Sun and tie her own A-Sun single-season record. Jenks has been a part of three Atlantic Sun Regular Season Champions during FGCU’s two seasons in the A-Sun as she was also a member of the FGCU volleyball squad.

Carter, a senior from Ocala, Fla., had a solid season for the Eagles. She finished the season with a .456 batting average with four homers, 49 RBI and 17 doubles. She finished the season top-5 in the A-Sun in batting average, on-base pct., hits, RBI, and doubles.

Jessica Paez, a senior from Belle Glade, Fla., had a tremendous season in her second as an Eagle. She hit .328 on the season with a .639 slugging percentage. She also hit 14 homers and drove in 2 runs while scoring 58 times. She finished top-3 in the conference in SAC flies, total bases, homeruns, triples, RBI, and runs scored. She is also finished top-10 in the nation in homeruns and RBI.

Platt (Naples, Fla.) had a breakout season on the field for the Eagles. She hit .437 on the season and finished with 10 homers, 50 RBI, a .770 slugging percentage, 11 doubles, 41 runs scored, 37 walks, 104 total bases, 59 hits, and a .563 on-base percentage, which all are top-10 in the conference.

McDaniel had a great season in the circle for the Eagles. She finished the season with a 22-1 record and a 1.85 ERA in 25 appearances. McDaniel also pitched 16 complete games, including six shutouts and one no-hitter. Her 22 wins rank third in the A-Sun and her .957 winning percentage is the best in the nation for pitchers.

The Eagles ranked second with five (maximum number allowed is six) south region first team selections behind Alabama’s six.

A total of 264 players from 121 different institutions comprise the 10 regional teams. A change this year is the announcement of just one team per region (First Team), although the team has the same number of members of the previous year’s first and second teams combined.

The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from the region, and all the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams. In addition, conference pitchers and players of the year not selected to the regional teams were added for All-America consideration.

The NFCA Division I All-American teams will be announced at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 27.