ST. LOUIS – Missouri State softball’s Olivia Krehbiel (3B) and McKenzie Vaughan (P/UTL) have been named to the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference team, the league announced today (Feb. 6).
As a team, the Bears were picked to finish third in the MVC in this year’s annual survey of the league’s head coaches.
Krehbiel is a three-time All-MVC selection, earning first-team honors in 2021 and second-team honors in both 2022 and 2023. Last season, Krehbiel batted .315 and led the Bears in runs (31), hits (45), RBI (34), walks (26) and doubles (12) en route to earning third-team NFCA all-region recognition. Entering her fifth season at Missouri State, the third baseman continues her climb up the MSU record books. With 23 career home runs, she sits in second just five homers shy of breaking MSU’s career record (27) set by Jessie Smith from 2006-09. Krehbiel also ranks inside the top five in program history in RBI (103), doubles (36) and walks (78).
Vaughan, a dual-threat for the Bears, is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign that saw her earn first-team all-MVC and third-team NFCA all-region honors. She led the way for MSU offensively last season in average (.318), home runs (14), slugging percentage (.748) and on-base percentage (.452). Against MVC opponents, her numbers rose to a .397 average, .926 slugging percentage and .523 on-base percentage.
Her 14 homers a season ago broke Missouri State’s single-season record and she is already tied for seventh on MSU’s career home run list with 19 in two seasons. Vaughan also set MSU’s single-season record for slugging percentage last season, previously set by Alex Boze in 2022 (.684). In the circle, Vaughan also earned five wins, collected two saves and struck out 68 batters in 2023.
Missouri State was picked third in this year’s preseason poll, behind preseason favorite Northern Iowa and last year’s NCAA Tournament representative Southern Illinois. The Bears slot in ahead of Illinois State, Indiana State, Belmont, Murray State, Drake, Evansville, Bradley, UIC and Valparaiso to round out the rest of the poll.
Head coach Holly Hesse enters her 36th and final season at the helm of the Bears softball program. Missouri State went 31-20 last season and finished second in the MVC regular season standings with a 21-6 conference record.
MSU returns 14 players from last year’s squad, including its entire pitching staff. The Bears welcome six newcomers, consisting of a five-member freshman class and one transfer.
The Bears head to the NFCA Leadoff Classic (Feb. 8-10) in Clearwater, Fla. this week to begin the 2024 season. Missouri State kicks it off with an opening night matchup against No. 5 Clemson on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. CT. The Bears will face off with Western Kentucky and Army on Friday, Feb. 9, then NC State and No. 13 Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 10 to close the first weekend of play.
