RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Following the conclusion of the first weekend of the NCAA DII Softball season, the Great American Conference announced its top performers from the past week and Southern Arkansas senior shortstop Monica Islava has been named the league's Player of the Week as announced by the conference office on Tuesday morning.

Islava was among several Lady Muleriders that had successful opening weekends at the plate. The senior's slash of .545/1.091/.615 led a Lady Mulerider offense that banged out 34 hits and scored 29 runs in four games at the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational. A native of Nogales, Arizona, Islava led the team in home runs (2) and total bases (12) and she tied for the team lead in hits (6), runs scored (4) and RBI (5). Islava recorded a hit in every game this weekend and registered two games with multiple hits and multiple RBI, including two home runs and three RBI in a come-from-behind win over Rogers State.

The league honor is the first for Islava in her two years as a Lady Mulerider.

Southern Arkansas (4-0) hits the road again this weekend for a four-game slate at the North Texas Bash on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4. Game times and opponents are available here.