Freshman Elaina Maio (West Haven, Conn.) of the Albertus Magnus softball team has been named to the GNAC All-Conference Third Team as announced by the league on Sunday night. Maio led the Falcons with a .348 batting average during the regular season in 38 games played.

Maio is the first Albertus Magnus softball player to receive All-Conference honors since Candice Giordano '03 and Nikki Olszyk '05 earned First and Second Team honors, respectively, after the 2003 season.

Maio recorded a team-best 39 hits, 19 runs scored and 26 RBI during her freshman campaign, while she walked a team-high 15 times and registered a .425 on-base percentage. She was 7-for-9 in stolen base attempts and posted a .975 fielding percentage, while recording 162 putouts and 31 assists.

At the plate, she recorded five doubles, one triple and 46 total bases, while behind the plate she threw out 16 runners trying to steal a base.

Maio registered a season-high 4-for-4 effort at Pine Manor (4/6) as she added three RBI and a run scored. She also recorded nine multiple-hit games on the year and five multiple-RBI games.

Danielle Figueroa (Bridgeport, Conn.) was also recognized by the league by being named to the 2012 GNAC Sportsmanship Team.

Saint Joseph's College (Maine) head coach Jamie Smyth was tagged as Coach of the Year for the conference, while Simmons' Lauren Backhaus earned Rookie of the Year honors. Emerson's Kelsey Tuthill was named Pitcher of the Year after striking out 182 batters in 121 innings, while also posting a 15-2 overall record. As of Sunday afternoon, the recipient of the Player of the Year accolade had not been released by the GNAC.