SIX JACKRABBITS RECOGNIZED BY SUMMIT LEAGUE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League announced its award winners and all-conference teams on Tuesday, May 5, for the 2026 softball season. Six South Dakota State student-athletes were recognized for their performance during the conference slate.

SDSU's Bria Riebel was chosen as The Summit League Freshman of the Year. The Jackrabbit infielder started all 17 games and batted .315. Riebel finished among The Summit League's top 10 in slugging percentage (.667), runs scored (14), doubles (4) and home runs (5). She recorded four multi-hit games and four multi-RBI efforts. Playing primarily second base, Riebel also started at shortstop and registered a .969 fielding percentage.

The Pingree Grove, Ill., native is SDSU's third ever Freshman of the Year award recipient and first since 2021. Riebel was also selected as an All-Summit League Second Team honoree.

Four other Jackrabbits were represented on All-Summit League Teams in Abby Gentry (First Team), Akayla Barnard (Second Team), Emma Christensen (Second Team) and Emma Vike (Second Team).

Gentry was a First Team choice a season after earning Summit League Player of the Year accolades. Starting in all 17 conference games, Gentry appeared at both third base and catcher for the Jackrabbits. She led The Summit League in doubles (8) and hits (25). Gentry finished second among players in batting average (.500), as well as fifth in slugging percentage (.760), on-base percentage (.550) and OPS (1.310). She had a hit in every game but one as she logged an 18-game hitting streak during the course of the campaign.

Barnard earned All-Summit League honors a season after claiming First Team accolades. Barnard started in all 17 games across the conference schedule, competing primarily in center field. She was a Second Team choice despite leading the conference in home runs (7), along with finishing third in slugging percentage (.882) and runs scored (20), fourth in OPS (1.340), fifth in RBIs (16) and doubles (5), as well as eighth in hits (19). She also batted .373 which was the third best in the Jackrabbit lineup Barnard produced six multi-hit games and four multi-RBI games. She also pitched in seven games for SDSU as she accumulated a 2-1 record and 2.88 ERA. She threw two complete-game shutouts and logged a save.

Christensen was an All-Summit League performer after being tabbed as an honorable mention in 2025. The senior outfielder was among the team's leaders at the plate as she batted .347 and had a .421 on-base percentage. She recorded 17 hits, scored nine runs and drove in six RBIs. Christensen started all 17 games in left field and registered a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Vike earned back-to-back Summit League All-Second Team honors. A two-year starter in SDSU's infield, Vike batted .264 over the course of 17 conference games. She produced 14 hits to go along with nine runs scored and six RBIs. Vike drew a team-high eight walks while striking out just four times.

Amanda Vacanti was also acknowledged as an honorable mention to the Summit League teams. Vacanti was featured primarily as a designated player in SDSU's lineup during the conference slate. The SDSU sophomore batted .306 and recorded a .612 slugging percentage. She tied for a team-best 16 RBIs, which were tied for fifth among Summit League players, to go along with four home runs. She registered 15 hits and eight runs.

The South Dakota State softball team continues its 2026 season on Wednesday. The Jackrabbits take part in the 2026 Summit League Championship beginning with a 4 p.m. meeting against North Dakota State. The tournament takes place at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

-GoJacks.com-

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Akayla Barnard

Emma Christensen

Abby Gentry

Bria Riebel

Amanda Vacanti

Emma Vike

Upcoming Event: Softball versus #3 North Dakota State on May 6, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Completed Event: Softball at North Dakota State on May 2, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 15 , 5 Inn.

Completed Event: Softball at North Dakota State on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 4, to, 13 , 5 Inn.

Completed Event: Softball at North Dakota State on April 30, 2026 , Loss , 12, to, 13 , 8 Inn.

Cancelled Event: Softball versus St. Thomas

Completed Event: Softball versus St. Thomas on April 24, 2026 , Loss , 1, to, 6

Completed Event: Softball versus St. Thomas on April 24, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 11

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