BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) released its softball postseason awards on Monday and four Gustavus student-athletes were named All-Conference. Carly Olson, Kayla Herda, Maizie Anderson, and Ava Hamsund were selected as All-Conference. Madi Mueller and Greta Dahlen were named Honorable Mention All-MIAC, while Dahlen and Anderson earned spots on the MIAC All-Playoff Team. 

Carly Olson made a serious campaign for Rookie of the Year, leading the Gusties in virtually every offensive statistic. The Luverne native, batting in the No. 5 spot all season, played and started in all 42 of the Gusties' games between catcher and third base. Olson led the team with a .351 batting average and a .450 slugging percentage. Olson ranked first on the team in hits (46), RBIs (26), doubles (13), and total bases (59). A total of 10 of her 13 doubles came against conference opponents, a stat that ranked first in the MIAC. In the field, Olson had 111 putouts, 54 assists, and 11 errors for a .938 fielding percentage.   

Kayla Herda picked up the second consecutive All-Conference honor of her career in her junior year after posting a .308 batting average and .353 slugging percentage, which ranked third and second on the team, respectively. Herda bat .375 against conference opponents all season with 27 hits, a stat that put her in the top-10 in the league. Herda compiled 41 hits this season, 23 RBI, 18 stolen bases, six doubles, and 47 total bases. The Farmington native started in all 42 games for the Gusties in left field, totaling 40 putouts, two assists, and two errors for a .955 fielding percentage. 

Anderson and Hamsund were a solid one-two punch for the Gusties' pitching squad this season. Anderson earned her second All-Conference honor as the Gusties' ace in her sophomore season, making 25 appearances and 22 starts. Anderson posted a 2.49 ERA with a 13-9 record and 16 complete games. In MIAC play, Anderson proved to be one of the league's best arms with the second-best conference ERA (1.44), behind only 2024 Pitcher of the Year Ellie Peterson. Anderson held MIAC opponents to a batting average of .244 (3rd/MIAC), pitching 72.2 innings (4th/MIAC). Her 45 strikeouts ranked fourth, while her nine conference wins were tied for third most in the league. 

Hamsund followed in Anderson's footsteps, also earning the All-Conference nod in her rookie season. Hamsund made 19 appearances with 18 starts, earning an ERA of 2.50 with 12 complete games and a record of 9-8. The Winona native helped the Gusties post the best team ERA in the conference regular season, with a mark of 1.66. The first-year wasn't far behind Anderson in any category, ranking fourth in MIAC ERA (1.71), tied for ninth in opposing batting average (.260), tied for eighth in innings pitched (65.2) and strikeouts (33), and seventh in wins with a league record of 7-4. 

Madi Mueller closed out an impressive career earning All-Conference Honorable Mention. One of the team's two seniors, Mueller finished the season with a .276 batting average and .351 slugging percentage from the lead-off spot. Mueller, who earned All-Conference honors in all three of her prior seasons, totaled 27 runs, 41 hits, 47 total bases, 134 at-bats, a pair of triples, and a home run. Mueller will surely be remembered for the mark she left in the field, known for her impressive plays at center. Playing in all but one of the Gusties' 42 games, Mueller compiled 71 putouts with four assists and four errors for a .949 fielding percentage from the outfield. 

Greta Dahlen, the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove recipient, earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors in her junior year. Dahlen bat .382 for the Gusties in 29 games after returning midway through the season from injury. She posted 26 hits in 68 at-bats, picking up four doubles, a triple, and 10 RBI with a slugging percentage of .471.

The MIAC also announced its 2024 All-Playoff Team, which included Dahlen and Anderson. Dahlen went 4-for-7 in the Gusties' two playoff games, picking up an RBI and a run in the process. Dahlen added a pair of impressive putouts in right field in the team's semifinal loss to Saint Mary's. Anderson pitched two complete games for the Gusties in the postseason, allowing four earned runs off 11 hits. Anderson struck out eight batters, including six against St. Olaf in the team's quarterfinal victory. 

Saint Benedict and Saint Mary's split the four major awards. The Bennies' Olivia Tautges was named the 2024 Player of the Year, while Ellie Peterson was selected as the Pitcher of the Year. SMU's Makayla Steffes, who was a threat both in the circle and at the plate, was named the MIAC Rookie of the Year, while Cardinal head coach John Tschida was named the Coach of the Year for the 14th time in his career.