July 21, 2010

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Softball Coach Sandy Montgomery announced that infielder Chelsea Yankolovich (Phoenix, Ariz.) has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Cougars for the 2010 season. Yankolovich comes to SIUE from Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix, Ariz.

She joins the Cougars in their first season as a full NCAA Division I program. The Cougars will play a complete Ohio Valley Conference schedule and are fully eligible for the postseason, including the NCAA Tournament.

"She is a versatile player," Montgomery said. "She has an outstanding arm, outstanding range and outstanding athletic ability."

Yankolovich hit .472 as a senior at Sunnyslope High School. She added eight home runs and 45 RBIs for the Vikings. She was named second team 4A All-State and 4A Division I Western Sky Region Player of the Year in 2010. She also was Western Sky First Team All-Region in 2009.

She owns the career records for runs, RBIs, home runs and doubles at Sunnyslope High School. She also holds single-season records for runs, RBIs and doubles at the school. Yankolovich plays select softball for the Arizona Hotshots Gold team.

"She has a lot of good experience playing at the Gold level," Montgomery added. "When you're playing at the Gold level you are playing with and against some talented athletes."

Yankolovich joins Jill Rackers (Jefferson City, Mo.), Rachel Coonrod (Edwardsville), and Kayla Riggs (Lincoln) as part of the incoming freshman class.

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