Kristina Ely enters her first year coaching from the bench, but last season she did not spend much time there. A 2008 graduate of Valdosta State University, Ely was also one of the premier players on the Lady Blazer Softball team.

In her senior year, Ely was part of a 48-19 season and helped lead the team to a 17-6 finish in Gulf South Conference action. She earned All-America and All-South Region honors for the first time in her career and received her second All-Conference honors. Ely was a two-time Academic All-American at VSU.

She hails from Sarasota, Fla., and came to Valdosta State from Manatee Community College. In her time in the infield, the righthander started 108 of 110 games played with the Lady Blazers. In 2007 she batted .336 on the season for the third highest hitting percentage on the team. She followed that up with a .322 average her senior year, but she led the team in homeruns with 19 on the season.

Ely notched 67 hits for 51 RBI (second on the team) in a successful campaign for VSU, but she played well on defense too. She finished with a .971 fielding percentage.

Head Coach Thomas Macera likes Ely on his staff because she has great knowledge of the game, but, more importantly, is a good teacher of the game. That should come in handy for her as she pursues her graduate degree in physical education.