BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - Interim Head Coach Andy Russo and his staff were named Northeast Conference Coaching Staff of the Year and six members of the Long Island University softball team received all-conference recognition, the NEC announced on Wednesday. 

Russo and assistants Bill Gehrke and Ryan Henry led the Sharks to a NEC regular season title this spring, posting a conference record of 16-5. LIU won six of its seven conference series, including sweeps of Stonehill College, Mercyhurst University, Saint Francis University, and Central Connecticut State University. This is the first Coaching Staff of the Year award for LIU since the 2019 season, which was the last time LIU won the NEC regular season title. 

Senior third baseman Alyssa Polemeni, sophomore outfielder Lily Hinkle and sophomore utility Kaylee Clarkson were all named to the first-team all-conference list.  

Polemeni led the Sharks with 11 home runs this spring, recording 37 hits with 41 RBI and a batting average of .352, an on-base percentage of .466 and an OPS of 1.256. Her 51 assists in NEC play also led the Sharks. 

Hinkle, who started all 45 games for LIU in the regular season, recorded a team-high 49 hits with 36 RBI, a batting average of .350 and six home runs, along with an OBP of .477, an OPS of 1.048 and a team-high 10 stolen bases. Hinkle was a member of the NEC All-Rookie team in 2024. 

Clarkson totaled 32 hits with 24 RBI and four home runs in 42 starts this season with a batting average of .311, ending the regular season with an OBP of .470 and nine stolen bases. 

Sophomore pitcher Sophia Mariottini and junior outfielder Alyssa Garcia represented the Sharks on the second-team all-conference list. Mariottini posted a 6-2 record with an ERA of 2.85 in conference play this season, striking out 32 batters across 11 total appearances. Garcia totaled 35 hits with 17 RBI and four home runs this spring with a batting average of .313, starting 42 games with an OBP of .462. 

Freshman shortstop Hannah Burnett was selected to the NEC All-Rookie Team; Burnett appeared in all 45 games while making 44 starts, recording 31 hits with 24 RBI and 20 runs scored. 

The Sharks will host this weekend's NEC Softball Championship, taking on No. 4 seed CCSU Thursday at noon.