Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Signs Trio to National Letters of Intent
12/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Dec. 5, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan has announced the signing of three future Wildcats to National Letters of Intent. Megan Lilley (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover), Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) and Olivia Zolke (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) comprise the incoming Class of 2012, and will matriculate to Evanston next fall.
"The Class of 2012 will add tremendous talent, skill and game sense to our program," Drohan said. "In this class we have a great balance of speed, short game, power and defensive skills that will make an immediate impact on Northwestern Softball."
Lilley comes from a family of ballplayers, following in the collegiate footsteps of her sister, Tricia, who played at Purdue, and her brother, Brett, who is a senior on the baseball squad at Notre Dame. Lilley batted .476 in her junior season, helping Hoover high school to the 2006 Ohio state championship.
Monka also comes from a championship high school program, winning the 2006 CIF-Southern Section title with Rancho Cucamonga. She was the 2006 Baseline League Offensive Player of the Year, and has a career on-base percentage of .680.
Zolke, whose father played quarterback at Georgia Tech, showed her skill early on in her career with an All-Delphic League selection at the catcher position in her freshman season. A three-sport star in high school, Zolke once hit home runs in four-consecutive at-bats during tournament play.
"Most importantly with this class, the character and commitment they have shown is inspirational," Drohan said. "We believe their investment will be instrumental in Northwestern Softball winning championships. We look forward to working with them on a daily basis."
Complete bios on Northwestern's three signees follow below:
Megan Lilley
North Canton, Ohio/ Hoover
5-10 • IF
High School: Batted .396 as a sophomore and .476 as a junior with a school-record 17 doubles ... Honorable mention all-state, first-team All-Northeast Ohio and first-team All-Federal League as a junior ... Second-team All-Federal League as a sophomore ... High school won 2006 state championship and finished as a regional finalist in 2007 ... Played three years of club with the Beverly Bandits in Illinois ... Club team won the Boulder Independence Day Tournament in 2007 and finished third at the 16-under ASA Nationals in 2006 ... National Honor Society member ... National Merit semifinalist ... Honor roll.
Personal: Born Megan Ann Lilley on 4/21/90 ... Daughter of Bill and Debbie Lilley ... Sister, Tricia, played shortstop at Purdue from 2003-06 ... Brother, Brett, is a senior on the baseball team at Notre Dame ... Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
Adrienne Monka
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga
5-8 • C/IF
High School: Three-time All-Baseline League selection ... 2006 Baseline League Offensive Player of the Year ... High school won 2006 CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Championship ... Hit an eighth-inning home run to lift team to 2006 CIF title game ... 2007 team MVP ... High school won 2005 Baseline League championship ... Played three years of club with the Southern California Athletics ... Club team finished fifth at the 2006 ASA Gold Nationals ... Honor roll all years of high school.
Personal: Born Adrienne Rae Monka on 3/15/90 ... Daughter of Dan and Elba Monka ... Uncle, Steve, played baseball at Cal State Northridge ... Has three cousins who played collegiate soccer ... Chose Northwestern over UCLA and Fresno State ... Plans to study pre-medicine.
Olivia Zolke
Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa
5-4 • C
High School: Named All-Delphic League catcher with a .432 batting average and a .692 slugging percentage at Brentwood in her first season of high school competition ... Batting average was the third-highest in the Delphic League ... Transferred to Mira Costa following her freshman year ... Hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats during a high school tournament ... Played four years of club with the California Cruisers ... Three-sport athlete as a freshman, playing volleyball, soccer and softball at Brentwood ... Continued to letter in soccer at Mira Costa ... Honor roll all four years of high school.
Personal: Born Olivia Claire Zolke on 11/24/89 ... Daughter of Scott and Stacy Zolke ... Father played football at Georgia Tech and served as an associate athletic director at the school ... Chose Northwestern over Maryland and Oregon State ... Plans to study international business.
