Northwestern University Athletics
Drohan Welcomes Highly Touted Class of 2026
11/10/2021 4:08:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Head coach Kate Drohan announced the addition of four signees to Northwestern softball's class of 2026 Wednesday as part of National Signing Day.
"As a group, this class embodies all of the values and characteristics of Northwestern–hard-working, curious, determined, resilient, competitive, focused and driven," said Drohan. "They are leaders on the field, classroom, and community. But most importantly, their kindness and love of their teammates and of Northwestern will make our program better immediately. They have a knack for elevating the play of those around them. These women can flat out play–they are ballers. We can't wait for Lilly, Kelsey, Kansas and Bridget to arrive on campus."
Lilly Vallimont - C
Hits: R
Throws: R
Trenton, MI
Trenton High School
High School: Ranked the No. 1 catcher and No. 5 overall player in the class of 2022 by Extra Innings Softball … Ranked the 18th-best player in her class nationally by MaxPreps … Compiled a .557 batting average with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs over her first two seasons (sophomore season canceled due to COVID-19) Holds Trenton record for most home runs and runs batted in … First-team All-State and All-Conference in 2019 and 2021 … All-Academic Honor Roll … Helped team to league Championship in 2021 … Played for Beverly Bandits and Lady Dukes club teams … Lady Dukes finished second at PGF 18U Nationals in 2021 … Bandits won the 16U PGF Nationals in 2019 … Offensive MVP at the Wilson Fastpitch Championship in 2019 … Helped lead her team to the 2020 USA Softball National Championship … Sister, Michaleigh, plays softball at Central Michigan … Daughter of Leigh Ann Frederick, Damian Frederick, Michael Vallimont and Agatha Vallimont.
Drohan on Vallimont: "Lily's skillset on the field is outstanding, both offensively and defensively. An incredible student of the game and fierce competitor, Lily plays for the big moments. Her power, poise and softball IQ will make an immediate impact on our program."
Kelsey Nader - OF
Hits: L
Throws: L
Canton, MI
Canton School
High School: Team captain for sophomore, junior and senior seasons … Varsity all four years (sophomore season canceled due to COVID-19) … Recorded a .435 batting average her junior year with 37 hits, four home runs and 22 stolen bases … Helped team to district and league regional championship titles her freshman year … Earned All-State honors following her junior season … Named to All-District, All-Region and All-Conference teams in 2019 and 2021 … Rookie of the year in 2019 … Extra Innings National Player of the Week runner up June 29, 2021 … Ranked the 37th-best outfielder in the nation by Extra Innings Softball … Played 10 years with Finesse Dreher/Lesko club team … Helped team to USA Softball 16U Gold National Championship … Hit a walk-off grand slam to help her team to a top-10 finish at the Colorado Sparkler Tournament … Also played volleyball in her freshman and sophomore years … Honor roll … Daughter of Robert and Nancy Nader … Anticipated major at Northwestern is engineering.
Drohan on Nader: "Kelsey is a left-handed outfielder with great speed who has also developed power to all fields. She is a gritty player who always brings the juice. Whether it is small ball, hitting a gap or making a diving catch, Nader does whatever the game asks of her."
Bridget Donahey - IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Phoenix, AZ
Xavier College Preparatory
High School: Ranked as the No. 13 overall player in the Class of 2022 by Extra Innings Softball ... Varsity all four years … Helped team to State title her junior season … Recorded a .581 batting average with 13 home runs as a freshman … Compiled a .414 batting average with 10 home runs as a junior … Ranked the 17th-best player in the class of 2022 by MaxPreps … 2020 MaxPreps All-American … First Team All-Region and All-Division in her freshman and junior seasons (sophomore season affected by COVID-19) … First Team All-Academic … Played seven years for Arizona Storm Mathis club team … Helped team become Colorado Sparkler champions in 2018 … Sister Megan played softball at Princeton (2017-20) and other sister Katie plays softball at Yale … Daughter of Carolyn and Michael Donahey … Anticipated major at Northwestern is pre-med.
Drohan on Donahey: "Bridget has been playing the game at a high level for a long time. As an infielder who can play any position, she is polished and has great versatility. Offensively, Bridget will provide great power from the right side along with a competitiveness that makes her a tough out."
Kansas Robinson - IF
Hits: L
Throws: R
Indianapolis, IN
Ben Davis High School
High School: Four-year varsity athlete at Ben Davis High School and two-time captain for softball, volleyball and women's basketball programs … Led the Giants in home runs (12) and RBI (42) as a junior in 2021 while posting a .586 batting average on her way to All-Marion County and All-MIC Conference Honors for the second time in her career … Batted .489 with 49 RBI and scored 45 runs in her rookie season in 2019 on her way to All-Marion County and All-MIC Conference Honors … Holds the Ben Davis High School record for most home runs in a season … Played on Indiana Magic Gold club softball team for five years … Sophomore softball season canceled due to COVID19, earned All-Marion County honors in volleyball after posting 76 kills, 106 digs and 22 aces … Hitting coach is Northwestern Softball Legend/Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Tammy Williams (2006-09) … Daughter of Van and Amanda Robinson … Anticipated major at Northwestern is biology.
Drohan on Robinson: "Kansas is a very physical player who plays the game with great speed and power. She is a very dynamic athlete who plays multiple sports while having an incredible impact on the student body at Ben Davis High School."
"As a group, this class embodies all of the values and characteristics of Northwestern–hard-working, curious, determined, resilient, competitive, focused and driven," said Drohan. "They are leaders on the field, classroom, and community. But most importantly, their kindness and love of their teammates and of Northwestern will make our program better immediately. They have a knack for elevating the play of those around them. These women can flat out play–they are ballers. We can't wait for Lilly, Kelsey, Kansas and Bridget to arrive on campus."
Lilly Vallimont - C
Hits: R
Throws: R
Trenton, MI
Trenton High School
High School: Ranked the No. 1 catcher and No. 5 overall player in the class of 2022 by Extra Innings Softball … Ranked the 18th-best player in her class nationally by MaxPreps … Compiled a .557 batting average with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs over her first two seasons (sophomore season canceled due to COVID-19) Holds Trenton record for most home runs and runs batted in … First-team All-State and All-Conference in 2019 and 2021 … All-Academic Honor Roll … Helped team to league Championship in 2021 … Played for Beverly Bandits and Lady Dukes club teams … Lady Dukes finished second at PGF 18U Nationals in 2021 … Bandits won the 16U PGF Nationals in 2019 … Offensive MVP at the Wilson Fastpitch Championship in 2019 … Helped lead her team to the 2020 USA Softball National Championship … Sister, Michaleigh, plays softball at Central Michigan … Daughter of Leigh Ann Frederick, Damian Frederick, Michael Vallimont and Agatha Vallimont.
Drohan on Vallimont: "Lily's skillset on the field is outstanding, both offensively and defensively. An incredible student of the game and fierce competitor, Lily plays for the big moments. Her power, poise and softball IQ will make an immediate impact on our program."
Kelsey Nader - OF
Hits: L
Throws: L
Canton, MI
Canton School
High School: Team captain for sophomore, junior and senior seasons … Varsity all four years (sophomore season canceled due to COVID-19) … Recorded a .435 batting average her junior year with 37 hits, four home runs and 22 stolen bases … Helped team to district and league regional championship titles her freshman year … Earned All-State honors following her junior season … Named to All-District, All-Region and All-Conference teams in 2019 and 2021 … Rookie of the year in 2019 … Extra Innings National Player of the Week runner up June 29, 2021 … Ranked the 37th-best outfielder in the nation by Extra Innings Softball … Played 10 years with Finesse Dreher/Lesko club team … Helped team to USA Softball 16U Gold National Championship … Hit a walk-off grand slam to help her team to a top-10 finish at the Colorado Sparkler Tournament … Also played volleyball in her freshman and sophomore years … Honor roll … Daughter of Robert and Nancy Nader … Anticipated major at Northwestern is engineering.
Drohan on Nader: "Kelsey is a left-handed outfielder with great speed who has also developed power to all fields. She is a gritty player who always brings the juice. Whether it is small ball, hitting a gap or making a diving catch, Nader does whatever the game asks of her."
Bridget Donahey - IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Phoenix, AZ
Xavier College Preparatory
High School: Ranked as the No. 13 overall player in the Class of 2022 by Extra Innings Softball ... Varsity all four years … Helped team to State title her junior season … Recorded a .581 batting average with 13 home runs as a freshman … Compiled a .414 batting average with 10 home runs as a junior … Ranked the 17th-best player in the class of 2022 by MaxPreps … 2020 MaxPreps All-American … First Team All-Region and All-Division in her freshman and junior seasons (sophomore season affected by COVID-19) … First Team All-Academic … Played seven years for Arizona Storm Mathis club team … Helped team become Colorado Sparkler champions in 2018 … Sister Megan played softball at Princeton (2017-20) and other sister Katie plays softball at Yale … Daughter of Carolyn and Michael Donahey … Anticipated major at Northwestern is pre-med.
Drohan on Donahey: "Bridget has been playing the game at a high level for a long time. As an infielder who can play any position, she is polished and has great versatility. Offensively, Bridget will provide great power from the right side along with a competitiveness that makes her a tough out."
Kansas Robinson - IF
Hits: L
Throws: R
Indianapolis, IN
Ben Davis High School
High School: Four-year varsity athlete at Ben Davis High School and two-time captain for softball, volleyball and women's basketball programs … Led the Giants in home runs (12) and RBI (42) as a junior in 2021 while posting a .586 batting average on her way to All-Marion County and All-MIC Conference Honors for the second time in her career … Batted .489 with 49 RBI and scored 45 runs in her rookie season in 2019 on her way to All-Marion County and All-MIC Conference Honors … Holds the Ben Davis High School record for most home runs in a season … Played on Indiana Magic Gold club softball team for five years … Sophomore softball season canceled due to COVID19, earned All-Marion County honors in volleyball after posting 76 kills, 106 digs and 22 aces … Hitting coach is Northwestern Softball Legend/Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Tammy Williams (2006-09) … Daughter of Van and Amanda Robinson … Anticipated major at Northwestern is biology.
Drohan on Robinson: "Kansas is a very physical player who plays the game with great speed and power. She is a very dynamic athlete who plays multiple sports while having an incredible impact on the student body at Ben Davis High School."
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