UHV's Chambers selected as first team NAIA All-American

UHV's Kenzie Chambers celebrates a base hit during a game against Texas A&M-San Antonio in the RRAC Tournament at Champions Sportsplex in Alexandria, Louisiana, on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Fowler/UHV Athletics)

June 4, 2024

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kenzie Chambers spent the 2024 season terrorizing teams for UHV.

Whether at the plate, behind it or on the basepath, Chambers was a primary cog in the Jaguars' run to their ninth NAIA Tournament appearance in 17 years and a 33-14 record for the team's 13^th 30-win season.

On Tuesday, the NAIA announced Chambers as a first team All-American selection. She is the 12^th UHV softball player to be recognized as an NAIA All-American or honorable mention, and fourth ever to be named a first teamer. She is the first All-American since Aubri Hockenbury's first team selection in 2017.

"I am so honored to receive this recognition and so proud to be a Jaguar," Chambers said. "I'm very appreciative of my teammates for pushing me year-round to accomplish my goals. All year, it felt like we were climbing a ladder to something greater and I'm grateful to be a part of a team this talented. I'm thankful to coach (Lindsey) Ortiz and coach (Mac) Christensen for the opportunities they gave me this year and allowing me to be a part of this team. Being an All-American has always been a dream of mine and I'm grateful to UHV for making that dream come true."

Chambers understood her role well as UHV's two-hole hitter, slashing a team-leading .492 at the plate with 50 runs scored and a single-season program record of 49 stolen bases, which ranked eighth nationally. Her 89 stolen bases in two seasons is just one shy of Madysin Leighton's career record, which was set this season. She was a first team All-Red River Athletic Conference selection for a second consecutive year.

The junior from Grand Prairie also set a UHV single-game record for stolen bases with six in a 10-0 win against Xavier (La.) on March 9.

In the postseason, Chambers hit in five of the Jaguars' seven games between the RRAC and NAIA Tournaments, and boasted a .380 average with seven stolen bases.

"I'm so happy Kenzie's incredible season has garnered this recognition," Ortiz said. "She is a tremendous athlete that has the ability to elevate everyone around her. I'm so excited to see her continue to build on this success."