WILKES-BARRE, PA (May 21, 2021) -- Late Wednesday afternoon, the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) announced the 2021 Hall of Fame class, and among the group was former King's softball standout Mari Valonis.

Valonis becomes the ninth individual to be named to the MAC Hall of Fame since its inception in 2012. She joins Mary Beth Bowler-Chambers (2012), women's basketball; Larry Danko (2013), wrestling; Corey Dickerson (2014), men's basketball; Steven Wilson (2015), football; Jess Harvey (2016) softball; Joanne Polakoski (2017), women's basketball; Ned McGinley (2017), wrestling; and Lindsay Sabo-Gonzalez (2018), field hockey & lacrosse. 

"It's an incredible honor to not only be recognized by the MAC, but also to be nominated by King's College," said Valonis. "King's has had a very successful softball program led by Lisa Gigliello and it's an honor to be a part of the program's success over my collegiate years."

"Mari was a quiet force," said head coach Lisa Gigliello. "She had excellent glove skills combined with her power at the plate. Her skill was evident from the first day she stepped on the field culminating with a combined show of a home run and bunt single in the same game." 

Mari Valonis was a two-time Freedom Conference Player of the Year (2006, 2007) and a four-time All-Freedom Conference selection including first-team honors in 2004, 2006 and 2007. She was named to the second team in 2005. Valonis was a three-time NFCA All-Region First Team selection (2004, 2006-07) and a second team selection in 2005. She earned NFCA All-America Third Team honors in 2006. She was named to the MAC 100 All-Century Team in 2013.

"I would like to thank my coaches, Lisa Gigliello and Joann Matt, for their expertise and helping to refine my hitting and fielding skills and for believing in me," said Valonis. "I'd like to thank my parents for their love and support over the years, and making every effort to get to my games, cheering me on from left field. My love of the sport began with my parents' influence, their love of the game, and whiffle ball games in the backyard. I'm thankful for the alum who came before me and began the MAC playoff legacy and helped convince me that King's was the right place for me, both academically and athletically.  I'm thankful for my teammates for putting in the hard work and respecting that legacy by giving their best on the field."

Valonis is King's all-time leader in home runs (32), runs-batted-in (180), total bases (346), putouts (1,008) and game played (171). Valonis was inducted into the Northeast chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. 

King's will plan an in-person presentation of the MAC Hall of Fame award to Valonis at a later date.