Softball | 12/9/2021 9:00:00 AM

ITTA BENA, Miss. – Former catcher and now Softball Graduate Assistant Jewel Unga has embodied what it means to truly be a collegiate student-athlete, spending three seasons behind the dish for the Devilettes softball program all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA and graduating Summa Cum Laude with her bachelor's degree as a business administration major on November 23. 

During her 38-game career under former Head Coach and current Associate Athletic Director Lee Smith, the Sacramento, California native made 30 starts with 13 hits, nine walks, five RBIs, four doubles and a home run while going a perfect 3-for-3 in steal attempts. She was a defensive wizard while in the stance, committing just five errors over 100 career chances for a stellar .950 fielding percentage. 

The Mississippi Valley State athletic department interviewed Miss Unga before she headed back to the West Coast for the holidays to talk about her time as a student-athlete at The Valley and what lies ahead for the softball program. 
 
Q: What other places did you receive an athletic scholarship from?

A: Alcorn State University, Alabama State University and Simpson University

Q: Why did you choose MVSU?

A: Valley was one of the first schools to show interest in me and I could tell Coach Lee [Smith] was a very genuine man who truly cared about his players. Once I visited [during] my senior year of High School, I knew this place was for me. The campus was family-oriented, and the former players were super welcoming.

Q: What was the most difficult class you took here; the easiest?

A: The most difficult class I ever took probably was Strategic Management because I believe I was pushed [the] most academically in this course. The easiest course was probably college algebra because I love numbers and the course came quite easily to me.

Q: How did you balance your time between academics & athletics?

A: Discipline and great time management. With both attributes I believe you can accomplish anything.

Q: What was your greatest achievement academically; athletically?

A: Academically [was] maintaining a 4.0 GPA through my entire collegiate career. My greatest achievement athletically would be hitting a home run against Alabama State in [the] 2019 season. I was going through a bad slump and hitting this homer reminded [me] that life goes on, just keep working.

Q: Best road trip memory?

A: Literally all road trips were a blast because my teammates made them worthwhile. Laughing in the back [of the bus] and just talking about the game we loved was the best!

Q: Best home game memory?

A: Probably hitting two home runs in one game during the fall season of my freshman with only two at-bats.

*Editor's Note - Fall season stats do not count towards career totals as they are considered exhibition contests.

Q: If you could change one thing about your time here as a student-athlete, what would it be?

A: I would not have taken myself so seriously. I feel like I failed to acknowledge a lot, if not all the good I did in my earlier years of my collegiate career because I put too much of an emphasis on being perfect.

Q: What will your duties as Grad Assistant be?

A: Helping to facilitate practice in an effective manner, assist the girls with anything they need personally or athletically, and ultimately help Coach Buckner make the softball program champions again.

Q: What strategies will you look to implement to improve the softball program?

A: Creating a safe space for players to voice their opinions so that everyone could feel safe enough to state what they feel and [to] feel more at liberty to fail when going all out on the field.

Q: What made you want to become a coach?

A: I feel there is a time when it is time to move on from the game you love and have played majority of your [life]. This transition looks different for all people. For me, I was done playing but I still love the sport and felt that it was my turn to give back to the sport that has blessed me with so much.

Q: Do you plan on being a coach as a career or something else?

A: No, after my time at Valley I plan on going to law school to become an attorney and practicing criminal defense.

Q: What goals do you have for the Devilettes this season?

A: Just win. I feel that we have always competed but lacked to become the victors on the other side but that changes this season!

Closing Remark 

I would like to thank my mother, she is truly my rock that pushes me to be great. I would like to thank my dad, stepmom, and siblings for being my peace. They are the ones who keep me sane and prove that love is real every day. 
 
Keep checking the website and our social media pages for the official release of the 2022 Mississippi Valley State Devilettes softball program, coming up in the next month or so. 
 
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