ST. LOUIS - Seventeen conference softball student-athletes have been named to the 2025 MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team, including seven repeat first-team selections, as voted on by the league's softball sports information directors and announced by the Missouri Valley Conference office today.
Belmont's Maya Johnson claims the Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a 3.90 GPA in Nurseing. Maya was named to the All Conference First Team, MVC All Tournament Team, MVC Tournament MVP, MVC Pitcher of the Year, and NFCA Pitcher of the Week. Maya currently leads nationally in strikeouts, shutouts, and is fifth for ERA and complete games. Johnson holds Belmont's program record for career wins and strikeouts.
Eight of the conference schools have athletes represented on the first team with the UNI and Southern Illinois having the most with three players. Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Ilinois State and Missouri State have two. Murray State has one athlete.
In order to be eligible, student-athletes must have at 3.5 GPA or higher, be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing and meet certain playing requirements.
2025 MVC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Maya Johnson, Belmont
2025 MVC Softball Scholar-Athlete First Team
Abbott Badgley, Bradley, Sr., 4.00, Business Marketing; Coporate Finance
Molly Hoekstra, Drake, Gr., 4.00 Communication
Erin Lackey, Murray State, Gr., 4.00, School Psychology
Addison Masching, Illinois State, Sr., 4.00, PE Teacher Education
Ella Shafer, Bradley, So., 4.00, Sports Communication
Emily Williams, Southern Illinois, So., 4.00, Nursing
Delainey Bryant, Illinois State, Sr., 3.97, Elementary Education
Addison McElrath, UNI, Sr., 3.92, Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Ava Smithson, UNI, Jr., 3.92, Biology
Baie Ensio, Belmont, Sr., 3.91, Neuroscience
Carey Koenig, Drake, Sr., 3.91, Law, Politics, and Society
Makenzi Swick, Missouri State, Jr., 3.91, Biology
Maya Johnson, Belmont, Sr., 3.90, Nursing**
Jackie Lis, Southern Illinois, Jr., 3.90, Accounting
Emma Austin, Southern Illinois, Sr., 3.88 Health Care Management
McKenzie Vaughan, Missouri State, Sr., 3.84, Exercise Science
Kate Lappe, UNI, Jr., 3.72, Accounting/Finance
2025 MVC Softball Scholar-Athlete Second Team
Brenna Blume, Belmont
Anna Carder, Southern Illinois
Mackenzie Chacon, Missouri State
Emily Cockrill, Belmont
Emma Dighton, Drake
Zoe Frossard, Evansville
Morgan Goodrich, Indiana State
Hailey Griffin, Indiana State
Bre Haislip, Murray State
Sydney Kennedy, Bradley
Sofia King, Missouri State
Abby Knight, Illinois State
Kayden Krug, Valparaiso
Makenna Kuper, UNI
Erin Lee, SIU
Hannah Meshnick, Illinois State
Mckenzie Newcomb, Southern Illinois
Raylee Roby, Murray State
Annie Waggoner, Indiana State
Addison Welsh, Bradley
Heidi Wheeler, Drake