FRISCO, Texas - The Nicholl State University softball team had five student-athletes named to the 2026 Southland Conference All-Academic Team as the league office announced Thursday afternoon its academic softball honors.
Making the team for the third time in their careers were
Averi Paden,
Claire Sisco and
Molly Yoo. 2026 All-Southland selections
Kayleigh Lugowski and
Madison Moak rounded on the academic honorees for the Colonels.
Lugowski posted a 3.47 grade-point average as a kinesiology major and was an automatic selection after being named All-Southland First Team. As the designated player, she batted .343 with a team-high seven home runs with 24 RBIs. She also led the Colonels with a .626 slugging percentage.
In her lone season with the program, Moak was named All-Southland Second Team and had a 3.92 GPA in interdisciplinary studies. Moak ranked 10th in the Southland with a .369 batting average, totaling 55 hits with 37 RBIs. She also ranked fourth in the SLC in doubles (17) and slugging (.617) and was second on the team with six home runs.
Paden wrapped up her career with a 3.92 GPA as a nursing major. In the circle, she posted a 6-5 record with two saves and a 3.59 ERA. Along with tossing three complete games, her lone shutout was a six-inning no-hitter against East Texas A&M where she struck out seven and walked one.
Sisco, who was named All-Academic First Team as a sophomore and junior, graduated with a 3.98 GPA as a health sciences - pre-professional major. On the field, she was Named Southland All-Defensive, Southland All-Tournament, and was a one-time SLC Hitter of the Week. Sisco racked up 70 hits, ranking fourth in the Southland with a .398 batting average. She also ranked in the Top 10 of the SLC in several categories -- first in stolen bases (29), third in runs scored (52) and hits (70), tied for fourth in triples (4) and sixth in on-base percentage (.473).
Yoo graduated with a 3.95 GPA as a secondary education major. As the Colonels' ace of the pitching staff, she was named All-Southland Second Team and was a two-time SLC Pitcher of the Week. Yoo started 24 games and totaled 37 appearances in the circle, finishing with a 17-11 record with one save and a 3.17 ERA. She ranked second in the Southland in innings pitched (161.1), tied for third in strikeouts (101), fourth in wins, and tied for seventh in ERA.
To be eligible for all-academic distinction, an athlete must hold a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA, completed at least one full academic semester at the nominating school prior to the current season, and participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competitions during the most recently completed season. Student-Athlete of the Year nominees must have held at least a 3.50 GPA and have completed at least one semester of athletic competition at the nominating school, including the current season.
