Lakeland University freshman outside hitter
Samya Hughes (
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) doubled up on honors and led a group of four from Lakeland University to receive Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference recognition when the conference released its postseason awards Wednesday afternoon.
Hughes was named a first team all-NACC selection as well as the conference's Freshman of the Year.
Sydney Gay (
So.-Rice Lake, Wis.) and
Maleigha Kovalaske (
So.-Ripon, Wis.) also were named second team all-NACC performers, and
Faith Baker (
So.-Verona, Ill.) was named an honorable mention selection.
In her first season, Hughes became one of the most prolific outside hitters in all of NCAA Division III, piling up big numbers almost every single night on her way to being Lakeland's first women's volleyball player to be named NACC Freshman of the Year.
The freshman finished with 435 kills on the season, third-most in a season in Lakeland history and most in the NACC this year. She also led the conference with 4.07 kills per set and paced the conference with her 1,181 total attack attempts as well.
Hughes also currently ranks 13th in Division III this season in total kills and 26th in kills per set. She posted a .217 hitting percentage and also added 254 digs, 32 blocks (eight solo, 24 assisted), 21 service aces and 15 assists.
Hughes finished with double-digit kills in 27 of the Muskies' 30 matches, including a NACC season-high and school single-match record with 27 kills in a five-set win over Concordia Wisconsin Oct. 25. She topped 20 kills five times and posted at least 20 digs four times, including a career-high 24 in just her second collegiate match against College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) Aug. 29.
The Muskies this year possessed the last two NACC Freshman of the Year award winners, as Kovalaske received the honor last year at St. Norbert College. She transferred to Lakeland this year and gave the Muskies a strong second option on the opposite side of Hughes, finishing with 270 kills to go with 241 digs, 36 blocks (13 solo, 23 assisted), 29 aces and 21 assists.
Kovalaske especially came on in conference play, notching double-digit kills in nine of the Muskies' final 10 matches. She finished with at least 10 kills in 13 matches on the season and also added 10+ digs on 10 occasions.
Gay was named to the all-NACC second team after posting some of the biggest numbers of any setter in the conference. She led the NACC with 1,021 assists and is second in the conference averaging 9.54 assists per set.
Gay also is 20th nationally in Division III in total assists and 36th in assists/set. She also added 208 digs, 45 kills, 35 blocks (six solo, 29 assisted) and 14 service aces.
Baker was named an honorable mention pick as a middle blocker after also posting some numbers ranking among the NACC leaders. She finished with 137 kills, 74 blocks (24 solo, 50 assisted), 21 digs and seven service aces, leading the Muskies in blocks and finishing fourth on the team in kills.
Baker also posted a .265 hitting percentage that ranks as fifth-best in the conference. Her 74 blocks also currently rank eighth in the NACC.
Complete 2025 All-NACC Women's Volleyball Team
