Bringing you news and notes coming from the Sun Belt Conference in women's sports from both the athletic field and in the classroom as soon as news breaks.

For the third time in the last four years, the Texas State University athletics department has claimed the 2024-25 Vic Bubas Cup, the Sun Belt Conference announced Thursday.

Texas State, a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 2013-14, has earned its fourth Vic Bubas Cup. This also marked the first time the Bobcats have won the honor in consecutive years.

The Bubas Cup is the Sun Belt’s annual all-sports championship trophy, awarded to the top athletics department in the conference based on a points system.

Texas State earned 152.5 points to outpace Arkansas State (139) and Coastal Carolina (124). Louisiana (118.5) finished fourth, as App State (116) rounded out the top-five in the Bubas Cup standings.

Texas State, which sponsors 16 of the Sun Belt’s 20 sports, won the Sun Belt women’s indoor and outdoor track & field title, the men’s outdoor track & field championship and the volleyball tournament crown. The Bobcats were also the softball regular-season champions and tallied top-four league finishes in women’s soccer, football, men’s indoor track & field and women’s tennis.

The Vic Bubas Cup is named after the Sun Belt Conference’s first Commissioner. Bubas was appointed the conference’s commissioner on Oct. 6, 1976, and served for 14 years until his retirement in 1990. He led the conference during a period in which its membership increased from six to eight members and its sport sponsorship grew from four to 10 sports. Bubas was a three-time ACC Coach of the Year at Duke in the 1960s, taking his team to three Final Fours. In 2007, he was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Bubas passed away in April 2018 at the age of 91.

Points for the Bubas Cup are awarded based on regular-season finish for sports that have a regular-season conference schedule. Points are awarded based on Sun Belt Championship finish if that sport does not have a regular-season conference schedule. Points are awarded based on the number of schools sponsoring the sport. Institutions not sponsoring a sport do not receive points in that sport. Institutions tying for positions split the combined points of their positions.

For sports that have both a regular-season schedule and a conference tournament, one additional point will be awarded to the winner of the conference tournament, including an additional point for winning the Sun Belt Conference Football Championship.

For sports with divisions, the conference records of all teams are ranked and points are awarded regardless of divisional finish. Standings for the sports of men’s and women’s soccer are determined by points rather than winning percentage.

Vic Bubas Cup All-Time Winners
1977 - Jacksonville
1978 - South Florida
1979 - South Florida
1980 - South Florida
1981 - South Florida
1982 - South Florida
1983 - Old Dominion
1984 - South Florida
1985 - South Florida
1986 - South Florida
1987 - Western Kentucky
1988 - South Alabama
1989 - South Alabama
1990 - South Florida
1991 - South Alabama
1992 - South Alabama
1993 - South Alabama
1994 - South Alabama
1995 - Arkansas State
1996 - South Alabama
1997 - South Alabama
1998 - Arkansas State
1999 - South Alabama
2000 - South Alabama
2001 - Middle Tennessee
2002 - Western Kentucky
2003 - Western Kentucky
2004 - Middle Tennessee
2005 - Middle Tennessee
2006 - Western Kentucky
2007 - Middle Tennessee
2008 - Western Kentucky
2009 - Middle Tennessee
2010 - Middle Tennessee
2011 - Middle Tennessee
2012 - Middle Tennessee
2013 - Middle Tennessee
2014 - Western Kentucky
2015 - South Alabama
2016 - South Alabama
2017 - South Alabama
2018 - South Alabama
2019 - Texas State
2020 - Arkansas State
2021 - South Alabama
2022 – Texas State
2023 - South Alabama
2024 - Texas State
2025 – Texas State

The Sun Belt Conference has announced the eight student-athletes selected to receive the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholarships.

Old Dominion’s Kiersten Donnelly (Women’s Swimming & Diving) and Marshall’s Ethan Bowens (Men’s Track and Field) were the top honorees, each receiving a $9,750 scholarship.

Donnelly, a three-year letterwinner for the Monarchs as a swimmer, earned a bachelor’s degree in bio-medical science. She plans to attend medical school to follow her passion for family medicine and has been accepted to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Bowens, a three-year letterwinner for the Thundering Herd as a sprinter for the men’s track and field team, earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a minor in chemistry. He plans to attend medical school with a desire to become a physician for the U.S. military.

"We are thrilled to recognize the accomplishments of these decorated Sun Belt student-athletes and to provide postgraduate scholarships to support their continued education,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill.

As the overall female and male postgraduate award winners, Donnelly and Bowens will be formally recognized at the Sun Belt Conference Honors Banquet in conjunction with the Sun Belt Fall Meetings on October 16, 2025 in Atlanta.

Texas State’s Sierra Dickson (Women’s Basketball), Troy’s Abby Grosinske (Women’s Track & Field), South Alabama’s Delien Kleinhans (Women’s Tennis), Georgia Southern’s Ellie McIntyre (Women’s Soccer), Coastal Carolina’s Nicolette Picone (Softball) and Georgia State’s Alaina West (Women’s Soccer) will also be awarded $4,500 scholarships.

Dickson, a five-year women’s basketball letterwinner for the Bobcats, graduated from Texas State with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. In 2024-25, she served as Vice President for Texas State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is currently pursuing her MBA at her alma mater.

Grosinske, a four-year letterwinner as a thrower on the Trojans’ women’s track & field team, graduated from Troy with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a minor in psychology. She will attend Northern Illinois University to pursue a doctorate degree in physical therapy beginning in the fall of 2025.

Kleinhans, a four-year letterwinner for the Jaguars’ women’s tennis program, graduated from South Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She has been accepted to multiple schools to pursue her doctorate degree in physical therapy.

McIntyre, a three-year letterwinner on the Eagles’ women’s soccer team, graduated from Georgia Southern with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She was hired as a graduate assistant coach at her alma mater in May 2025 and will begin pursuing her master’s degree in coaching education.

Picone, a four-year letterwinner and 2025 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year for the Chanticleers’ softball program, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in pre-health professions from Coastal Carolina. She will attend the State University of New York at Stony Brook to pursue her doctorate degree in occupational therapy with a focus on serving children with special needs.

West, a four-year letterwinner for the Panthers’ women’s soccer team, graduated from Georgia State with a bachelor’s degree in biological science. In 2024-25, she served as Vice President for Georgia State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and her next goal is to attend medical school.

The scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes with stated intentions to pursue a graduate degree following the completion of their undergraduate requirements and are sent directly to the graduate school of each recipient’s choice. The recipients were selected by the Sun Belt Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, which is comprised of Faculty Athletic Representatives from across the conference.

To be eligible for Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholarships, nominees must have exhausted eligibility, been declared or designated a varsity letter winner in a Sun Belt-sanctioned sport at a member institution for at least two seasons and achieved a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale).

2025 Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients

Overall Female Postgraduate Award Winner:
Kiersten Donnelly, Old Dominion (Women’s Swimming & Diving)

Overall Male Postgraduate Award Winner:
Ethan Bowens, Marshall (Men’s Track and Field)

Postgraduate Scholarship Award Recipients:
Sierra Dickson, Texas State (Women’s Basketball)
Abby Grosinske, Troy (Women's Track & Field)
Delien Kleinhans, South Alabama (Women's Tennis)
Ellie McIntyre, Georgia Southern (Women's Soccer)
Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina (Softball)
Alaina West, Georgia State University (Women's Soccer)

Eleven Sun Belt Conference softball standouts received NFCA Division I All-Region Team recognition for the 2025 season in an announcement by the organization Thursday afternoon.

Coastal Carolina first baseman Georgia Hood led the way as the Sun Belt’s lone First Team selection, representing the South Region. Six others earned Second Team honors in their respective regions, while four others received Third Team nods.

The Sun Belt’s 11 all-region selections are tied for the second most among non-autonomy conferences this season and marks the 11th-consecutive season the Sun Belt has had double-digit honorees.

Coastal Carolina led the way with four all-region picks including Hood, pitcher Nicolette Picone, second baseman Keirstin Roose and third baseman Delaney Keith. App State, Georgia Southern, James Madison, Louisiana, ULM, Texas State and Troy had one honoree apiece.

The 2025 NFCA Division I All-America teams, voted on by the NFCA DI All-American Committee, will be announced on Wednesday, May 28.

2025 NFCA D-I All-Region Teams (Sun Belt Conference)

Gulf Region
Second Team
Taylor McKinney, OF, Troy
Third Team
Emily Smith, 1B, Louisiana
Morgan Brown, 2B, ULM

Mid-Atlantic Region
Second Team
Makayla McClain, 2B, App State
Payton List, UT/P, James Madison

South Region
First Team
Georgia Hood, 1B, Coastal Carolina
Second Team
Nicolette Picone, P, Coastal Carolina
Keirstin Roose, 2B, Coastal Carolina
Delaney Keith, 3B, Coastal Carolina
Third Team
Maddie Johnson, P, Georgia Southern

Central Region
Third Team
Aiyana Coleman, 1B, Texas State

FIFTY-TWO SUN BELT SOFTBALL PLAYERS GARNER 2025 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS

Fifty-two Sun Belt Conference softball student-athletes have been named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Division I Softball Team.

Nine Sun Belt student-athletes were selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Tuesday, June 17.

Finalists include App State infielder Grace Barrett, Coastal Carolina pitcher Nicolette Picone and infielder Keirstin Roose, ULM outfielder Meagan Brown and infielder Morgan Brown, South Alabama infielder Olivia Branstetter, Texas State catcher Megan Kelnar, and Troy pitcher Alyssa Faircloth and outfielder McKinnon Howard.

All 12 Sun Belt softball programs earned multiple all-district selections, including eight schools leading the way with five apiece.

The 2025 Academic All-District® Softball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Nominees must hold at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and compete in 90 percent of the institution's games played or start in at least 66 percent of games. For pitchers, a student-athlete must have made at least 17 appearances or pitched 35 innings.

For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.

2025 CSC Academic All-District (Sun Belt Conference)
*Grace Barrett, App State
Ava Beamesderfer, App State
Marti Henkel, App State
Sophie Moshos, App State
Summer Simpson, App State
Clara Hudgens, Coastal Carolina
Brie Normandin, Coastal Carolina
*Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina
Libby Pippin, Coastal Carolina
*Keirstin Roose, Coastal Carolina
Faith Barth, Georgia Southern
Valerie Combs, Georgia Southern
Emma Davis, Georgia Southern
Bailey Holland, Georgia Southern
Delanie Thames, Georgia Southern
Kate Kastelic, Georgia State
Emily Hodnett, Georgia State
Chloe Middlebrooks, Georgia State
Maia Mumpfield, Georgia State
Ashton Schroyer, Georgia State
Madison Edwards, James Madison
Kirsten Fleet, James Madison
Kayla Falterman, Louisiana
Maddie Hayden, Louisiana
Mia Liscano, Louisiana
Sam Ryan, Louisiana
Cecilia Vasquez, Louisiana
*Meagan Brown, ULM
*Morgan Brown, ULM
Elle Carter, ULM
Carys Platt, ULM
Maryssa Zenzen, ULM
Haleigh Adkins, Marshall
Abby Darnley, Marshall
Bub Feringa, Marshall
Chandler Hoskins, Marshall
Rielly Lucas, Marshall
*Olivia Branstetter, South Alabama
Sidney Lee, South Alabama
Amity White, South Alabama
Claire Ginder, Southern Miss
Natalie Herrington, Southern Miss
Ryanna Valdivia, Southern Miss
Sydney Harvey, Texas State
*Megan Kelnar, Texas State
Emma Strood, Texas State
Keely Williams, Texas State
Cassidy Boltz, Troy
*Alyssa Faircloth, Troy
*McKinnon Howard, Troy
Savannah Money, Troy
Natalie Turner, Troy

Sun Belt Softball End of Season Awards

Player of the Year: Aiyana Coleman, Texas State
Coleman led the Sun Belt in RBI (33), OPS (1.577), slugging (.966), walks (29) and OBP (.611) against conference opponents and ranked fourth in the league with a .429 batting average on the season despite being walked in nearly 25 percent of her plate appearances. The junior played a key part in the Bobcats’ quest to a Sun Belt regular season championship, as 10 of her 25 hits were home runs. Coleman recorded at least one or was walked in 22 of the team’s 24 conference games. The junior had seven outings with multiple RBI this season, including a five-RBI performance versus Coastal Carolina and a pair of four-RBI efforts against Troy and ULM, respectively. Coleman also did not commit a single error on the year as the team’s first baseman and was one of just four players in the Sun Belt to record at least 130 putouts.

Pitcher of the Year: Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina
A four-time Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week honoree, Picone has posted a 2.42 ERA, 24 wins and 154 strikeouts while recording four shutouts and five saves in the circle. The senior ranks second nationally in wins, fourth in complete games (21), ninth in saves, fifth in games started (31), and fourth in innings pitched (208.0). The Bethpage, N.Y., native has recorded two wins over ranked opponents including No. 24 Kentucky, where she allowed just one run on five hits, and No. 9 South Carolina while surrendering three runs while striking out five. Picone’s four complete-game shutouts came against South Dakota, Texas State, Georgia Southern and Marshall and became the conference’s all-time leader in saves with 19 this season. She did not allow an earned run in 15 appearances this season including five-straight games during a 17.1-inning spell from Feb. 15-22. Picone led the Sun Belt in wins, saves and innings pitched while ranking second in strikeouts, third in ERA, and sixth in opposing batting average (.232).

Newcomer of the Year: Aiyana Coleman, Texas State
Following two seasons at Texas A&M, Coleman racked up 51 hits and started all 51 games in which she appeared in her first year with the Bobcats. The junior’s 17 home runs and 55 RBI ranked third among all players in the Sun Belt while striking out just 13 times and leading the conference in walks (43), OPS (1.485) and slugging percentage (.908). She compiled two multi-homer games and recorded at least three RBI in 10 different ballgames

Freshman of the Year: Emily Smith, Louisiana
Smith is the 10th Ragin’ Cajuns player in the program’s history receive the Sun Belt’s Freshman of the Year honor. In conference play, she was the only true freshman who ranked among the top 10 in batting average, OPS, home runs and RBI. The Kountze, Texas native was Louisiana's team leader in average (.435), home runs (7) and RBI (24) against conference opponent while carrying a .400-plus batting average throughout league play. Smith recorded at least one RBI in 13 of her 21 appearances in Sun Belt contests and is on the verge of becoming the first true freshman to be Louisiana's sole leader in RBI since 2004. On the year, she’s hitting .360 with 12 home runs, 49 hits, 43 RBI and 26 runs scored while recording 12 multi-hit performances and 11 games with multiple RBI

Coach of the Year: Molly Fichtner, ULM
In her seventh season leading ULM, Fichtner is the first in the program’s history to be voted Sun Belt Coach of the Year by her peers. Picked seventh in the Sun Belt’s Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Fichtner led the Warhawks to their winningest season in over 25 years with a 34-21 overall record. She also led ULM to its best finish in the Sun Belt standings and its most conference wins with 14. The Warhawks led the league in many offensive categories, including the team’s .334 batting average. Owning a 22-3 record at home, Fichtner guided the team through series sweeps of Troy and Georgia Southern to sit atop the Sun Belt standings and play for a regular season title on the final weekend of the season. ULM has broken over 15 single-season records under Fichtner, including batting average, hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, total bases and slugging percentage.

2025 Sun Belt Conference Softball Postseason Awards


All-Sun Belt First Team
P Madison Azua, Texas State (So., LHP – Round Rock, Texas)
P Maddie Johnson, Georgia Southern (Fr., RHP – Athens, Ga.)
P Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina (Sr., LHP – Bethpage, N.Y.)
C Megan Kelnar, Texas State (Jr., C – Kyle, Texas)
1B Aiyana Coleman, Texas State (Jr., 1B – College Station, Texas)
2B Morgan Brown, ULM (R-Fr., 2B – Katy, Texas)
2B Makayla McClain, App State (Jr., 2B – Liberty, N.C.)
3B Olivia Branstetter, South Alabama (So., 3B – Liberty, Mo.)
SS Grace Barrett, App State (So., SS – Milton, Ga.)
OF Meagan Brown, ULM (So., OF – Katy, Texas)
OF Hannah Christian, Southern Miss (Fr., OF – Hoover, Ala.)
OF Diamond Leslie, Marshall (Fr., OF – Alpharetta, Ga.)
OF Brooklin Lippert, ULM (So., OF – Loganville, Ga.)
OF Taylor McKinney, Troy (Sr., OF – Montgomery, Ala.)
DP Payton List, James Madison (R-So., DP – Beaver, Pa.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team
P Alana Barnard, Georgia Southern (Jr., RHP – Statesboro, Ga.)
P Alyssa Faircloth, Troy (So., LHP – Northport, Ala.)
P Sophie Moshos, App State (Jr., LHP – Brazil, Ind.)
C Maddy Jennings, Coastal Carolina (Sr., C – Belton, S.C.)
1B Georgia Hood, Coastal Carolina (Jr., 1B – Mount Gambier, Australia)
1B Emily Smith, Louisiana (Fr., 1B – Kountze, Texas)
1B Gabby Stagner, South Alabama (Sr., 1B – Mobile, Ala.)
2B Keirstin Roose, Coastal Carolina (Sr., 2B – Wolcottville, Ind.)
3B Sam Roe, Louisiana (Sr., 3B – Destin, Fla.)
SS Haleigh Adkins, Marshall (So., SS – Hamlin, W.Va.)
SS Delanie Thames, Georgia Southern (So., SS – Statesboro, Ga.)
OF Kayla Falterman, Louisiana (Sr., OF – The Woodlands, Texas)
OF Maddie Hayden, Louisiana (Sr., OF – West Monroe, La.)
OF McKinnon Howard, Troy (So., OF – Smiths Station, Ala.)
DP Layla Thompson, ULM (Sr., DP – Gonzales, La.)