MORRIS, Minn. - Four softball players from the University of Minnesota Morris have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. Anna Athey, Malena Mahoney, Sierra Stevens, and Alyssa Thornton represent Cougar Softball in receiving this award. 

Athey, a senior from Mora, Minn., graduated from Minnesota Morris this spring with degrees in biology and psychology while boasting an impressive 3.95 GPA. A catcher for the Cougars this season and appearing in all 40 games, Athey earned a fielding percentage of .931 as she secured 151 putouts and 25 assists. In her 96 at-bats, she scored 18 runs on 26 hits. She launched two home runs into play and brought in 19 runs for the Cougars to earn a batting average of .271, a slugging percentage of .417 and an on-base percentage of .360.

Mahoney, a senior from Frazee, Minn., earned a degree in computer science from Minnesota Morris with a 4.00 GPA. Playing right field for the Cougars, she started 39 games on the season, appearing at the plate 96 times while collecting 35 hits and scoring 22 runs. Mahoney hit nine doubles, three triples, and one home run into play and added 15 RBI's for the team. Her batting average totaled up to .365 while her on-base percentage was an impressive .446. On the bases, she picked up seven stolen bases for the Minnesota Morris. Mahoney was a mainstay for Minnesota Morris in the outfield with 46 putouts and one assist to earn a fielding percentage of .940. She was named a First Team All-UMAC recipient for her performance this season.

Hailing from Brookings, S.D., Stevens graduated from Minnesota Morris this spring with a degree in biology while holding a 3.72 GPA. Starting 39 games in the outfield for the Cougars, she earned 74 putouts and five assists to finish the season with a .952 fielding percentage. Stevens holds an on-base percentage of .328 after the season, scoring 25 runs and earning 38 hits in 130 at-bats. She brought in 18 runs for Minnesota Morris. Stevens secured 26 stolen-bases on the season to shatter the single-season record and place her name in the Softball Record Book in multiple categories.

Thornton is a sophomore from San Diego, Cali. and will graduate from Minnesota Morris with degrees in Psychology and Human Services. Thornton was a powerhouse in the circle for the Cougars while maintaining a 3.67 GPA. She went 12-12 on the year while pitching two shutouts. In 140.2 innings pitched, Thornton gave up 170 hits and just 71 earned runs while pitching 111 strikeouts. At the dish for Minnesota Morris, Thornton finished the season with a batting average of .409 and an on-base percentage of .480 in her 110 at-bats on the season. She scored 21 runs on 45 hits, knocking one double and two triples into play while earning 21 RBI's. Thornton also collected two stolen bases. While playing infield for Minnesota Morris, she finished the season with 40 putouts and 38 assists for a fielding percentage of .886.

The 2025 Academic All-District®  Softball Teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court 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.

Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot.