Reaves named national softball Player of Year

After helping lead the University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team back to the eight-team NCAA Division II championship, senior center fielder Sydnee Reaves added another honor to her resume as she was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Player of the Year.

Reaves also headlined North Georgia's two NFCA All-America selections, earning first-team honors alongside teammate Chloe Poss, who was selected to the third team at large.

A unanimous NFCA First Team All-American selection, Reaves has been one of the catalysts for the Nighthawks throughout the 2026 season. North Georgia is making its second straight appearance at the NCAA Division II championship and fifth in the last six seasons.

The Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Player of the Year put together one of the top offensive seasons in Division II this spring. Reaves entered the World Series batting .437 with 28 doubles, 20 home runs, 81 RBI, 68 runs scored, and an .865 slugging percentage. She also owned a .498 on-base percentage and had struck out only 10 times in 245 plate appearances.

Nationally, Reaves ranked among the Division II leaders in several offensive categories, including doubles, doubles per game, home runs, runs scored, and RBI per game.

The NFCA Division II Player of the Year award was created in 2015 to recognize the outstanding athletic achievements of NCAA Division II softball student-athletes. In 2019, the association expanded the award to include both a Player and Pitcher of the Year honor.

Poss added another accolade to her standout season with her third-team All-America selection. The PBC Pitcher of the Year entered the NCAA Division II championship with a 24-5 record and a 2.38 ERA in the circle. Across 203 1/3 innings pitched, Poss had recorded 13 complete games, five shutouts and three saves while striking out 160 batters. Her 24 wins ranked among the top 20 nationally entering the final week of the season.