Waxahachie, TX | December 2025 — The postseason awards confirmed what the Sooner Athletic Conference had witnessed from start to finish: Nelson University Volleyball wasn't just good, they were historically dominant.

Backed by a culture built on togetherness, the Lady Lions stormed through the year to claim both the SAC Regular Season Championship and the SAC Tournament Championship, establishing themselves as the clear standard of the conference.

Their postseason resume matched the on-court success: seven All-SAC selections spanning First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention, plus the league's highest sideline honor SAC Coach of the Year, earned by Head Coach Nick Moore.

In a season filled with statement wins, wire-to-wire consistency, and championship pedigree, the Lady Lions redefined what excellence looks like in the SAC.

In just his first season at the helm, Coach Nick Moore elevated the program to new territory. His Lady Lions played fearless, disciplined volleyball, showing off a system built on trust, tempo, and relentless competitiveness. Nelson surged through conference play with a sharpened identity, a connected locker room, and a roster that improved every week earning Moore the league's top coaching honor.

ALL-SAC FIRST TEAM HONOREES

Taylor Cavazos — Senior, Setter (#11)

• 645 assists (5.12 A/S)
• 52 aces (0.41 SA/S)
• 325 digs (2.58 DIG/S)
• SAC Setter of the Week

The senior floor general delivered one of the most complete seasons in the conference. Cavazos controlled matches with poise and pace, stacking assists, earning a Setter of the Week nod, and impacting every rally with her defense, serve pressure, and leadership. The Lady Lions ran because Taylor made them go.

Mackenzie Smith — Junior, Middle Blocker (#7)

• 301 kills (2.39 K/S)
• .257 hitting % (#9 in SAC)
• 82 blocks (0.65 BLK/S)
• NCCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Week

Smith was dominant in the middle, efficient, powerful, and steady across the entire season. Her blend of offense and rim-protecting defense made her one of the SAC's most difficult matchups. She punctuated her campaign with an NCCAA weekly honor fueled by 36 kills, .360 hitting, and eight blocks.

ALL-SAC SECOND TEAM HONOREES

Cassidy Hargesheimer — Junior, Setter (#13)

• 513 assists (5.13 A/S)
• 35 aces (0.35 SA/S)
• 202 digs (2.02 DIG/S)
• SAC Setter of the Week

Hargesheimer was the definition of reliable production. Whether running the offense, attacking from the service line, or anchoring the backrow, she consistently stamped her influence on matches. Her Setter of the Week performance (55 assists across two matches) highlighted her elite distribution.

Alexandra Bonnett — Senior, Outside Hitter (#18)

• 312 kills (2.84 K/S)
• .231 hitting %
• 43 aces (0.39 SA/S)
• 270 digs (2.45 DIG/S)
• SAC All-Tournament Most Valuable Player

Bonnett was electric all season long— ut she was unstoppable when it mattered most. Her postseason tear earned her SAC Tournament MVP, powered by 38 kills on a scorching .405 hitting clip. She exits Nelson as one of the most versatile and impactful outside hitters to come through the program.

Addison Standley — Freshman, Outside Hitter (#22)

• 226 kills (2.72 K/S) — #4 in SAC
• .248 hitting % — #6 in SAC
• 26 blocks (0.31 BLK/S)

In her first season of collegiate volleyball, Standley proved she belonged with the league's elite. She ranked top six in the conference in multiple categories and emerged as a foundational piece for the future of Nelson Volleyball. Her breakout year positioned her as one of the SAC's rising stars.

ALL-SAC HONORABLE MENTION

Samantha Moore — Senior, Middle Blocker (#9)

• 230 kills (1.98 K/S)
• .214 hitting %
• 12 aces
• 69 blocks (0.59 BLK/S)

A steady force at the net, Moore capped her career with a strong senior season. Her shot-making, blocking presence, and competitive consistency helped drive Nelson's mid-season surge, earning her rightful recognition among the conference's top front-row players.

From seasoned seniors to ascending underclassmen, Nelson Volleyball showcased a depth and balance rarely seen across the conference. Seven All-SAC honorees and a Coach of the Year selection don't happen by accident, for they are the product of a unified room, relentless belief, and a standard that's now firmly in place.

Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-NELSON.