September 22, 2205
Waxahachie, TX – Nelson University junior outside hitter Mackenzie Smith has been named the NCCAA Women's Volleyball Division I Student-Athlete of the Week for her standout play during the week of September 22, 2025.
Smith powered the Lady Lions to a 2-1 record in conference action, delivering a steady offensive spark in every match. She opened the week with back-to-back 14-kill performances against Texas Wesleyan University and John Brown University. She capped her week with an efficient eight-kill, one-error outing in Nelson's sweep over College of the Ozarks.
The Springfield, Missouri native showcased remarkable efficiency, hitting over .400 in two of the three matches while also being a force defensively at the net with eight total blocks. Her consistency helped push Nelson back to the .500 mark on the season with an overall record of 8-8.
On the week, Smith totaled 36 kills, a .360 hitting percentage, 4 digs, and 8 blocks.
She stood out among a talented group of nominees including Marley Aune (University of Northwestern), Tori Dawson (Malone University), Madelyn Hensley (Cedarville University), Chloe Schmidt (Sterling College), Hailey Sembach (Ohio Christian University), Karlee Siegfreid (Mid-America Christian University), Avery Surette (Redeemer University), and Ainsley Tacke (Bethel University).
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.
