The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its 2026 All-Conference awards for softball. Individually, Pfeiffer teammates grabbed three of the five honors as Landry Stewart was named Player of the Year, Heather Vaughn grabbed Rookie of the Year, and Abigail Bowman was named Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Meredith's Lillie Davis was named Pitcher of the Year while her coach, Kim Scavone, earned Coach of the Year honors. Additionally, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school who their coach felt displayed the best sportsmanship this season.

All honors are determined by votes from the softball coach at each institution.

Stewart, a senior outfielder from China Grove, North Carolina, becomes the eighth softball player in League history to be named Player of the Year in consecutive seasons. It is also the fourth straight year a Falcon has been named USA South Player of the Year. During the regular season, Stewart led the Conference in batting average (.504), on-base percentage (.559), runs scored (49), hits (64), and set a new USA South single-season record for stolen bases (58). Against USA South foes, Stewart posted a League-best .597 batting average while also leading in hits (37), runs scored (32), and stolen bases (32). For her efforts this season, Stewart collected First Team All-Conference accolades in the outfield for the second consecutive year and was named USA South Player of the Week twice.

A senior pitcher from Roxboro, North Carolina, Davis becomes the first Avenging Angel to be named USA South Softball Pitcher of the Year while adding to her Rookie Pitcher of the Year honor from 2023. Following the regular season, she led the League with a new program-record 22 wins to go along with a Conference-low 1.72 ERA and a League-high 156 strikeouts while pitching the most innings in the USA South (183.0). Against USA South competition in 112.0 innings, Davis posted League-highs in 15 wins and 108 strikeouts with a 1.44 ERA. For her performance during the week of April 6th, Davis was named Division III Wilson/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Pitcher of the Week. Additionally, at the plate during the regular season, Davis posted a .321 batting average with 11 runs scored, 29 RBI, and four home runs. Davis earns First Team All-Conference honors as a pitcher for the second time in her career to go along with a nod at utility last season. Finally, she was named USA South Pitcher of the Week twice this spring.

Vaughn, a freshman first baseman from Eli Whitney, North Carolina, becomes the third Falcon to earn USA South Softball Rookie of the Year honors. At the conclusion of the regular season, Vaughn sat in the top-five of the Conference in several offensive categories including batting average (.426), hits (58), runs scored (34), RBI (38), stolen bases (15), and triples (3). Vaughn also added a .507 slugging percentage and a .455 on-base percentage during regular season play. Against USA South opposition, Vaughn was second in hits with 28, tied for second in RBI with 24, and fourth in runs scored with 20 to go along with a .467 batting average, a .567 slugging percentage, and a .492 on-base percentage. Finally, Vaughn earned First Team All-Conference honors at first base while also being named USA South Rookie of the Week three times this spring.

A freshman pitcher from Lenior, North Carolina, Bowman becomes just the second Falcon hurler (Emma Bullin, 2022) to earn USA South Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Year. She compiled a 14-4 record with a League-best four saves and a 1.90 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 110.1 innings this regular season. Bowman also held opponents to hitting a USA South-low .178 during regular season play. In games against USA South opponents, Bowman was 11-1 win a Conference-best 1.28 ERA and a USA South-leading four saves. She struck out 63 batters over 65.2 innings and held hitters to a League-low .127 batting average. Finally, Bowman was named a First Team All-Conference pitcher, USA South Pitcher of the Week once, and USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week five times this spring.

In her 16th season at Meredith, Scavone collects her third career USA South Coach of the Year honor (2012, 2017). She led the Avenging Angels to a 23-15 overall record during the regular season which included a 15-3 record in Conference play, good for second place. In the USA South Preseason Coaches poll, Meredith was picked to finished third. Finally, the 23 wins are the most since Scavone's 2018 squad won 28 games while the 15 League victories are the most since the 2017 team's 17.

 

Player of the Year		Pitcher of the Year		Rookie of the Year
Landry Stewart Pfeiffer		Lillie Davis Meredith		Heather Vaughn Pfeiffer
Rookie Pitcher of the Year		Coach of the Year
Abigail Bowman Pfeiffer		Kim Scavone Meredith

The 2026 USA South Softball All-Conference Team:  
 

	First Team	Second Team
First Base	Heather Vaughn, Pfeiffer	Kayla Simmons, N.C. Wesleyan
Second Base	Natalie Auman, Pfeiffer	Rylee Locklear, Brevard
Third Base	Anna Frazier, Greensboro	Andrea Furr, Brevard
Shortstop	Brooke Markiewicz, N.C. Wesleyan	Ky Perdue, Pfeiffer
Catcher	Kirstyn Herman, Pfeiffer	Reese Upton, Salem
Designated Player	Tess Spangenburg, Meredith	Jordyn Tong, Greensboro
Utility	Mollie Bulla, Pfeiffer	Kenly Brown, Greensboro
Outfield	Ragan Holloman, N.C. Wesleyan Emilee Lewis, Meredith Landry Stewart, Pfeiffer	Aleah Jones, N.C. Wesleyan E.A. Nance, Pfeiffer Eliza Patterson, Southern Virginia
Pitcher	Lillie Davis, Meredith Abigail Bowman, Pfeiffer	Ava Strickland, N.C. Wesleyan Reagan Stewart, William Peace
At-Large	Ashbee Standridge, Meredith (1B) Berkeley Whitten, Southern Virginia (DP)	Sophia Badell, Southern Virginia (UTIL) Ella Ebert, Greensboro (1B)

 
 

All-Sportsmanship

Kaitlin Eaton, Brevard Mason Browning, Greensboro Dana Micone, Mary Baldwin Logan Fennell, Meredith Kaylyn Nuckols, Methodist Kelsey Tackett, N.C. Wesleyan Micah Felts, Pfeiffer Madison Long, Salem Abigail Minx, Southern Virginia Hannah Cron, William Peace