Cassie Carlson named AMC Volleyball Player of the Year for WBU

Freshman Cassie Carlson secured the American Midwest Conference Volleyball Player of the Year award, headlining the league’s postseason honors as announced by the conference office on Thursday evening.

The Harrisburg, Arkansas native also captured AMC Attacker of the Year and AMC Freshman of the Year honors, the first time in program history a Lady Eagle has claimed all three accolades. She stands as the first freshman to earn AMC Player of the Year since 2017.

Carlson finished the regular season leading the entire NAIA with 686 kills and 752 points, while ranking second nationally in kills per set at 4.94.

Teammate Mackenzie Griffin added to the historic haul by earning AMC Setter of the Year. Griffin led the conference with 1,256 assists, a mark that tied for second in the NAIA, and became the first freshman to win the setter honor since 2019.

Both Carlson and Griffin earned spots on the AMC All-Conference First Team, representing the first time Lady Eagles have earned the award since 2008.

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Tinleigh Ruhman and Taivia Williams joined them on the AMC All-Conference Second Team. Ruhman collected the honor for the second straight season after finishing as Williams Baptist University’s second-leading attacker with 263 kills and a .207 hitting percentage.

Williams contributed 248 kills and paced the squad defensively with 87 blocks. In the 2026 campaign, WBU had three or more players receive AMC All-Conference honors in the same season for the first time.

Darcy Broglin was selected as the university’s representative to the AMC Champions of Character Team, an award recognizing the NAIA’s Five Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership.

Academic honors went to Natalie Collier, Darcy Broglin, Amber Kahler, Desirae Walker, Lynsey Gordon, Payton Bond, and Rebecca Correa, who were all named to the AMC Academic All-Conference Team.