DALLAS – On Wednesday, Conference USA unveiled its 2025 postseason volleyball awards. The list included two all-conference teams with 11 members each in addition to a freshman team consisting of seven student-athletes. Seven superlative honors were also handed out, spearheaded by four representatives from Western Kentucky. In the announcement, Maggie Lightheart was named to the All-CUSA Second Team, earning her second career postseason honor from the league. The junior was the lone Aggie to earn an award on Wednesday. 
 
Since coming in as a walk-on for the 2023 season, Maggie Lightheart has emerged into a six-rotation star for NM State. In her junior regular season, she posted a team-high 339 kills, alongside a 258-dig total that ranks second on the team. The local product has been beyond exceptional at the service line, totaling a CUSA-best 57 aces. Her total stands alone as the second-most aces during a single season in program history, only behind Kim Bevington in 1982 (71). 
 
Lightheart has logged 11 outings with three or more aces, leading the team in 14 separate matches. Defensively, her 51 blocks have included nine solo rejections. From Sept. 13 to Oct. 4, the outside hitter notched 10 consecutive showings with multiple blocks, including a career-high five versus rival New Mexico. Her 6.90 receptions and 2.39 digs per set have helped hold opponents to a .195 hitting percentage for a mark that ranks third in the conference.
 
On Oct. 27, the third-year Aggie was named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week after a stellar weekend against MTSU. Across two victories, she amassed 42 kills and 23 digs, hitting .313 over the series. Her 23 kills in the series opener (.429) still stand as a career high and the most by any Aggie this season. 
 
Key statistics/notables:

• 57 service aces (leads CUSA; sixth in NCAA)
• 0.53 aces per set (leads CUSA; 15^th in NCAA)
• 339 kills (leads team)
• 208 kills in conference play (third in CUSA)
• 3.53 kills per set in conference play (fourth in CUSA)
• .242 hitting percentage in league play
• Averaging 2.39 digs per set this season (second on team)
• Leads team with 745 service receptions 
• Posted 51 total blocks, including nine solo
• Has 11 matches with three or more aces this season
• Averaging 4.19 points per set in since start of league play (fourth in CUSA)
• CUSA Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 27)

• 2023 CUSA All-Freshman Team selection

 
Head Coach Mike Jordan, on Lightheart's development: "I'm so proud of Maggie. She earned it. She's coachable and she never takes days off. She's carried a ton of responsibility for the first time in her career. Her progress from her first year to third year has been great. It's not easy to be good at this level. She's a great example of how to get it done."
 
In 2023, the Mayfield High School product earned a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman Team, picking up her first collegiate honor. Earlier this year, she earned the Aggies' only weekly honor from the league when she was tabbed as the Oct. 27 Offensive Player of the Week. Wednesday's announcement adds to Lightheart's trophy case, solidifying her as the most decorated Aggie on the roster. 
 
2025 CUSA Volleyball Postseason Awards
Alyssa Cavanaugh Player of the Year: Callie Bauer, WKU
 
Defensive Player of the Year: Izzy Van De Wiele, WKU
 
Setter of the Year: Callie Bauer, WKU
 
Libero of the Year: Mandi Morioka, FIU
 
Newcomer of the Year: Magda Stambrowska, FIU
 
Freshman of the Year: Kaira Knox, WKU
 
Coach of the Year: Ben Wallis, UTEP
 
CUSA First Team All-Conference

• Kira Givans, FIU
• Kayla Williams, Jax State
• Manu Johnsen, Kennesaw State
• Torrance Lovesee, UTEP
• Sara Pustahija, UTEP
• Danika Washington, UTEP
• Callie Bauer, WKU
• Kaira Knox, WKU
• Alivia Skidmore, WKU
• Izzy Van De Wiele, WKU

• Faith Young, WKU

 
CUSA Second Team All-Conference

• Savannah Cook, FIU
• Jillian Huckabey, FIU
• Mandi Morioka, FIU
• Olivia Burrage, Kennesaw State
• Carly O'Brien, Liberty
• Jenna Otts, Liberty
• Paige Overcash, Liberty
• Maggie Lightheart, NM State
• Kalia Kohler, UTEP
• Kaya Weaver, UTEP

• Tayler Baron, WKU

 
CUSA All-Freshman Team

• Rebekah Pfefferkorn, FIU
• Charlee Solomon, Jax State
• Alison Bierwagen, Liberty
• Raegan Durbin, MTSU
• Hannah Gardner, Missouri State
• Chloe Monson, Sam Houston

• Kaira Knox, WKU

 
This weekend, Lightheart will lead the Aggies into battle at the CUSA Championship in Miami. The three-day, eight-team tournament begins Friday, Nov. 21, as NM State searches for its first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament since 2019. The Crimson & White open the hunt for a trophy against WKU, their foe in each of the past two championships' final matches. All seven single-elimination matches from FIU's Ocean Bank Convocation Center will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via StatBroadcast.
 
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