General

Building Momentum: Looking Back at the CCS Spring 2026 Season

ATLANTA, Ga. (July 17, 2026) - In its fourth year, the CCS continued its upward momentum, marked by record-setting spring seasons, deep NCAA tournament runs, and exceptional athletic achievement.

OVERVIEW

The 2025-26 academic year represented a landmark season of continued momentum for the Collegiate Conference of the South. Building on our second year of automatic qualification (AQ) status, member institutions elevated the conference through competitive championship fields, memorable postseason performances, and increased representation on the national stage. A major highlight of the spring was the successful launch of the CCS Network, allowing the conference to broadcast its baseball and softball championships directly to fans for free. The only platform of its kind within the Southeastern region.

 

FEATURED SPORTS

Basketball
Men

  • Recap
    • The bracket opened Tuesday with No. 3 Belhaven setting the tone in Jackson, Mississippi. The Blazers delivered one of the most complete offensive performances of the tournament, defeating No. 6 Covenant, 113-77, in the quarterfinal round. Belhaven took control early, built a 51-27 halftime lead and continued to push the pace throughout the second half. The win sent the Blazers into the semifinal round against No. 2 Huntingdon.
    • On the other side of the bracket, No. 4 LaGrange protected its home floor with a 91-80 win over No. 5 Asbury. The Eagles stayed within striking distance through a competitive first half, but the Panthers created separation after halftime. LaGrange controlled the glass, generated extra possessions and used a strong night at the free-throw line to close out the quarterfinal victory and advance to face top-seeded Maryville.
    • The tournament shifted to Maryville for Friday’s semifinals, where Belhaven continued its postseason surge. Facing No. 2 Huntingdon, the Blazers used timely perimeter shooting, interior scoring and a decisive second-half response to earn an 85-73 win. Huntingdon briefly moved in front early in the second half, but Belhaven answered with a 12-0 run to regain control. The Blazers closed the game at the free-throw line and secured their spot in the championship game.
    • The second semifinal brought the tournament’s biggest upset. No. 4 LaGrange knocked off No. 1 Maryville, 82-71, handing the Scots their only CCS loss of the season. Maryville led 41-38 at halftime, but LaGrange responded after the break and gradually took control. The Panthers pulled ahead midway through the second half and held off the host Scots down the stretch, ending Maryville’s tournament run and setting up a championship matchup between the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds.
    • Belhaven took command early in the championship game. CJ Minton opened the scoring with back-to-back three-pointers, and the Blazers used their pace, rebounding and balance to build a 44-32 halftime lead. LaGrange briefly pushed back in the second half, cutting into the deficit, but Belhaven answered each run with transition scoring and timely shots. The Blazers broke the game open during the second half and closed out a 92-73 victory over LaGrange at the Cooper Athletic Center.
    • The Blazers captured its first CCS Tournament Championship in program history and secured their first NCAA Division III Tournament berth in school history.
  • Superlative awards
    • Maryville’s Chase Morgan was named Player of the Year and Head Coach Raul Placeres took home his third Coach of the Year honor.
    • Covenant’s Pierce Smith earned his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year honor.
    • Braylon Dame was the first Blazer to earn CCS Rookie of the Year honors and Jeremy Autin became the second Hawk to earn the Sixth Man of the Year award.
    • Belhaven’s CJ Minton was named the CCS Tournament MVP alongside teammates Neal Terry and Dan Robinson on the all-tournament team. Micah McAlister and Devin Dowell represented LaGrange while Mules Murphy (Huntingdon) and Chase Morgan (Maryville) also earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
 

Women

  • Recap
    • The tournament opened Tuesday with No. 3 Asbury protecting its home floor against No. 6 Huntingdon. The Eagles took control of the quarterfinal matchup and advanced with an 80-63 victory, moving into the semifinal round against No. 2 Belhaven.
    • On the other side of the bracket, No. 4 Piedmont also used its home-court advantage to move forward. The Lions defeated No. 5 Maryville, 60-49, holding the Scots under 50 points to earn a semifinal matchup with top-seeded LaGrange.
    • The tournament shifted to LaGrange for Friday’s semifinal round, where Belhaven and Asbury opened the night with the highest-scoring game of the championship. The Blazers outlasted the Eagles, 88-79, advancing to the title game. The win sent Belhaven into the championship matchup and ended Asbury’s tournament run after a quarterfinal victory.
    • In the second semifinal, LaGrange began its title push in front of its home crowd. The Panthers defeated Piedmont, 76-64, to earn a spot in the championship game. With the win, LaGrange protected its No. 1 seed and set up a meeting with No. 2 Belhaven for the tournament title.
    • The final was competitive throughout. LaGrange led 13-11 after the opening quarter and carried a 31-28 advantage into halftime. Belhaven stayed within striking distance and posted its strongest offensive quarter in the third, scoring 21 points to keep pressure on the Panthers entering the final period. LaGrange responded in the fourth quarter. The Panthers closed the game with a 19-point final frame, creating enough separation down the stretch to secure a 69-62 victory at Mariotti Gymnasium.
    • With the win, LaGrange captured its first CCS Women’s Basketball Championship and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. 
  • Superlative awards
    • LaGrange’s Laila Battle delivered one of the most complete seasons in conference play, earning both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. The first Panther to achieve this honor. LaGrange’s first-year head coach Steve Kenner earned Coach of the Year honors after leading his team to a 20-8 overall record.
    • Piedmont’s Kylie Watkins and Gracie Deetz were named Rookie of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year, respectively.
    • Battle, Stinson, and McClendon represented LaGrange on the all-tournament team alongside Katelyn Coleman and Veronica Williams from Belhaven. They were joined by Kylie Watkins (Piedmont) and Emily Sizemore (Asbury).
 

Track and Field
Men

  • Recap
    • Belhaven University was selected to host the 2026 CCS Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
    • Maryville College claimed the 2026 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Title.
    • Piedmont University claimed the next spot being named championship runner up.
    • Maryville led the men’s team with an outstanding 200.5 points, the Lions followed second with 141 points.
  • Superlative awards
    • Covenant’s Ethan Saiki was named the CCS 2026 Men’s Track and Field Track Athlete of the Meet, Overall Athlete of the Meet, and Athlete of the Year. 
    • Belhaven’s Neal Terry was named the CCS 2026 Men’s Track and Field Field Athlete of the Meet and was selected to compete at the 2026 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
    • LaGrange’s Ryheem Mighten was named the CCS 2026 Men’s Track and Field Rookie of the Year and was selected to compete at the 2026 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
    • Maryville’s Kunle Lawson was named the CCS 2026 Men’s Track and Field Coach of the Year.
 

Women

  • Recap
    • Belhaven University was chosen to host the 2026 CCS Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
    • Maryville College claimed the 2026 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Title.
    • Piedmont University follows closely behind with being named championship runner up.
    • Maryville led the top spot for the women with 200 points and the Lions led next with 156 points to place the next best spot.
  • Superlative awards
    • Covenant’s Evangelia Berry was named the CCS 2026 Women’s Track and Field Track Athlete of the Meet. 
    • Maryville’s Abbey Cox was named the CCS 2026 Women’s Track and Field Field and Overall Athlete of the Meet.
    • Belhaven’s Kimona Haynes was named the CCS 2026 Women’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
    • Belhaven’s Brycelyn Townsend was named the CCS 2026 Women’s Track and Field Rookie of the Year.
    • Maryville’s Kunle Lawson was named the CCS 2026 Women’s Track and Field Coach of the Year.
    • Kimona Haynes of Belhaven was selected to compete at the 2026 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
 

Tennis
Men

  • Recap
    • In their second year as a member, Asbury University claimed their second CCS Men’s Regular Season Title and Championship Title.
    • No. 3 seed Maryville quickly knocks out the No. 6 seed Belhaven 5-0 advancing the Scots to take on Covenant. 
    • Piedmont played strong matches to outlast the No.5 seed Huntingdon and lead them to play the No.1 seed Asbury Eagles.
    • No. 2 seed Covenant pulled off an impressive 4-2 win over No. 3 seed Maryville to allow the Covenant Scots the opportunity to play Asbury in a rematch for the title. 
    • Top seed Asbury fought to keep their title with a tight match against Piedmont, a final 4-2 victory spoke for the Eagles’ stellar performance all season long. 
  • Superlative awards
    • Covenant’s Caleb Domkowski was named the 2026 CCS Men’s Tennis Player of the Year.
    • Maryville’s Steven Fitzsimmons was named the 2026 CCS Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Year while head coach Doug Corbett was named the 2026 CCS Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year.
    • The following athletes were named to the CCS Men’s Tennis All-Tournament Team:
      • Ignacio Murillo, Asbury (MVP)
      • Alejo Britos, Asbury
      • Franco Patino, Asbury
      • Ben Onufrock, Covenant
      • Gavin Patton, Covenant
      • Rohan Kavali, Piedmont
      • Field Myatt, Maryville 
 

Women

  • Recap
    • Asbury Eagles make another clean sweep and are crowned conference champions for the second year in a row, as a member of the CCS.
    • No. 3 seed Maryville gets the job done knocking out No. 6 seed Agnes Scott with a 4-0 sweep.
    • No.4 seed Covenant put up a hard fight to advance to semifinals by knocking out No. 5 seed Huntingdon with a 4-2 win. 
    • Asbury (No. 2 seed) dominates the No. 3 seed Maryville with a 4-1 victory to advance to the championship final.
    • Top seed Piedmont takes down the Covenant Scots (No. 4 seed) with a clean 4-0 sweep to send the Lions to their fourth consecutive season championship final.
    • The Eagles of Asbury put up a stunning upset and pulled out a 4-3 win over the top seed, Piedmont. 
  • Superlative awards
    • Asbury’s Katherine Nova was named the 2026 CCS Women’s Tennis Player of the Year.
    • Covenant’s Maisie Tanchanpongs was named the 2026 CCS Women’s Tennis Rookie of the Year.
    • Lions’ Trey Martin was named the 2026 CCS Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year.
    • The following athletes were named to the CCS Women’s Tennis All-Tournament Team:
      • Mallory Watkins, Asbury (MVP)
      • Katherine Nova, Asbury
      • Ariadna Zegarra, Asbury
      • Olivia Carpenter, Piedmont
      • Sarah Row, Piedmont
      • Katie Cummings, Covenant
      • Maggie Hackney, Maryville
 

Golf

  • Recap
    • The Lions opened with a pair of difficult rounds (+13, +14) on Day 1 of the tournament before a resurgent final round of +1 on Day 2 to seal the program’s third championship. Huntingdon, the nation’s top-ranked Division III program entering the tournament, posted rounds of +12, +16, and +10 in a strong but ultimately runner-up showing. Asbury and Covenant tied for third at +66, followed by LaGrange (+70), Maryville (+75), and Belhaven (+106).
    • Jack Burr capped a historic collegiate career by claiming the individual championship at +4 (rounds of -2, +7, -1). The senior from Milton, Georgia, finished the tournament with a commanding five-stroke margin over runner-up Drew Silman of Covenant (+5). Burr closed the year ranked No. 7 nationally and No. 5 regionally, posted a 70.1 scoring average over 32 rounds this season, and earned First Team All-CCS selections four times over the course of his career.
    • Covenant’s Drew Silman (+5) finished as runner-up with rounds of +1, +2, +2, capping a steady tournament for the Scots. Piedmont freshman Braden Kiley finished +6 alongside Covenant’s Cole Godwin and Piedmont’s Jacob DeJesus, all tying for third. In the final round, Kiley finished with a -2 in the final round and Godwin posted a remarkable -4 to charge up the leaderboard. Huntingdon’s Cole Humphrey and LaGrange’s Albin Nirup tied for sixth at +7, with Nirup shooting even par in the final round for LaGrange’s best individual result of the weekend.
  • Superlative awards
    • Huntingdon’s Jack Burr claimed his third consecutive CCS Golfer of the Year award after closing the year ranked No. 6 nationally and No. 5 regionally, punctuating his spring with an individual championship at the 2026 CCS Men's Golf Championship — making him just the third Huntingdon player to capture that title. Huntingdon’s Dave Schreyer was voted CCS Coach of the Year by his peers after guiding the Hawks to the No. 1 ranking in both the region and the nation in Division III. 
    • Braden Kiley, a first-year golfer with the Lions, earned CCS Rookie of the Year honors after a debut season that turned heads across the conference, becoming the first Piedmont player to earn the conference's top freshman honor.
    • The CCS Men’s Golf All-Tournament Team consisted of the top five individual finishers in the championship tournament: Jack Burr (Huntingdon), Drew Silman (Covenant), Braden Kiley (Piedmont), Jacob DeJesus (Piedmont), Cole Goodwin (Covenant).
 

Baseball

  • Recap
    • Top seed, Piedmont University, went undefeated in the 2026 CCS Baseball Championship Tournament. The win marked the program’s second overall time winning the CCS tournament, while also punching their way to the NCAA DIII Tournament for the first time since 2011.The Lions first defeated Asbury, 3-2, in the opening round, later taking down Huntingdon, 9-4, Maryville, 9-5, and finally No. 2 Seed, Belhaven, 14-4 in the championship game. MVP of the Tournament, Cole Ellis, hit .433 with 10 hits and 3 RBI’s over four games. 
    • Runners-up of the 2026 CCS Baseball Championship Tournament, Belhaven University, concluded the regular season with a 31-12 (12-6) record. The #17 nationally ranked Blazers earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA DIII Regionals for a second consecutive season, and was selected to the Marshall, Texas Regional. 
  • Superlative awards
    • Maryville’s Det Dettwiller was named 2026 CCS Baseball Player of the Year, with teammate, Masin Hall, earning the 2026 CCS Baseball Rookie Player of the Year award. Piedmont’s Andrew Misirly took home the 2026 CCS Baseball Pitcher of the Year honors. Huntingdon’s MD Johnson was honored as the 2026 CCS Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Piedmont’s Justin Scali was named the 2026 CCS Baseball Coach of the Year.


Softball

  • Recap
    • Though dropping their first game to Maryville, Belhaven blazed through the rest of the competition in the 2026 CCS Softball Championship Tournament, winning their second straight title. In the championship series, the Blazers took down Huntingdon in Game 1, 10-4, and secured the title in Game 2, 5-2. Belhaven hit .368 as a team with 63 hits and 49 runs across six games. MVP of the tournament, Macy Funderburk, went 5-1 with 22 strikeouts while only allowing 11 hits. With this win, the Blazers not only captured their sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA DIII Tournament, but they hosted their first ever NCAA Regional in program history.
    • Claiming runner-up in the 2026 CCS Softball Championship Tournament, Huntingdon ended the regular season with a 31-10 record. As a team, they took down Piedmont, 11-3, then Maryville, 11-0, before falling to Belhaven in the championship series. However, the nationally-ranked Hawks received an at-large berth to the 2026 NCAA DIII Softball Tournament for the third consecutive season, and was given the #3 seed at the Seguin, Texas Regional. 
  • Superlative awards
    • Piedmont’s Anslee Saunchegraw, was named both the 2026 CCS Softball Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Huntingdon’s Allie Roberts was named 2026 CCS Softball Pitcher of the Year, earning the award for a second consecutive season. Belhaven’s AR Sharp took home the award for 2026 CCS Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Belhaven’s Kevin Griffin was named 2026 CCS Softball Coach of the Year. 


 

2026 CCS CHAMPIONS CORNER

Women’s Basketball: LaGrange College

Men’s Basketball: Belhaven University

Women’s Track and Field: Maryville College

Men’s Track and Field: Maryville College

Men’s Tennis: Asbury University

Women’s Tennis: Asbury University

Men’s Golf: Piedmont University

Softball: Belhaven University

Baseball: Piedmont University

 

CCS TEAMS IN THE NCAA & BEYOND

Basketball

Belhaven men’s basketball and LaGrange’s women’s basketball team both punched their tickets to the NCAA tournament in the second year of the league’s AQ.

 

Men

  • Regional Appearances
    • Belhaven Men's Basketball headed to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history and opened play against a ranked University of St. Thomas (TX) team.
    • Their historic season came to a hard-fought conclusion after battling with  St. Thomas (TX) into overtime before falling 69-63 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
  • Awards
    • NABC, District 6 
      • First Team
        • Chase Morgan, Maryville
    • D3Hoops.com Division III All-Region Teams
      • Region 6
        • First Team
          • Chase Morgan, Maryville
    • Academic All-District® Men’s Basketball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators
      • Jonathan Combs, Asbury
      • Jordan Lewis, Asbury
      • Cam Jones, Asbury
      • Turner Shouse, Asbury
      • Benjamin Stewart, Belhaven
      • Neal Terry, Belhaven
      • Cole Carroll, Covenant
      • Luuk Dusek, Covenant
      • Fisher Mitchell, Covenant
      • Jeremy Autin, Huntingdon
      • Myles Murphy, Huntingdon
      • Owen LaRocca, Huntingdon
      • Myles Johnson, Huntingdon
      • Jace Herrell, LaGrange
      • Trenton Dillard, LaGrange
      • Brodie Scott, LaGrange
      • Devin Dowell, LaGrange
      • Javi Rosell, Maryville
      • Collin Smith, Maryville
      • Matthew Schneider, Maryville
      • Chase Morgan, Maryville
      • Dylan Patrick, Piedmont
    • NABC Honors Court
      • ?Aaron Thompson, Asbury University
      • Bryce Snellen, Asbury University
      • Cam Jones, Asbury University
      • Johnathan Wright, Asbury University
      • Jonathan Combs, Asbury University
      • Jordan Lewis, Asbury University
      • Owen Davis, Asbury University
      • Scott Shepherd, Asbury University
      • Turner Shouse, Asbury University
      • Tyler Hall, Asbury University
      • Caleb Lesch, Piedmont University
      • Dylan Patrick, Piedmont University
      • Fisher Darden, Piedmont University
      • Noah Hutchinson, Piedmont University
 

Women

  • Regional Appearance
    • The women's basketball program at LaGrange College made history with its first-ever NCAA Championship Tournament selection. They headed to Waukesha, Wisconsin, to compete at Carroll University, where they are scheduled to face the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in the tournament's opening round.
    • The historic campaign for LaGrange women’s basketball concluded after the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Facing the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse at Carroll University’s Van Male Fieldhouse, the Panthers battled through a tough first-round matchup before falling 78-52 to end their postseason run in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
  • Awards
    • D3hoops.com DIII Women's All-Region 6 team
      • Second Team
        • Laila Battle, LaGrange
      • Third Team
        • Emily Sizemore, Asbury
    • Academic All-District® Women’s Basketball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators
      • Emily Sizemore, Asbury
      • Ma'Kiya West, Asbury
      • Camryn Poole, Asbury
      • Trinity Britton, Asbury
      • Kamren Edwards, Belhaven
      • Tra'Shaylah Wilson, Belhaven
      • Allison Liddell, Belhaven
      • Hannah Eidson, Covenant
      • Charity Shaw, Huntingdon
      • Dalyce Sanders, Huntingdon
      • KJ Jones, Huntingdon
      • Hope Harrell, LaGrange
      • Skylar Edwards, LaGrange
      • Braxton Fritz, Maryville
      • Emily Wilson, Maryville
      • Ella Tharpe, Maryville
      • Ella Haney, Maryville
      • Alexandria Willis, Piedmont
      • Hayley Borino, Piedmont
      • Riley Bryan, Piedmont
      • Gracie Deetz, Piedmont
 

Track and Field

Men

  • Regional Recap
    • Neal Terry of Belhaven sets a program record for the Blazers, bringing home 3rd place at the NCAA DIII National Championships with a record 15.36m in the Triple Jump.
    • Ryheem Mighten ran the first heat and finished 7th for his heat and 20th overall with a time of 21.68.
  • Awards
    • 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field All-Region - USTFCCCA
      • Neal Terry, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Belhaven
      • Kenneth Mills, High Jump, Belhaven
      • Christian Mortimer, Javelin, Covenant
      • Javerious Askew, Triple Jump, Huntingdon
      • Rory Gilroy, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, Huntingdon
      • Ryheem Mighten, 100m, 200m, 400m, LaGrange
      • Clarence McLean, 100m, 200, Maryville
      • Sky Pleasant, Discus, Maryville
      • Lukas Yakley, Shotput, Maryville
      • Tyler Brown, 4x100m, Piedmont
      • Franklin Brown, Jr., 4x100m, Piedmont
      • George Ketch, Hammer, Piedmont
      • Almarion Martin, 4x100m, Piedmont
      • Silas Goolsby, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, Piedmont 
    • 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field All-American
      • Neal Terry of Belhaven claimed two All-American finishes in the NCAA Track and Field Championship with a First Team podium finish for Triple Jump and a Second Team podium finish in Long Jump.
    • Academic All-District® Men’s Track and Field teams, selected by College Sports Communicators
      • Neal Terry, Belhaven
      • Ethan Saiki, Covenant
      • Alex Burns, Covenant
      • Rory Gilroy, Huntingdon
      • Marcus Malone, Huntingdon
      • Sam Cocchia, Maryville
      • Steve Cope, Maryville
      • Tyler Tangel, Maryville
      • Colin Hackshaw, Piedmont
      • Keegan Ivey, Piedmont
      • Xander Wiley, Piedmont
      • George Ketch, Piedmont
      • Matthew Blocksom, Piedmont
 

Women


Tennis

Asbury men’s and women’s tennis programs received their second consecutive NCAA bid in their second year of competition. 

 

Men

  • Regional Recap
    • The Eagles advanced to the first round of the NCAA DIII Regionals where they endured tough matches and sustained a 4-0 loss falling to Whitman.?
  • Awards
 

Women

  • Regional Recap
    • The Eagles next advanced to play in the first round of the NCAA DIII Regionals where they fell short and were unable to extend their stay, falling 4-0 to North Carolina Wesleyan.
  • Awards
    • Academic All-District® Women’s Tennis teams, selected by College Sports Communicators
      • Malory Watkins, Asbury University
      • Cara Clark, Asbury University
      • Evey Moore, Belhaven University
      • Christina English, Covenant College
      • Karla Wiley, LaGrange College
      • Jasmine Muecke, Maryville College
      • Calliana Kondolios, Maryville College
      • Josie McRae, Maryville College
      • Jordan Ballard, Piedmont University
      • Olivia Carpenter, Piedmont University
      • Sarah Row, Piedmont University
      • Sarah Sanabia, Piedmont University
 

Golf

Two CCS men’s golf programs qualified for the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship. Piedmont received the conference’s second AQ while Huntingdon was selected for the at-large berth, making an appearance in the NCAA tournament for the 10th consecutive season.

 
  • Regional Recap
    • Piedmont earned the conference’s automatic bid while Huntingdon earned an at-large bid to the NCAA DIII Men's National Championship on May 12-15, 2026 at the Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. Huntingdon finished 10th out of 43 teams and Piedmont narrowly missed the cut. 
    • Huntingdon Hawks
      • Huntingdon, the nation’s top-ranked program entering the tournament, posted rounds of +9, +4, E, and +3 for a four-round total of +16, climbing one spot in the final. At the conclusion of the tournament, Burr was named a First Team All-American for the second consecutive year, capping a historic senior season. 
    • Piedmont Lions
      • Piedmont entered the national stage sitting tied for 23rd after two rounds at +32 (+9, +23) and was led throughout by junior Jacob DeJesus, who stabilized with a strong back nine in round two and posted the team’s best individual result. Freshman Braden Kiley was the Lions’ top climber over the first two days, jumping 21 spots with a round-two 74 (+2) that featured a two-under finish on the final nine.
  • Awards
 

Softball

Two CCS softball programs extended their seasons into the NCAA Division III Championship, with Belhaven making a run to the national semifinals and Huntingdon advancing to a regional championship game.

  • Regional Recap
    • Belhaven Blazers
      • NCAA Regional
        • Belhaven entered the NCAA postseason as the CCS automatic qualifier after capturing its second consecutive conference tournament title. The Blazers earned the right to host an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history and opened play at Jim McLeod Field against Westminster (Pa.).
        • Belhaven made the most of its first home regional appearance, defeating Westminster, 8-2, in the opener. The Blazers used a six-run second inning and four home runs to take control early, setting the tone for a powerful start to the regional. The win moved Belhaven into the winner’s bracket final against Emory.
        • The Blazers continued their momentum the next day, scoring in each of the first three innings and defeating Emory, 9-1, in five innings. The victory put Belhaven one win away from a regional title and kept the Blazers unbeaten through the first two games of the regional.
        • Emory forced the issue in the first regional championship game, handing Belhaven a 15-7 loss and creating a winner-take-all final. The Eagles built an early lead and later broke the game open with a seven-run seventh inning, forcing the Blazers to regroup with their season on the line.
        • Belhaven answered in the deciding game behind a complete-game shutout from Macy Funderburk. The Blazers scored twice in the third inning and added two insurance runs in the seventh, while Funderburk held Emory scoreless in a 4-0 victory. The win gave Belhaven the regional championship and sent the program to the NCAA Super Regional round once again.
      • NCAA Super Regional 
        • The Blazers remained at home for the Jackson Super Regional against Wisconsin-Oshkosh and took control of the best-of-three series with a 5-1 win in Game 1. Belhaven scored three runs in the first inning and leaned on another complete-game effort from Funderburk to move within one victory of the NCAA Division III Finals.
        • Belhaven finished the sweep the next day with a 10-2 win over Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Liberty Gillihan led the offense with three hits and three RBI, while Maryanna Guy delivered a key three-run home run. The Blazers outscored Wisconsin-Oshkosh 15-3 across the two-game series, captured the Jackson Super Regional title and advanced to the NCAA Division III Finals for the second time in three seasons.
      • NCAA Division III Softball Championship Finals
        • In Salem, Virginia, Belhaven opened the national finals against No. 2 seed and defending national champion Trine. The Blazers battled back from an early deficit and brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, but Trine held on for a 7-5 victory. The loss sent Belhaven into the elimination side of the bracket.
        • The Blazers kept their season alive the next day with a 3-2 win over Mount Union. In a tight elimination game, Belhaven managed enough offense behind key swings from Melissa Lopera and Liberty Gillihan, while Funderburk delivered a complete-game effort in the circle.
        • Belhaven followed with another elimination-game victory, defeating Rowan, 4-2. The Blazers scored four runs in the opening inning and turned again to Funderburk late, as she returned in relief to close out the win and send Belhaven into a rematch with Trine.
        • The national semifinal matchup brought Belhaven’s season to a close. Trine built an early lead and held off the Blazers, 5-2, ending Belhaven’s run one game shy of the championship series. The Blazers finished the year 44-12 after winning the CCS regular-season and tournament championships, capturing both the Belhaven Regional and Jackson Super Regional titles, and reaching the national semifinals for the second time in three seasons.
    • Huntingdon Hawks
      • NCAA Regional
        • Huntingdon also represented the CCS in the NCAA postseason, earning an at-large bid and the No. 2 seed in the Seguin Regional hosted by Texas Lutheran. The Hawks opened regional play against Trinity and dropped a narrow 2-1 decision. Trinity scored single runs in the first two innings, while Huntingdon answered in the third on an RBI single from Kylie Stephens. The Hawks threatened throughout but were held to one run, moving into an elimination game against Penn State Behrend.
        • With their season on the line, Huntingdon responded with a 5-0 win over Penn State Behrend. The Hawks collected 12 hits, with Kate Dinkel going 3-for-3 and Kylie Stephens adding a key RBI triple. In the circle, Allie Roberts and McKenzie Little combined for a three-hit shutout to keep Huntingdon alive.
        • The Hawks then earned a rematch with Trinity and flipped the result, defeating the Tigers, 5-3, to advance to the regional championship. Huntingdon jumped ahead early, highlighted by a three-run hit from Stephens in the third inning. Trinity chipped away late, but Addison Gaines and Roberts combined to protect the lead and send the Hawks into the regional final for the second consecutive season.
        • Huntingdon’s postseason run ended against top-seeded Texas Lutheran in the Seguin Regional championship game. The Hawks scored in the fourth inning but could not erase the early deficit, falling 6-1 to the host Bulldogs. Huntingdon closed the season at 33-12 after earning its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and advancing to the regional championship round
  • Awards
    • 2026 NFCA All-Region Awards
      • First-Team
        • SS, Anslee Saunchegraw, Piedmont
      • Second-Team
        • P, Allie Roberts, Huntingdon
        • 2B, Maddi Spieks, Piedmont
        • 3B, Maddie Grace Hubbard, Huntingdon
        • OF, Kylie Stephens, Huntingdon
        • UTL/P, Sydney Dickinson, Maryville
        • SS, Melissa Lopera, Belhaven
    • 2026 NFCA All-American Awards
      • Second-Team
        • DP or UTL/Non-P, Maryanna Guy, Belhaven
      • Third-Team
        • SS, Anslee Saunchegraw, Piedmont
    • Academic All-District® Softball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators
      • Samantha Bottom, Asbury
      • Sidney Hansen, Asbury
      • Abigail Moffat, Asbury
      • Moira Tinsley, Asbury
      • Emily Zink, Asbury
      • Lauren Dunbar, Belhaven
      • Liberty Gillihan, Belhaven
      • Grace Langston, Belhaven
      • Karley Rouse, Belhaven
      • Ellie Williamson, Belhaven
      • Mya Still, Covenant
      • Kaylin Fincher, Huntingdon
      • Addison Gaines, Huntingdon
      • Maddie Grace Hubbard, Huntingdon
      • Kamryn Miller, Huntingdon
      • Riley Rudick, Huntingdon
      • Hannah Barnett, LaGrange
      • Claire Chamberlain, LaGrange
      • Addi Grace Dennis, LaGrange
      • Cannon Ramsey, LaGrange
      • Jenna Yeary, LaGrange
      • Emma Blankenship, Maryville
      • Sydney Dickinson, Maryville
      • Jessica Harris, Maryville
      • Olivia Harris, Maryville
      • Catie Zani, Maryville
      • Madison Hawkins, Piedmont
      • Mandi Peretti, Piedmont
      • Madi Spieks, Piedmont
 

Baseball

Three CCS programs represented the league in the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship, highlighted by a regional title from Piedmont and at-large selections for both Belhaven and Maryville.

 
  • Regional Recap
    • Piedmont Lions
      • NCAA Danville Regional 
        • Piedmont entered the NCAA Tournament as the CCS automatic qualifier and No. 2 seed in the Danville Regional. The Lions opened postseason play with a 3-2 victory over host Centre before edging WashU, 5-4, in a closely contested winner’s bracket matchup. Piedmont completed an undefeated run through the regional with a 12-8 victory over WashU in the championship game, securing the Danville Regional title and advancing to the Super Regional round. The Lions’ season came to a close against top-ranked Denison, falling in consecutive games to finish the year with a 33-15 overall record.
    • Belhaven Blazers
      • NCAA Marshall Regional
        • Belhaven earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament after reaching the CCS championship game and finishing the regular season ranked No. 23 in the final D3baseball.com poll prior to the NCAA Tournament field announcement. The appearance marked the program’s 12th NCAA Tournament berth and second consecutive regional selection. Competing in the Marshall Regional, the Blazers fell to Rhodes in their opening game before dropping an elimination contest to Concordia (Texas). Belhaven concluded its season with a 31-15 overall record.
    • Maryville Scots
      • NCAA Lynchburg Regional
        • Maryville received its second consecutive at-large bid and fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history following another strong campaign. The Scots opened the Lynchburg Regional with a thrilling contest, outlasting Christopher Newport 8-7 in 13 innings. Maryville then faced host Lynchburg before meeting Christopher Newport again in an elimination game. The Scots battled throughout the regional and finished the season 28-19 with another NCAA Tournament appearance on their résumé.
  • Awards
 

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

CCS Academic All-Conference Honorees (2025-26)

 

SPORTSMANSHIP ACHIEVEMENTS

Individual Sportsmanship Awards

 

Team Sportsmanship Awards

  • Women’s Basketball: Asbury University
  • Men’s Basketball: Huntingdon College
  • Women’s Track and Field: Asbury University/Belhaven University
  • Men’s Track and Field: Asbury University
  • Men’s Tennis: Asbury University/LaGrange College
  • Women’s Tennis: Asbury University/Huntingdon College
  • Men’s Golf: Huntingdon College
  • Softball: Covenant College/LaGrange College
  • Baseball: Asbury University
 

COMMISSIONER CUP UPDATES

Standings as of May 2026

Full Release

Women’s Cup

Asbury

0.750

Maryville

0.638

Belhaven

0.575

Piedmont

0.550

Covenant

0.475

LaGrange

0.425

Huntingdon

0.388

Agnes Scott

0.188

Wesleyan

0.096


 

Men’s Cup

Maryville

0.646

Piedmont

0.585

Covenant

0.538

Asbury

0.477

Belhaven

0.462

Huntingdon

0.385

LaGrange

0.292
 

Overall Cup

Maryville

0.641

Asbury

0.628

Piedmont

0.566

Belhaven

0.524

Covenant

0.503

Huntingdon

0.386

LaGrange

0.366

Agnes Scott

0.188

Wesleyan

0.096
 


LOOKING AHEAD

2026-27 CCS Championship Dates & Locations

Fall Championships

Cross Country
Date: Friday, October 30
Host: John Hunt Park (2701 Airport Rd SW Huntsville, AL 35802)

 
Soccer
Men’s Soccer

Date: Wednesday, October 28 – Saturday, November 7
Host: Merrimack Soccer Complex

Women’s Soccer
Date: Saturday, October 31 – Saturday, November 7
Host: Merrimack Soccer Complex

Women’s Volleyball
Date: Tuesday, November 10 – Saturday, November 14
Host: Highest Seed involved on each individual contest (first round); Highest Seed (semifinals and finals)

Future CCS Championships



SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

































ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH (CCS)
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Asbury University, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, and Piedmont University) and sponsors championships across 16 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
 
Follow all things #CCS on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram at @ccofsouth for all the latest news around the league.