LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty Lacrosse’s Sophia Nesci was unanimously named the 2026 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year, along with six others named to postseason honors.
Midfielder Katie Colavito and defender Madeleine Klunder were selected to the 2026 All-ASUN first team. Defender Jenna Burrow and attacker Ava Rajala were named to the All-ASUN second team. Along with Nesci, Nicole Arriola was named to the All-Freshman team.
Colavito, the reigning and 2026 preseason Midfielder of the Year, has been chosen to her third consecutive ASUN All-Conference team. Burrow and Klunder each receive their second inclusion on an ASUN All-Conference team.
Nesci marks Liberty’s first Freshman of the Year honoree since Mackenzie Lehman was named to the same award in 2021. She is the fourth in program history to be named the top freshman in the conference, along with Carly White (2017) and Kayla Foster (2016), who were selected as members of the Big South.
No. 3 seed Liberty (7-10, 5-3 ASUN) prepares to open the 2026 ASUN Women’s Lacrosse Championship in the first round against No. 6 seed Kennesaw State (8-9, 3-5 ASUN). The contest is set for a 6 p.m. start at Rock Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Sophia Nesci—Attacker—Unanimous Freshman of the Year, All-Freshman Team
Midfielder Katie Colavito and defender Madeleine Klunder were selected to the 2026 All-ASUN first team. Defender Jenna Burrow and attacker Ava Rajala were named to the All-ASUN second team. Along with Nesci, Nicole Arriola was named to the All-Freshman team.
Colavito, the reigning and 2026 preseason Midfielder of the Year, has been chosen to her third consecutive ASUN All-Conference team. Burrow and Klunder each receive their second inclusion on an ASUN All-Conference team.
Nesci marks Liberty’s first Freshman of the Year honoree since Mackenzie Lehman was named to the same award in 2021. She is the fourth in program history to be named the top freshman in the conference, along with Carly White (2017) and Kayla Foster (2016), who were selected as members of the Big South.
No. 3 seed Liberty (7-10, 5-3 ASUN) prepares to open the 2026 ASUN Women’s Lacrosse Championship in the first round against No. 6 seed Kennesaw State (8-9, 3-5 ASUN). The contest is set for a 6 p.m. start at Rock Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Sophia Nesci—Attacker—Unanimous Freshman of the Year, All-Freshman Team
- Second on the team with 56 points (No. 8 ASUN), 36 goals (No. 7 ASUN) and 20 assists.
- Ranks No. 2 in Liberty freshman history in all scoring categories
- Scored a goal in all but three games this season.
- Recorded 5 goals and 2 assists in two straight ASUN contests.
- Named the ASUN Player of the Week on March 23
Katie Colavito—Midfielder—All-ASUN first team
- Led the team with 41 goals, ranking No. 4 in the ASUN in total goals
- Led Liberty with 35 caused turnovers (No. 3 in the ASUN) and second on the team with 36 ground balls
- Recorded four or more goals in five ASUN contests
- Ranks No. 2 in program history with 118 career caused turnovers, No. 6 with 125 goals
- Named the ASUN Offensive Player of the Week on April 13
- 2026 Academic All-ASUN team selection
- 2025 ASUN Midfielder of the Year, Championship MVP, All-Conference first team
- 2026 Preseason Midfielder of the Year, All-Conference team
Madeleine Klunder—Defender—All-ASUN first team
- Led Liberty with 38 ground balls (No. 5 ASUN) and second on the team with 32 caused turnovers (No. 4 ASUN).
- No. 9 among active D1 athletes with 116 caused turnovers.
- Ranks No. 3 in program history with 116 career caused turnovers and 158 ground balls.
- Recorded 11 games with multiple caused turnovers, including five against High Point.
- 2026 Academic All-Asun team selection
Jenna Burrow—Defender—All-ASUN second team
- In 14 games played, totaled 24 caused turnovers (No. 9 ASUN) with 1.71 per game (No. 6 ASUN)
- Earned 30 ground balls (No. 9 ASUN) with 2.14 per game (No. 8 ASUN)
- 2025 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, All-Tournament team
- 2026 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, All-Conference team
Ava Rajala—Attacker—All-ASUN second team
- Led Liberty with 58 points (No. 7 ASUN) and 33 assists (No. 2 ASUN) while scoring 25 goals.
- No. 2 in the country among attackers with 1.41 caused turnovers per game
- Recorded a 10-point game (4g, 6a) at Queens
- Ranks third in program history with 73 career assists
- Named the ASUN Offensive Player of the Week on April 20
- 2026 Preseason All-Conference team selection
Nicole Arriola—Midfielder—All-Freshman Team
- Played in all 17 games, recorded four goals, with six caused turnovers, nine ground balls and four draw controls
- Recorded three caused turnovers and four ground balls in a single game vs. Kennesaw State
