DAHLONEGA – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team had three players named to the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-America Teams per the association's announcement Thursday afternoon.

Freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles and junior outfielder Natalie Ray were named D2CCA First Team All-Americans while junior center fielder Sydnee Reaves earned a Second Team All-America selection. 

Batting .390 with a single-season program record 21 home runs in 2025, Knowles has propelled UNG to the 2025 NCAA Division II Softball Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. after securing their eighth South Region Championship in program history. 

The rookie has totaled 70 RBIs to go along with an .815 slugging percentage, a .449 on-base percentage and 13 stolen bases. She is currently tied for second in the nation in home runs, one shy of the top spot. 

Knowles is also fourth nationally in total bases, tied for sixth in RBIs and 11th in slugging, making her the only player in the country to rank in the top 15 in each of those categories.

She's been a stellar defender too, making just one miscue in 340 attempts while throwing out 10 attempted base stealers.

Ray added to her impressive accolades this season with Thursday's announcements. This is the second honor from the D2CCA in her career, the first coming last week when she was named to the Southeast All-Region First Team. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region and Peach Belt Conference All-Conference First Teamer currently ranks in the top 35 nationally in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, slugging percentage and total bases. 

She entered the NCAA Tournament ranked third in the PBC in batting average and on-base percentage while ranking second in slugging. 

Reaves earned the second All-American selection of her career after being named a D2CCA Third Team All-American at Montevallo last year. 

In her first season with the Nighthawks, Reaves ranked fourth in the nation in runs scored. The center fielder also ranked 17th nationally in total bases, 22nd in doubles and 33rd in total hits. 

With the honors from the D2CCA, UNG has now earned four All-Americans this season and 41 in program history.

Knowles, Ray, Reaves and the rest of the UNG program return to the field at Frost Stadium on Saturday, May 24 in an elimination game against No. 9 Western Washington. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. from Chattanooga, Tenn.