BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Thirty-nine student-athletes from the College of Saint Benedict's cross country, soccer, and volleyball programs earned Academic All-MIAC honors for the 2025–26 fall season, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced Wednesday, Jan. 28.
The 39 Bennies were among 850 student-athletes across the MIAC recognized for their academic excellence.
To earn Academic All-MIAC honors, student-athletes must be members of a MIAC-sponsored varsity team, be academically and athletically eligible, compete in a season as defined by the NCAA and MIAC, and remain on the team roster through the conclusion of the season. Eligible student-athletes must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors academically, carry a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and have completed at least one full-time academic year at their current institution.
At CSB, the 20 honorees from cross country mark the highest total in program history. Volleyball matched last season's total with 10 selections, ranking second all-time in program history behind the 11 honorees from 2023–24. The soccer program added nine honorees, continuing a streak of nine or more selections in nine different seasons, including every year since 2018–19.
Cross Country (20)
Julia Babineau, junior, Andover, Minn.;
Mariah Brooks, sophomore, Rochester, Minn.;
Abby Bufkin, junior, Colorado Springs, Colo.;
Ayva Burshem, senior, Maple Grove, Minn.;
Karoline Curlo, senior, Elko New Market, Minn.;
Mary Kenney, senior, Woodbury, Minn.;
Emily Koch, junior, Otsego, Minn.;
Isabel Kraabel, senior, Vadnais Heights, Minn.;
Tatum Leibke, senior, Lino Lakes, Minn.;
Bailey Link, junior, Brush, Colo.;
Meaghan McDonald, senior, Orono, Minn.;
Kaline Merges, sophomore, Rogers, Minn,;
Erin O'Connor, sophomore, Chicago, Ill.;
Mollie Ping, sophomore, Winona, Minn.;
Parker Pollis, sophomore, Richfield, Minn.;
Katelyn Van Marel, sophomore, Hutchinson, Minn.;
Brooke Verkinnes, senior, St. Cloud, Minn.;
Alyse Williamschen, sophomore, Kasson, Minn.;
Anabella Witschen, junior, Monticello, Minn.; and
Natalie Zielsdorf, senior, Arden Hills, Minn.
CSB's 20 honorees included 11 repeat selections, led by six student-athletes earning Academic All-MIAC honors for the third time. Three-time honorees were Burshem, Kenney, Kraabel, Leibke, McDonald and Zielsdorf, with Babineau, Bufkin, Curlo, Verkinnes and Witschen recognized for the second time.
Soccer (9)
Rhianna Anya, junior, Bloomington, Minn,;
Mary Blaska, senior, Vadnais Heights, Minn.;
Grace Fitzgibbons, senior, Minneapolis, Minn.;
Regan Melz, senior, Excelsior, Minn.;
Lucy Petschel, junior, St. Paul, Minn.;
Summer Seamans, junior, Medicine Lake, Minn.;
Avery Soli, junior, Ham Lake, Minn.;
Olivia Smith, junior, Rogers, Minn.; and
Addison Stephani, senior, Blaine, Minn.
Soccer had six repeat All-MIAC selections, including two three-time honorees. The three-time honorees include Fitzgibbons and Stephani while those recognized twice include Anya, Blaska, Melz and Soli.
Volleyball (10)
Brooke Andries, junior, Marshall, Minn.;
Allison Banse, sophomore, Mankato, Minn.;
Libby Burns, junior, Watertown, Minn.;
Chaeli Haupert, senior, West Lake, Texas;
Kali Jones, junior, Annandale, Minn.;
Mackenzie Knofczynski, senior, Willmar, Minn.;
McKenna Moehrle, senior, Eden Valley, Minn.;
Ingrid Noha, junior, Lino Lakes, Minn.;
Kate Stadum, junior, Brainerd, Minn,;
Izzy Torve, sophomore, Loretto, Minn.
Among its 10 honorees, the volleyball program recorded seven repeat selections, including two three-time honorees in Haupert and Knofczynski. Student-athletes earning Academic All-MIAC recognition for the second time were Andries, Burns, Jones, Noha and Stadum.
