Three Beach Eagles Earn All-OVC Awards, DePonte Crowned Freshman of the Year

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Three Morehead State Beach Volleyball Eagles earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, including Haylee DePonte becoming the first Eagle ever to win the league Freshman of the Year accolade.

Junior Bella Marita and freshman Riley McCloskey were also honored. Marita garnered second-team, and McCloskey holds a spot on the All-Freshman Team.

DePonte, a redshirt freshman from Aiea, Hawaii, collected six victories at Nos. 3 and 4 this year, including three conference wins with partner Amelia Nott at No. 3. In addition, she gained an All-Freshman team award.

"Haylee has been a special addition to our program," said Head Coach Sarah Martin. "She deserves this recognition, not just for her performance and work this spring, but also for the hard work she put in this fall to work to be the best player and teammate she can be.  She's a great teammate that shows up to support her partner and her teammates, and we are so proud she is Freshman of the Year."  

Marita, from Florence, Ky., has now been awarded All-OVC all three seasons she's been at Morehead State. Holding down one of the spots in MSU's No. 1 pair, Marita gained 10 victories this spring, including four league triumphs.

"Bella has been a standout in our program since her freshman year," Martin added. "Her quickness in the sand and knowledge of the game has not only helped her to be a great player, but also to be a teammate that helps everyone around her be the best they can be.  Bella is someone that makes her love of the game infectious, and is truly one of the best defenders I will have ever coached."

McCloskey, the freshman from Newport, Ky., played primarily at Nos. 4-5 her first collegiate season, garnering five wins.

"Coming in, in her first semester at Morehead State and her first time playing in the sand, Riley truly put forth work to learn the game and improve," Martin said. "Her flexibility to play with multiple partners and be ready to be a blocker or defender has helped to make our team better in the sand every day, and she deserves the recognition for the impact she has made on our team this spring."  

2026 All-OVC Beach Volleyball
 
OVC Pair of the Year: McKenna Faychak & Maddie Lecik, Chattanooga
OVC Player of the Year: McKenna Faychak, Chattanooga
OVC Freshman of the Year: Haylee DePonte, Morehead State
OVC Coaching Staff of the Year: Chattanooga
 
FIRST TEAM
McKenna Faychak, Chattanooga
Ansley Gulledge, Chattanooga
Julia Lawrence, Chattanooga
Maddie Lecik, Chattanooga
Corina Vale, Chattanooga
Gabby Belcher, Lindenwood
Susanna Beretti, Lindenwood
Nyah Wilson, Lindenwood
Kayla Bryant, UT Martin
Riley Rushing, UT Martin
 
SECOND TEAM
Taylor Clark, Chattanooga
Ava Goryl, Chattanooga
Sydney Jackwin, Chattanooga
Madeline McCabe, Chattanooga
Ashli McKenny, Chattanooga
Abby Jacobs, Lindenwood
Annalie McWhorter, Lindenwood
Aubrey Sheppard, Lindenwood
Bella Marita, Morehead State
Dylan Sulcer, UT Martin
 
ALL-FRESHMAN
Alanys Nieves, Eastern Illinois
Haylee DePonte, Morehead State
Riley McCloskey, Morehead State
Abby Freund, UT Martin