Bruins Earn Eight All Missouri Valley Conference Honors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University Softball Program earned eight all-conference awards as announced by the Missouri Valley Conference office Wednesday morning. 

The Bruins were recognized across the league's top categories, highlighted by Maya Johnson being named MVC Pitcher of the Year and Rylee Spindler earning MVC Defensive Player of the Year. Belmont's staff of Laura Matthews, Emlyn Knerem, Erin Kuba, and Faith Canfield was also selected as MVC Coaching Staff of the Year. 

Belmont placed three student-athletes on the All-MVC First Team and one on the Second Team, while also securing a spot on the MVC All-Defensive Team. 

Specialty Awards 

Pitcher of the Year – Maya Johnson 
Defensive Player of the Year – Rylee Spindler 
Coaching Staff of the Year – Laura Matthews, Emlyn Knerem, Erin Kuba, Faith Canfield 

All-MVC First Team 

2B – Nicole Hughes 
3B – Rylee Spindler 
P – Maya Johnson 

All-MVC Second Team 

OF – Maddy Balsiger 

MVC All-Defensive Team 

3B – Rylee Spindler 

Johnson continues to establish herself among the nation's elite. The pitcher has appeared in 27 games this season, compiling a 25-2 record with a 0.72 ERA. She has totaled 344 strikeouts, 12 shutouts, and just 19 earned runs. 

Johnson leads the NCAA in ERA (0.72), strikeouts (344), strikeouts per seven innings (13.1), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (11.47). Her career accolades include MVC Pitcher of the Year (2025, 2026), MVC Tournament Most Valuable Player (2025), NFCA First Team All-American (2025), and multiple All-MVC selections. 

Spindler adds Defensive Player of the Year recognition to an outstanding sophomore campaign. The 2025 MVC Freshman of the Year has started 45 of 48 games at third base, posting a .446 batting average—second best in the conference. 

She has recorded 66 hits, 36 RBI, and 35 runs scored, along with 13 doubles, three triples, and four home runs. Defensively, Spindler owns a .969 fielding percentage with 96 putouts and 57 assists, while also earning a spot on the MVC All-Defensive Team. 

Hughes, a First Team All-MVC selection at second base, has started all 48 games this season. She is batting .370 with seven home runs, 13 doubles, 32 RBI, and 34 runs scored, while posting a .972 fielding percentage. 

Balsiger collected Second Team All-MVC recognition after starting 44 games in the outfield. She is hitting .315 with 46 hits, 23 RBI, and 27 runs scored, adding seven doubles, one triple, and three home runs. Defensively, she owns a .984 fielding percentage. 

Under the leadership of head coach Laura Matthews, Belmont has reached new heights. Matthews, who owns a 185-114 record at Belmont, has guided the Bruins to the program's first MVC Tournament championship and NCAA Regional win in 2025, followed by its first MVC regular season title in 2026. 

Her staff brings a variety of experience. Erin Kuba is in her third season after previously serving as associate head coach at Upper Iowa. Emlyn Knerem, hired in 2024, spent seven seasons as head coach at Ashland and was part of Kent State's 2017 NCAA Tournament team. Faith Canfield, in her first season, joined from Michigan, where she helped lead the Wolverines to multiple Big Ten titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Together, the group has helped position Belmont as one of the premier programs in the Missouri Valley Conference and nationally. 

The Bruins' conference honors reflect a season defined by excellence in the circle, at the plate, and in the field as Belmont continues to build on one of the most successful eras in program history.