Greenwood, Ind. – (5/26/2026) – Gwynedd Mercy University juniors, utility Hannah Cohen (North Wales, Pa.) and catcher/third baseman Maya Hellyer (Quakertown, Pa.), were recognized alongside senior shortstop Hannah Smith (Levittown, Pa.) as some of the Nation's top student-athletes with their selection to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Softball Academic All-District Team (.PDF). The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the Nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. In order to be nominated, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically and maintained at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) while competing in 90 percent of the institution's matches played or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's contests.
 
Cohen (35 games played – 32 games started) was one of the top offensive threats in the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) as the Gwynedd Mercy University third baseman anchored the Red and Gold lineup with a 1.164 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). She scored 18 runs and knocked in 35 with 23 singles, 11 doubles, six triples, and two home runs (71 total bases). Cohen drew four walks, was hit three times, and struck out 10 times. She also stole three bases (3-for-4, .750 SB%) while covering the hot corner with an .895 (43PO+76A/43PO+76A+14E) fielding percentage (FLD%). Cohen recorded the 100^th hit of her collegiate career with a first-inning, two-run triple in the Griffins' 10-8 game-one win over Albright College (Mar. 25), and she was named to the AEC Softball Weekly Honor Roll on both March 23 and April 27.
 
Cohen was a 2025 CSC NCAA DIII Softball Academic All-District Team member. She also earned recognition on the 2025 Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM) Spring Academic Honor Roll, the 2024-2025 AEC All-Academic Team, and each Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Academic Elite (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025) since she transferred from Hood College.

Recently named to the 2026 All-AEC Softball Second Team, Hellyer (29gp-24gs) scored 10 runs and knocked in 11 with 25 singles. She supported her captaincy with a .342 (25-of-73)/.407/.342 slash line while drawing six walks, being hit twice, and only striking out twice. Defensively, the Red and Gold captain (2026) was solid behind the plate with a .953 fielding percentage (FLD%) (36PO+5A/36PO+5A+2E). She threw out two base stealers in 30 attempts and allowed just two passed balls.
 
Academically, Hellyer was recognized on the 2025 EAST-COMM Spring Academic Honor Roll. She is a two-time member of the AEC All-Academic Team (2023-2024, 2024-2025) and a four-time member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Academic Elite (Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025). 
 
Smith (34gp-32gs) tied the Red and Gold's single-season mark for triples as she totaled 59 bases in all with 30 singles, two doubles, a home run, and her seven triples. The result was a team-high 27 runs and 28 RBI on a .377 (40-for-106)/.419/.557 slash line. She drew nine walks and struck out 14 times while stealing a team-high seven bases (7-for-9, .778). Smith was recognized on the AEC Softball Weekly Honor Roll on March 16 and she recorded the 100^th hit of her collegiate career with a third-inning single through the box in the Griffins' 4-3 (6 innings) win over Albright College (Mar. 25).
 
The two-year captain (2025, 2026) was a 2025 CSC NCAA DIII Softball Academic All-District Team member. She is a three-time member of the AEC All-Academic Team (2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025) and a five-time member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Academic Elite (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025). 
 
The Academic All-America program is conducted by the members of the CSC and separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First, Second, and Third Team Academic All-America honorees for softball will be announced on June 16, 2026.