The NCSA would like to congratulate Ellen Edwards from Ohio University on being awarded the 2026 Savannah Ahrens Sportsmanship Award.  The Savannah Ahrens Sportsmanship Award, given yearly, is an honor bestowed to a student-athlete who has distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

The Ohio University Club Softball Team nominated Ellen and this is what they had to say:

“Ellen truly has a dedication and love for this team like no other. She cares so deeply for all of our players and the girls we play against. Her love of the sport and the environment radiates off of her anytime we play, practice, or whenever I have one on one meetings with her to gameplan. She singlehandedly has turned this team into unknown and unranked to being the first team in school history to make it to nationals. This success didn’t necessarily come from more practices or better strategizing, I believe it came from the energy that she created on this team. 

My own personal experience can attest to this. My freshman year on the team was a disaster. We were under a different president and to say I disliked playing would be an understatement. It got to the point where I was on the verge of quitting halfway through the year. I powered through it though in hopes that it would get better as I loved the sport so deeply. It wasn’t until Ellen became president that I really grew to love this team and sport again. She grew my confidence back up and made me realize that I didn’t have to compete with my teammates to have a role on this team. I know from talking to multiple other girls in my year that they experienced the same thing. Ellen inspires a self-assurance in our players and creates a fun, exciting environment that grows comradery and a team that feels a lot like family. She builds our players up instead of tearing them down for mistakes. 

Another thing I believe worth mentioning is the way that she handles adversities and problems within the team. Like any competitive team, we had a couple of girls not happy with their playing time. I’ve seen first-hand the maturity Ellen brings to conversations brought up by these girls. She is extremely upfront with them while still listening to their feelings. Though she stands by her beliefs regarding how she runs the team, she always offers solutions to the problem at hand. This is one of the biggest things I would like to learn from her and take with me as I’m leading the team this upcoming year. 

If you had told freshman year me I had been vice president, let alone going to be president, her jaw would’ve hit the ground. Though I hold these accomplishments to myself, I can say with full confidence if it had not been for Ellen I would’ve never gotten to the position I hold today. I would be happy if I was half the leader she was during her time on the team which is why I believe she deserves this award.“

In addition to excelling on the field, the NCSA would like to recognize the players that excelled academically in the classroom as well!  Congratulations to all those who were named to the NCSA Academic All-American Team!

Robert Morris University and Dickinson College have officially joined the NCSA for the 2026-2027 season! The NCSA is excited to welcome the Colonials and Red Devils as the fifth and sixth new teams to join for the ’26-’27 season.

If your team is interested in joining the NCSA for next season, contact Alec Verhoff today!

CollClubSports is proud to announce the promotion of Ryan Lancaster to Director of Swing into Spring-West.

Since joining the organization full-time in the summer of 2025, Ryan has quickly established himself as a valuable member of the CollClubSports Front Office. A former club baseball player at Indiana University, Ryan brings a unique perspective to the role, having experienced Swing into Spring firsthand as both a participant and an event administrator. Most recently, he helped oversee the 2026 Swing into Spring-West event in Henderson, Nevada, giving him invaluable insight into the event’s operations and opportunities for growth.

Ryan’s experience from both the player and administrative sides of the event positions him to continue enhancing the Swing into Spring-West experience for teams across the country. In his new role, he will work closely with Antonio Sacca, Director of Swing into Spring-East, to collaborate on new ideas, share best practices, and ensure both events continue to provide an outstanding experience for NCBA & NCSA teams.

Congratulations to Ryan on this well-deserved promotion!

CollClubSports and the National Club Softball Association (NCSA) are pleased to announce the promotion of Alec Verhoff to Director of Softball Operations, where he will oversee both NCSA Division I and Division II day-to-day operations.

Since taking over leadership of NCSA Division I, Alec has quickly established himself as an exceptional leader, demonstrating a strong commitment to member teams, operational excellence, and the continued growth of collegiate club softball. His ability to build relationships, manage complex operations, and deliver results has made a significant impact on the organization in a short period of time.

Alec brings a proven track record of success through his leadership of the NCBBA Women’s Club Basketball League and the NCBA Division II Club Baseball League. Across multiple organizations, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to enhance the student-athlete experience while strengthening league operations and fostering organizational growth.

His leadership, work ethic, professionalism, and dedication to collegiate club sports make him uniquely qualified for this expanded role. As Director of Softball Operations, Alec will continue to build upon the strong foundation of the NCSA and help guide both Division I and Division II toward continued success.

We congratulate Alec on this well-deserved promotion and look forward to his continued contributions to the National Club Softball Association.

On June 1st, 2026 CollClubSports announced the promotion of Christian Smith to Chief Operations Officer, recognizing his nearly 20 years of leadership and contributions to the organization’s growth and operational success. In his new role, Smith will oversee daily operations, strengthen partnerships with university club teams, and help drive strategic initiatives focused on enhancing the student-athlete experience nationwide.

Since joining the company in 2006, Smith has served in multiple leadership roles across Club Baseball, Club Basketball, and Club Softball, playing a key role in expanding the organization’s reach and improving operational efficiency. CEO Sandy Sanderson praised Smith’s leadership, operational expertise, and commitment to the company’s mission, while Smith expressed excitement about continuing to build innovative solutions and partnerships as CollClubSports continues its rapid growth in collegiate club athletics.

Read the full Press Release HERE.