ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Lili Gonzalez and Ava Husak of Drake Softball were named to Missouri Valley Conference All-Conference Teams, the league announced on Wednesday morning. Gonzalez was selected to the All-Defensive Team and Husak earned an All-Conference First Team selection as a Utility Player/Pitcher.
 
A native of San Diego, California, Gonzalez dazzled from her shortstop position all season long for the Bulldogs and had the best fielding percentage among primary infielders for Drake at .967. In 214 total chances, she led Drake and the MVC with 136 assists on the season, which also has her ranked tied for 10th in the nation. Her mark of 136 assists is the eighth most in a single season in program history. The sophomore also added 71 putouts to her defensive ledger in 2026 and had a hand in nine double plays produced.
 
Husak was a freshman standout during her first season in Des Moines providing offense at the plate and being effective from the pitcher's circle. The product from Cambridge, Iowa led Drake and ranked ninth in the league with her .367 batting average while also leading the Bulldogs with a .496 on-base percentage. She tallied nine doubles and team-high eight homers, which led to a team best slugging percentage of .670 that ranked sixth in the MVC. Her 31 RBI on the season was the second most among the Bulldogs roster. From the circle, Husak made 17 appearances (nine starts) and tallied a record of 2-4. In 45 innings of work, she threw one complete game and collected nine strikeouts.
 
The entire list of the MVC All-Conference Teams is listed below.
 
Player of the Year -- 2B Skylar Benesh, UNI
Pitcher of the Year -- Maya Johnson, Belmont
Defensive Player of the Year -- Rylee Spindler, Belmont
Newcomer of the Year -- P Emily Delgado, Southern Illinois
Freshman of the Year -- P Brooklynn Danielson, Southern Illinois
Coaching Staff of the Year — Belmont
 
FIRST TEAM
C -- Niki Bode, Evansville
1B -- Kate Lappe, UNI
2B -- Skylar Benesh, UNI
2B -- Adison Hicks, Murray State
2B -- Nicole Hughes, Belmont
3B -- Bella Atkinson, Illinois State
3B -- Amanda Knutson, Southern Illinois
3B -- Rylee Spindler, Belmont
SS -- Sykora Smith, UNI
OF -- Maleah Blomenkamp, Southern Illinois
OF -- Katelyn Callahan, UNI
OF -- Lauren Flowers, Illinois State
P -- Maya Johnson, Belmont
P -- Brooklynn Danielson, Southern Illinois
P -- Paige McLeod, Illinois State
UT/DP -- Emily Williams, Southern Illinois
UT/P -- Ava Husak, Drake
 
SECOND TEAM
C -- Allie Waldron, Murray State
1B -- Hayden Kurtz, Southern Illinois
1B -- Hannah Meeks, Illinois State
1B -- Samantha Tourtillott, UIC
2B -- Siena Stickney, UIC
3B -- Kenley Minor, Murray State
SS -- Parker Holcombe, Murray State
SS -- Brooke Voss, Evansville
OF -- Maddy Balsiger, Belmont
OF -- Sophie Gerochi, UIC
OF -- Morgan Goodrich, Indiana State
OF -- Peyton Johnson, UNI
OF -- Ava Smithson, UNI
OF -- Kynadee Warner, Murray State
P -- Bre Haislip, Murray State
P -- Kate Ridgway, Evansville
UT/DP -- Brynn Acton, UNI
UT/DP — Morgan Calhoun, Illinois State
UT/DP -- Austin Comstock, Bradley
UT/P -- Azalya Lopez, Valparaiso
 
MVC All-Defensive Team
SS Ella Boyer, Illinois State
3B Ashley Breeding, Bradley
OF Bailey Broemmer, Murray State
SS Lili Gonzalez, Drake
OF Taylor Howe, Evansville
OF Marissa Jackson, Valparaiso
OF Niña Pesare, UIC
C Sydney Potter, Southern Illinois
OF Ava Smithson, UNI
3B Rylee Spindler, Belmont
OF Hannah Welch, Indiana State