DAHLONEGA – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team had three players named to the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Southeast All-Region team as announced by the NFCA Thursday afternoon.

Freshman Carleigh Knowles was named to the All-Region First Team while juniors Natalie Ray and Sydnee Reaves were each named to the All-Region Second Team.

Knowles has earned another accolade in an unbelievably impressive first season in Dahlonega. 

The rookie currently leads all of NCAA Division II with 21 home runs this year. She also ranks third in the country in slugging percentage (.898) and total bases (149). On top of that, Knowles ranks seventh nationally in RBIs (66) and 24th in runs scored (56). She is the only player in the country to rank in the top 25 nationally in homers, RBIs, runs scored, slugging and total bases. 

This accolade from the NFCA adds to the laundry list of acclaim for the first-year catcher. Knowles was recently named the 2025 Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, earning a PBC All-Conference First Team nod in the process. 

This is not her first honor from the NFCA either. Back on April 8, Knowles was named the NFCA National Player of the Week just a few days after being named to the NFCA National Player of the Year Watch list. 

She is also a two-time PBC Freshman of the Week and three-time PBC Player of the Week. Knowles is the first player in Peach Belt Conference history to win the Player of the Week award three times and Freshman of the Week award twice in one season. 

Thursday's announcement also comes as the first NFCA award for Ray. The PBC All-Conference First Team member ranks among the top 30 players nationally in home runs (14) and slugging percentage (.812). She also lands in the top 40 in runs scored (54), RBIs (55) and total bases (125).

Reaves also earned the first NFCA honor of her career Thursday. The Ashland, Ala. native leads the PBC and ranks No. 5 in the country in runs scored this season, crossing home plate a whopping 65 times. She also ranks 17th in the nation in total bases (136), 20th in doubles (18) and 26th in triples (6). Reaves added to this season's accolades after making the PBC All-Conference First Team as well. 

Knowles, Ray, Reaves and the rest of the Nighthawks take the field again in the 2025 NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament Friday, May 9 against No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne. UNG looks for revenge after the Bears ended its season in the Southeast Super Regional last year. First pitch from Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium is slated for 12:00 p.m.