Makenna Nold, a sophomore from Concordia University-St. Paul, has been named a finalist in volleyball for the DII Honda Athlete of the Year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. Nold is now among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II athletes across various sports. The DII Honda Athlete of the Year will be selected by senior women administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27th, at 7:00 pm ET, in New York City.

"I am very honored to be a finalist for the Honda DII Athlete of the year," said Nold. "My coaches, teammates, and fellow student athletes have made this possible and supported me through my athletic and scholastic journey to this point. I am very proud to be considered amongst these other student athlete nominees. It is a privilege that I get to represent Concordia St. Paul and be a part of the school that continues to help me grow academically and athletically."

The 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Player of the Year, Nold established herself as one of the nation’s premier offensive threats while leading her team to the NCAA Championship runner-up finish.

A sophomore outside hitter hailing from Jamestown, N.D., Nold earned AVCA and D2CCA First-Team All-America honors, sweeping both major national awards. She was also named both the AVCA and D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year, in addition to garnering First-Team All-Region accolades from each organization. In conference play, she continued her dominance, being named the 2025 NSIC Player of the Year and collecting her second consecutive All-NSIC First Team selection.

Statistically, Nold stood among the elite across Division II. She led the NSIC and ranked 11th nationally with 4.40 kills per set, while also finishing seventh in the country in points per set (5.27). Her all-around impact was equally impressive, ranking 12th in the conference in blocks per set (0.87). On the season, she recorded 17 double-doubles and nine 20-plus kill performances, while also securing her place in the school record books with the fourth-highest single-season points-per-set mark.

"Makenna is the epitome of what it means to be a scholar athlete and we could not be more proud of her," said Head Coach Brady Starkey. "She is a great athlete and player who is just as impressive in the classroom. Makenna grinds daily in practice and does it with a positive energy that has a great effect on her teammates and makes her a blast to have in the gym. She is an amazing person who is kind, funny and inclusive with everyone and does it with a maturity that is beyond her years. It's an honor for her to be recognized for this award and I couldn't think of someone more deserving."Now in its 50th year, the CWSA continues to honor the nation’s top female collegiate athletes for excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants, strengthening and advancing women’s athletics programs nationwide.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation 

For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.  

Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.