LEXINGTON, Ky.- Sophomore outside hitter Ceci Connolly was named an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention player for Division III, becoming F&M's eighth player to be named an All-American.

Connolly is a first-time All-American after earning first-team selections to the AVCA All-Region 5 team and All-Centennial Conference team. While she is the eighth Diplomats named an All-American, 13th time overall that a Diplomats has been named to the AVCA's All-America Honorable Mention team.  Among Centennial Conference attackers in 2025, Connolly ended the season ranked fourth in hitting percentage (.313), sixth in kills per set (3.21), and seventh in points per set (3.56), playing a key role in the Centennial Conference's second-most efficient attack (.229 team hitting percentage). She had 17 matches with ten-plus kills including a career-best 21 kills in October's five-set win over Gettysburg. Her most efficient performance came in September's straight-set sweep of Gallaudet where she hit .619 with 15 kills. In defense, she reached a season-high four blocks in three separate matches. 

The Diplomats concluded 2025 with a 23-7, 9-1 Centennial Conference record that saw F&M win its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2000, the program's fourth overall win in the Tournament. The season included a seven-match winning streak to open the season and 15 straight-set sweeps. In conference play, the team earned its 12th Centennial Conference Tournament Championship appearance, marking the first time since 2022. Across Division III, the Diplomats ranked 14th in assists per set (12.43), 17th in kills per set (13.29), 24th in aces per set (2.82), and 42nd in hitting percentage (.224).