Cheney, Flippo Earn Recognition in Big South All-Conference Awards

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A pair of Radford women's lacrosse players were named to the 2026 Big South All-Conference Teams, as announced by the conference office on Thursday afternoon. Senior Mady Cheney and junior Sam Flippo were both honored.

Cheney concluded her career as a Highlander in grand style, making an impact both in the midfield and on the attack. The Texan scored in 12 of 17 games, including four hat tricks. She tied a career high with six goals in a huge Senior Day triumph over Gardner-Webb on April 11. She was also a force to be reckoned with on the draw, averaging 2.89 per game and finishing tied with the fourth-most in the conference (52). The senior also added 39 ground balls and became the career leader in the stat in program history (134). She secured her 100^th career goal on March 14 vs. Butler and added her 200^th career draw control on March 18 at Campbell.

Joining Radford after transferring from High Point this season, Flippo had one of the best seasons as a defender in program history. She led the conference and ranked seventh nationally in caused turnovers, forcing 52 across 18 games for an average of 2.89 per game. Her 52 caused turnovers shattered the previous single-season record of 40 set by Katie Bendrick in 2021. Flippo broke Radford's single-game caused turnover record on April 1 vs. Winthrop (7) before smashing it again on April 11 vs. Gardner-Webb (8). She also was the first Highlander to secure Big South Player of the Week awards in consecutive weeks in April.

Cheney was also named to the All-Academic Team. Holding a perfect 4.0 GPA through seven semesters as a double major in Marketing and Economics, the co-team captain is set to graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Radford this upcoming weekend.

This is the third time Cheney has received full season conference honors, having been named to the second team in 2024 and honorable mention in 2025. She is just the second Radford women's lacrosse athlete to be named all-conference in three seasons after Callie Bonnel accomplished the feat from 2017-19. Flippo will look to return to an all-conference team next season after receiving her first mention this season.

2026 Big South Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams

First Team
ATT – Caroline Glus, Mercer
ATT – Shannon Smith, High Point
ATT – Sofia D'Angelo, Mercer
MF – Ansley Walters, Mercer
MF – Olivia Graebner, Wofford
MF – Gracie Vickery, High Point
D – Brooke Meltcher, Wofford
D – Sydney Martin, High Point
D – Avery West, Presbyterian College
GK – Emma Anderson, Gardner-Webb
AL – Fiona Tanis, D, Mercer
AL – Shae Insinga, ATT, Furman
AL – Maddie Tredway, MF, Gardner-Webb

Second Team
ATT – Lily Toole, Furman
ATT – Madison Rogers Longwood
ATT – Emily Currie, Presbyterian College
MF – Allie Kandel, Furman
MF – Mady Cheney, Radford
MF – Abbi Rupnow, Mercer
D – Sam Flippo, Radford
D – Ayla Galloway, Mercer
D – Kellie Voorhees, Mercer
GK – Isabella McCullough, Longwood
AL – Vivian Chiomento, MF, Wofford
AL – Anna Mullikin, MF, High Point
AL – Gabby Pierpont, MF, Winthrop

Honorable Mention
Tori Iannotti, ATT, Winthrop
Zoe Milmoe, D, Furman
Lilly Dyer, D, Furman
Jordan Fitzgerald, MF, Longwood
Barrett Rowe, D, Wofford

All-Freshman Team
Maddie Tredway, MF, Gardner-Webb
Anna Mullikin, MF, High Point
Sara Fenwick, MF, Wofford
Sophie Andrychowski, D, Mercer
Emily Muir, ATT, Furman
Cate Noone, ATT, Furman
Peyton Daley, D, Longwood

All-Academic Team
Shae Insinga, Furman
Emma Meyer, Gardner-Webb
Caitlyn Baehr, High Point
Kendra DeFilippo, Longwood
Izzy Parrett, Mercer
Olivia Ballard, Presbyterian College
Mady Cheney, Radford
Chloe Patterson, Winthrop
Olivia Graebner, Wofford

Offensive Player of the Year
Caroline Glus, Mercer

Midfielder of the Year
Ansley Walters, Mercer

Defensive Player of the Year
Brooke Meltcher, Wofford

Newcomer of the Year
Shae Insinga, Furman

Freshman of the Year
Maddie Tredway, Gardner-Webb

Coach of the Year
Samantha Eustace, Mercer

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Chloe Patterson, Winthrop

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Cheney, Flippo Earn Recognition in Big South All-Conference Awards

Players Mentioned

Mady Cheney

Sam Flippo

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