ASHLAND, Va. -- Six Christopher Newport student-athletes were named to the 2025-26 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Academic All-State team in a release by the organization on Tuesday. Representing six different programs, four female and two male student-athletes were recognized by the statewide organization this year including five seniors and one junior. 

This year, the Captains were led in the classroom by volleyball legend Alyssa Dozier, women's soccer All-American Hanna Heaton, field hockey star Caroline Hughlett, women's golf breakout Julia Pelletier, men's tennis veteran Vincent Truong, and men's track and field standout Daniel Young. 

Following outstanding efforts both in and out of the classroom during the 2025-26 school year, the six CNU student-athletes were joined by over 200 others representing 36 colleges and universities from around the Commonwealth named to the All-State squad. In order to be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically while maintaining a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average. Each institution in Virginia is eligible to nominate up to six athletes for the All-State award. 

(CNU All-State picks in alphabetical order by last name...)

Alyssa Dozier - Senior - Volleyball - Arlington, Va.

Dozier is arguably the most decorated student-athlete in CNU Athletics history after capping her illustrious playing career with the most dominant list of individual academic accolades in Captains lore. At Commencement, Dozier earned the Gregory Klich Achievement Award winner as she posted the finest cumulative grade-point average among the graduating class of 2026 at CNU. She hauled in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition and also became the first Captain AND the first Division III volleyball player ever to earn first team Academic All-America plaudits from the College Sports Communicators three years in a row. A double major in Political Science and History, Dozier is attending graduate school at George Mason University this Fall. 

On the court, her accomplishments were equally as impressive as she concluded a record-setting career as a middle blocker for the nationally-ranked CNU volleyball program. The focal point of the CNU offense and defense over the last four years, Dozin became the program's all-time leader in blocks (490) while also ranking fourth in career kills (1,368) and attack percentage (.324). As a senior, she boasted the most kills in a season since 2012 and ranked in the top-ten all-time after becoming just the third player in program history to hit over .400 for a single season (.402).  

Hanna Heaton - Senior - Women's Soccer - Gloucester, Va.

Wrapping up a storied three-year career as a Captain in 2025, Heaton piled up 86 career points to rank sixth all-time at CNU with 29 career goals and 28 assists. She ranks third in assists and ninth in goals scored in CNU lore despite playing just three years. Two years in a row, Heaton was named the C2C Offensive Player of the Year including after a senior season that saw her score 21 points on eight goals and five assists in 2025. She helped lift the Captains to a C2C Championship and ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

In the classroom, Heaton was a record-setting student-athlete as she collected three Academic All-America certificates in her three seasons. She became just the second player in program history to garner first team Scholar All-America recognition multiple times in her career, joining Hall of Famer Gabby Gillis, and is the first student-athlete in any sport to garner first team All-America and first team Scholar All-America honors in more than one season. 

Caroline Hughlett - Junior - Field Hockey - Charlottesville, Va.

Over the last three seasons, the Christopher Newport field hockey team has lost just five games paired with 52 wins for a winning percentage of over 91 percent. One constant in those 57 games has been Caroline Hughlett, starting all 57 and providing the Captains with All-America caliber performances on the field.  This year, a first team All-American according to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, Hughlett solidified her spot among the top performers in the country with a dominant junior season. She registered 23 points, including seven goals, and established a career-high with nine assists to rank as the 13th most in program history.  

Off the field, Hughlett continued to represent the Captains well in the classroom by collecting first team Academic All-America plaudits from the College Sports Communicators. Recognized in the highly-competitive "at-large" category, which encompasses student-athletes from all women's sports excluding basketball, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball, Huhglett was one of only 21 field hockey players from any level of NCAA to earn the esteemed recognition. Additionally, the junior was recognized as the NFHCA National Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a pristine 4.0 GPA as an Accounting major. 

Julia Pelletier - Senior - Women's Golf - Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

Celebrated as a Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar for the third year in a row, Pelletier capped an outstanding career with a near perfect GPA with a degree in Management. She also was selected as only the second CNU women's golfer ever to earn Academic All-District honors for women's golf in the "at-large" category from the College Sports Communicators. 

On the course, Pelletier posted one of the best single-season efforts in program history, shattering her previous bests in nearly every statistical category. The veteran led the team with a 78.8 scoring average while participating in all 22 rounds during her final season. That mark ranks ninth in program history and led her to collecting first team All-Conference honors in the inaugural season of the Colonial Women's Golf Conference. Pelletier finished her career eighth all-time at CNU with an 82.0 career scoring average. 

Vincent Truong - Senior - Men's Tennis - Fairfax, Va.

Only the third CNU men's tennis player to earn Academic All-District plaudits three times in his career, Truong wrapped up his decorated tenure at Christopher Newport with a near-perfect GPA while majoring in Computer Engineering. He also collected Academic All-Conference honors from the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference four times 

As accomplished on the courts as he was in the classroom, Truong graduated as one of the most decorated CNU players of all-time. Recognized as an All-Conference pick in both singles and doubles in each of his final three seasons, Truong is a seven-time All-C2C pick. He was also selected as the 2023 Conference Rookie of the Year, 2024 Player of the Year, and 2025 Doubles Team of the Year. 

Daniel Young - Senior - Men's Track and Field - Leesburg, Va.

As a senior, Young concluded his career as one of the top standouts in the shot put in program history. He established a new school record in the event with a 16.48-meter launch at the South Regoinal Final Qualifier during the winter, marking the longest throw in the region and moved him into the top-30 nationally. In the spring, he climbed to third all-time on the outdoor charts at CNU with a 16.10-meter toss at the New Captains Classic. 

Over the course of his career, Young amassed four All-Region certificates and six All-Conference citations for his work in the shot put. He was named to the USTFCCCA National All-Academic Team after posting a cumulative GPA of at least 3.300 while ranking in the top-50 in his event. He was also named Academic All-Conference and Academic All-District for his scholarly achievements during the 2025-26 campaign.