Polk State Athletics 2024-25 in review: Women’s superlatives

It was another exciting year for Polk State Athletics. Throughout the course of the athletic year, however, there were players, moments, and performances that stood out above the rest.

As Polk State looks forward to another year of excellence on the courts and fields, and in the classrooms, here’s a look back at the best from the 2024-25 Athletics Year in women’s sports. The selections were made by the Polk State Athletics Eagle of the Month Committee.

Team of the Year: Softball

In its second season under Head Coach Kevin Lewis, Polk State Softball made tremendous strides. The Eagles had their best season since 2015 and put together their highest win total in 11 years with 29 victories. Seven of those wins came over nationally ranked teams, including five victories over teams ranked in the top 10. Led by a deep pitching staff that featured Dee Allen, Tessa Anderson and Jamie Reinhardt, Polk State proved it could play with and defeat the nation’s best.

Outfielders Karyna Lewis and Chelsi Rae’ Hebert, catcher Leia Hurst and infielder Nayeli Hernandez were each All-Citrus Conference selections. Hebert supplied the power with nine home runs – the most for a Polk State player in six years – and 51 RBIs. Lewis hit a team-best .395 while Hernandez brought the speed with a team-high 45 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.

Athlete of the Year: Jamie Reinhardt, Utility, Softball

Jamie Reinhardt was left off the All-Citrus Conference Team, but Head Coach Kevin Lewis would argue that she was the heart and soul of the Eagles. Polk State Softball’s do-everything player and a team captain as a sophomore, Reinhardt shined at the plate and from the circle. During her Polk State career, Reinhardt played infield, outfield, pitcher, and catcher. As a sophomore, she hit.318 with 21 RBIs and 39 runs scored. From the circle, she led the team in starts, innings pitched and saves.

Freshman of the Year: Leona Kraus, Goalkeeper, Soccer

With just five returning players in 2024, there were some obvious growing pains for Polk State Soccer. For freshman goalkeeper Leona Kraus, however, the transition to the college game was seamless. A native of Germany, Kraus was a second-team All-Region 8 selection. She led the FCSAA with 81 saves – the most for a Polk State player in seven years – while posting a respectable .717 save percentage. Kraus finished the year with a pair of shutouts.

Most Improved Athlete of the Year: Natalie Hiles, Infielder, Softball

Always an excellent defender, Natalie Hiles improved tremendously as a hitter for Polk State Softball in 2025. After batting just .160 as a freshman, Hiles hit a respectable .269 as a sophomore – an increase by 109 points. Hiles also raised her on-base percentage and slugging percentage by more than 100 points. After posting a .309 on-base percentage as a freshman, that increased to .457 in 2025. She raised her slugging percentage from .176 to .288.

Academic Athlete of the Year: Anisa Lahbiki, Midfielder, Soccer

A native of Michigan, Anisa Lahbiki has shined for Polk State Soccer over her two years at the College – both on the pitch and in the classroom. Recognized as a member of the program’s leadership circle, a group of captains who serve as team leaders, Lahbiki has been a model of consistency. A midfielder, Lahbiki concludes her Polk State playing career with a goal and two assists. Her list of accolades, however, include FCSAA and NJCAA All-Academic recognition. With a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, she also made the President’s List. Lahbiki graduated Magna Cum Laude from Polk State with her Associate in Arts.

Coach of the Year: Kevin Lewis, Softball

Following his second season at the helm, Kevin Lewis has Polk State Softball on an upward trajectory. Under Lewis, the Eagles enjoyed their best season in a decade and their highest win total since 2014. Seven of Polk State’s 29 wins came against nationally ranked teams, including five wins against top-10 teams, highlighted by a victory over then No. 1 Indian River State College on Feb. 25. While Polk State has become a force to be reckoned with on the diamond, it has also become one that achieves in the classroom under Coach Lewis’ leadership.

Performance of the Year: Alexia Ortiz Munoz vs. Eastern Florida State College (Oct. 21, 2024)

With an entirely new roster, the 2024 season was one of transition for Polk State Volleyball under first-year Head Coach Jessica Beal. But through the growing pains, there were some outstanding efforts and individual performances, including a feat that had not been accomplished at Polk State in more than a decade – a triple-double. Against No. 16 Eastern Florida State College, Alexia Ortiz Munoz finished with 10 kills, 14 assists, and 14 digs. A native of Puerto Rico, Ortiz Munoz needed just four sets to do what no Polk State player had done since Rachel Aguilar in 2012.

Game of the Year: Polk State Softball’s upset of No. 1 Indian River State College (Feb. 25)

In 2024, Polk State Softball didn’t win a conference game until mid-March. The Citrus Conference slate for the Eagles in 2025 began with a doubleheader against then No. 1 Indian River State College. The lofty task was not too large for the Eagles. Polk State dropped the first game but bounced back with a vengeance. Behind a stellar pitching performance from Tessa Anderson in which she allowed just an unearned run on five hits in a complete-game effort, Polk State pulled off the upset, 3-1. Down 1-0 in the fifth, Polk State went ahead for good on Savannah Jacobs’ two-run triple. Chelsi Rae’ Hebert added an RBI single in the sixth to cap the scoring.

Moment of the Year: Karyna Lewis’ walk-off hit to complete the sweep of College of Central Florida (April 3, 2025)

With a .395 batting average, redshirt sophomore Karyna Lewis was Polk State’s leading hitter in 2025. Lewis had plenty of big hits for the Eagles in her lone season with the program, but none were bigger than her walk-off knock to complete a thrilling comeback and the doubleheader sweep of College of Central Florida. In a contest in which Polk State trailed 7-0 in the fourth inning, Lewis came to the plate as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied, 15-15.

Leia Hurst and Chelsi Rae’ Hebert started the two-out rally with back-to-back singles before Silvia Franzoni walked to load the bases. On a 2-2 pitch, Lewis lined the walk-off single to left field as the Eagles won their highest-scoring game of the year, 16-15. The win not only capped a thrilling comeback, but it served as Polk State’s 21st victory of the year, marking its highest total since 2015. While Lewis played the role of hero, it was a complete team effort as the Eagles finished with 17 hits. Hebert and Rylee Hartnell each finished with three hits. Savannah Jacobs plated three runs in the win.