Lee University senior Ashleigh Simes has been named a DII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Tennis, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Simes is among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II athletes across 11 collegiate sports. The winner will be determined through national balloting by representatives from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 30^th, at 7:00 pm ET, in New York City.

“Being a finalist for the DII Honda Athlete of the Year is such an honor,” stated Simes. “I’m so thankful for my family, coaches, and teammates for their constant support, and to the Lee athletic community for everything they have done. I’m so grateful to represent Lee and to have been a part of such a special program.”

Simes, a senior from Canberra, Australia, capped off a standout season as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Senior Player of the Year and South Region Senior Player of the Year.

She held the No. 1 national ITA singles ranking for nine consecutive weeks, finishing the year with an impressive 23-3 overall record, including a 15-2 mark in dual matches. Simes led the Lady Flames to a 13-4 record and the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II South Regional.

Named the 2025 Gulf South Conference (GSC) Player of the Year, she is a two-time First Team All-GSC selection and recipient of the James O’Hara Sargent Sportsmanship Award. Most recently, she was named GSC Top Ten and won the GSC Commissioner Trophy, the most prestigious honor bestowed by the GSC, which is presented annually to the student-athlete who best combines outstanding performance on the field or court and high academic achievement in the classroom with significant community service and extracurricular activities.

Off the court, Simes was recognized as a College Sports Communicator (CSC) Academic All-District honoree for her excellence in the classroom.

“Ash had a year that most players dream of,” exclaimed head coach Patric Hynes. “She’s been able to combine a fierce desire to be great, with a humility that makes her popular with all people she comes across, including many of her competitors. Throughout the entire season, she brought her best level to the matches that mattered most, while also pushing and encouraging her teammates to raise their levels as well. She’s an elite performer who will be regarded as one of the most dominant competitors in Division II. I’m so grateful that Ash came to Lee and it has been a privilege to be her coach.”

Now in its 49th year, the CWSA honors the nation’s top female collegiate athletes for their exceptional athletic performance, leadership, academic achievements, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has awarded over $3.4 million in institutional grants to support women’s athletics at universities across the country.

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/.