RALEIGH, N.C. — Shaw University Softball earned multiple postseason honors from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association as junior outfielder Cyndia Dobbins was named All-CIAA Second Team while freshman catcher Imari Jordan earned CIAA All-Rookie Team honors following standout performances during the 2026 season the CIAA announced Wednesday evening.
Dobbins emerged as one of the top offensive threats in the conference this season, finishing with a .475 batting average while recording 38 hits, 17 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples and three home runs in 23 appearances. She also posted a .959 fielding percentage while continuing to serve as a veteran leader for the Lady Bears both offensively and defensively.
The junior delivered several signature performances throughout the season, including a four-hit outing against Bluefield State on March 27 and another four-hit performance against Virginia State during the CIAA Softball Roundup. Dobbins also recorded multiple extra-base hit games, highlighted by a two-double performance against Johnson C. Smith on April 10.
Among her season highs, Dobbins collected four hits twice, drove in three RBI against Bluefield State, blasted a home run against Livingstone and added a triple against Winston-Salem State late in the season. She closed the year with 19 runs scored while helping anchor Shaw's lineup throughout conference play.
Jordan quickly established herself as one of the CIAA's top young talents during her freshman campaign. The rookie catcher finished the season batting .318 with 28 hits, 12 RBI, three doubles and two triples while posting a strong .972 fielding percentage behind the plate.
Jordan turned in several clutch performances during conference play, including a three-hit, two-RBI outing against Bluefield State and a breakout performance against Johnson C. Smith where she recorded two hits, three RBI, a double and a triple. She also registered multiple multi-hit performances against Livingstone, WSSU and Fayetteville State.
Defensively, Jordan provided stability behind the plate throughout the season, totaling 130 putouts and helping manage Shaw's pitching staff during a demanding conference schedule.
The postseason honors highlight the continued growth of the Lady Bears softball program, which showed major improvement throughout the 2026 campaign while finishing third in the CIAA Southern Division.
