GREENVILLE, S.C. - One of the University of Northwestern's very own was awarded one of the highest honors the National Christian College Athletic Association bestows at Thursday afternoon's NCCAA Convention Hall of Fame Luncheon. Former Northwestern Volleyball star Marley Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy) received the 2026 NCCAA Game Plan 4 LIFE Student-Athlete Award, given annually to one male and one female from NCCAA member institutions who best exemplify the four Christian character qualities which make up the Game Plan 4 LIFE (GP4L) acronym: Love, Integrity, Faith and Excellence.

Click here to read the full NCCAA Hall of Fame Awards press release.

Aune, who also received the NCCAA's Susan R. Hellings Award (GP4L award for women's volleyball) in the fall and UNW's Eagle Award in the spring, is the fifth Eagle to earn the award, the third female, and the second volleyball player (Greta King, 2011). A two-time AVCA All-American and 2025 UMAC Player of the Year who was the active NCAA Division III leader in total blocks throughout her entire senior season, the New Brighton native dominated the UMAC for four years. Her 542 career blocks are second in program history, and her 148 blocks this season were second in Division III at the conclusion of the regular season. The senior led her team in points per set (3.84), blocks and blocks per set (1.33), adding 293 kills (2.64 per set) and 25 aces. But Aune is much more than just a dominant presence at the net. A Kinesiology Pre-Therapy grad with a 3.82 GPA, the middle blocker racked up several academic awards while on campus, and displayed excellent leadership and Christian service as well. She has spent time working with local elementary schools and children's ministries at church, leads a small group for her teammates, and participated in a team mission trip to the Dominican Republic, where the Eagles led volleyball clinics, delivered food, and spent time ministering at orphanages and women's centers. Aune's combination of on-court dominance, classroom excellence, leadership and service made her a slam-dunk choice to be the NCCAA Game Plan 4 LIFE Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Northwestern's NCCAA Game Plan 4 LIFE Student-Athletes of the Year
2026: Marley Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy) - Women's Volleyball
2024: Bryce Crabb - Baseball
2020: Tanner Youngberg - Men's Basketball
2017: Karen Moe - Women's Tennis
2011: Greta King - Women's Volleyball