MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Samantha Perlberg has been named the recipient of the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Volleyball Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.
A senior from Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chippewa Falls), Perlberg is majoring in finance and business analytics and sustains a 3.67 grade-point average. She secured a spot on the College Sports Communicators 2025 NCAA Division III Academic All-America® Women’s Volleyball First Team, becoming the first individual in program history to accomplish the feat. Perlberg is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been named to UW-Oshkosh’s Dean’s List numerous semesters.
Perlberg is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American, receiving first-team honors a year ago after landing on the honorable mention squad in 2023. She is a three-time AVCA All-Region selection and was tabbed the region’s Player of the Year in 2025 and Freshman of the Year in 2023. Perlberg helped UW-Oshkosh win its first NCAA Division III title a season ago and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the national championship. On the conference level, she is a four-time All-WIAC first-team selection and was selected the Player of the Year in 2025. A two-year team captain, Perlberg ranks third all-time in program history with 1,757 kills and has helped the Titans win four straight WIAC regular-season titles.
People are also reading…
Perlberg has been a member of UW-Oshkosh’s Finance Club and is currently active with the campus Bible study. She has also worked as an athletic department employee for the Titans.
Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire’s Mya Cinnamo (Sr., Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount); UW-La Crosse’s Grace Nommensen (Sr., New Glarus, Wis./New Glarus); UW-River Falls’ Gracie Tallier (Sr., Gilman, Wis./Gilman); UW-Stevens Point’s Tessa Erlandson (Sr., Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon Wanamingo); UW-Stout Polytechnic’s Brooke McCune (Sr., Osseo, Wis./Osseo-Fairchild); and UW-Whitewater’s Aubrie Krzus (Sr., Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South).
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman, who served as assistant commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she was commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from October 1984-September 1996. Kruckman was the women's athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84 and one of the original representatives to the WWIAC when it formed in 1971.
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade-point average. In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.
