Villanova Univeristy Athletics

2026: Played in 42 games as a sophomore, starting in 37 … Accrued 28 hits with 19 runs scored … Hit three home runs and had five doubles … Totaled 94 putouts and 16 assists with a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate, making zero errors for one of the top fielding seasons in VU history and catching seven stealing … Had her first multi-hit game of the season at DePaul, hitting a dinger … Scored two runs on a two-hit day against Butler … Maintained a seven-game hit streak from March 15 to April 3 … Totaled a three-hit, three-RBI effort in the win at Penn … Went four-of-five on stolen bases.

2025: Burst onto the scene as Villanova's starting catcher in her true freshman campaign … Started 43 games behind the plate for the Wildcats, leading off for the VU lineup in a team-high 22 contests … Had nine multi-hit games, including a pair of three-hit efforts … Ended the season on a nine-game on-base and seven-game hitting streak … Totaled 36 hits, eight doubles and five home runs … Put forth an impressive season behind the plate with 156 putouts and 19 assists on a .989 fielding percentage with seven runners caught stealing …Hit her first collegiate home run with a three-run shot against Minnesota … Had three two-hit games in a two week stretch from Apr. 4 through 13 … Contributed three RBI twice in the final week of the regular season … Had first career multi-home run game on Senior Day, including walkoff solo shot to defeat Providence … Contributed a trio of hits and three runs in the BIG EAST Tournament.

CSI High School for International Studies: Ranked No. 31 in the Class of 2024 by Extra Innings … Plays travel with PA Chaos 18U Gold - Spina … Member of the National Honor Society … Selected as Congress of Future Medical Leaders Award of Excellence winner for outstanding academic achievement.

Personal: Born 1/31/06 … One of four children of John and Jeannette Mahnken … Has three siblings: Gianna, Adrianna and Valentina … Chose to attend Villanova because it "had the most welcoming environment while attending my visit. Villanova has great academics, strong athletics and a great atmosphere."

Orchard on Mahnken: "Ava will come in and immediately compete for the starting catcher position. She has both power and speed at the plate, and she's a gritty athlete that can also play the infield."