SACRAMENTO STATE STUDENT-ATHLETE END OF THE YEAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State athletics department honored the achievements of its student-athletes today with the announcement of its end of the year awards. Among the seven award winners were Sacramento State Senior Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year Kiryl Harbatsiuk and Lea Wallace, respectively.

Senior Male Athlete of the Year - Kiryl Harbatsiuk
Given to one male and female athlete that has reached senior status in eligibility, and is voted on by the entire Sacramento State athletics coaching staff.

Harbatsiuk was recently named Big Sky Conference MVP for the third straight year, becoming the first men’s tennis player in school history and third in conference history to win the award three times. He also became the second men’s tennis player in school history to earn first team all-Big Sky honors all four years of his career. The Minsk, Belarus, native is currently 23-2 in singles play this year (all at No. 1 in the Hornets’ lineup) and has won an incredible 23 straight singles matches. Earlier this year, Harbatsiuk became the highest ranked singles player in school history when he began the year as the 16th ranked player in the nation. He is now ranked 27th, and of his 23 singles wins this season, 19 have come in straight sets. Harbatsiuk went 8-0 in Big Sky matches this year and is now 33-1 in singles play against conference opposition since his freshman year. In doubles play this season, Harbatsiuk is 13-6, including a 12-5 mark in the No. 1 spot of the lineup. His career dual-match record is now 88-13 in singles play and 65-26 in doubles play. He was also voted to the Sacramento State men’s tennis all-decade team last summer.

Senior Female Athlete of the Year - Lea Wallace
Given to one male and female athlete that has reached senior status in eligibility, and is voted on by the entire Sacramento State athletics coaching staff.

Wallace is currently in the middle of one of the most amazing years by a Sacramento State student-athlete. During the indoor season, she won the Big Sky Conference Championship, and set the school record and advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 800 meters. She continued her success during the outdoor season with a blistering time of 2:02.95 which currently leads the nation and ranks among the top 10 times in the world this year. During her career, she is a three-time NCAA Championship qualifier, a two-time Big Sky champion, and earned All-America honors at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships. The Napa, Calif., native has also earned Big Sky all-academic honors throughout her career and volunteers for a nutrition program at Grant High School. She was also voted to the Sacramento State track and field all-decade team last summer.

The Director’s Award - Ronald Brookins
This award is not an annual award, but instead is intended to be presented to individuals who have provided either significant achievement in, or impact to, Sacramento State athletics.

The most decorated track and field athlete in school history, Brookins is the first recipient of The Director’s Award. Despite being in the middle of his senior season, Brookins has already been a Junior World Qualifier, an NCAA All-American, a four-time NCAA Championships qualifier, and an 11-time Big Sky Conference champion. He has also been selected as the Big Sky male athlete of the meet at the championships four times. As a senior, he qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles, and at the Big Sky indoor championships, he outscored the entire team from both Northern Colorado and Portland State all by himself. During the outdoor season, he broke his own school record and set the Big Sky mark after running 13.42 seconds in the 110-hurdles. That time currently ranks him fourth in Div. I. Brookins has also excelled in the classroom, being named to the Big Sky all-academic team each year as a business major. He was also voted to the Sacramento State track and field all-decade team last summer.

Senior Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Matt Carter
Given to the Sacramento State male and female senior with the highest grade point average.

A two-year member of the football team, Matt Carter has also excelled in the classroom as a finance major. On the field, Carter played in 10 of the team’s 11 games during the 2010 season. Although he spent most of his time as a blocker, he made the most of his opportunities, catching four touchdowns on 10 receptions. That total included two scores at Montana as well as touchdowns against Portland State and UC Davis. His two-yard touchdown catch against Portland State proved to be the game-winning score.

Senior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Sami Field-Polisso
Given to the Sacramento State male and female senior with the highest grade point average.

Field-Polisso will go down as one of the most prolific long-range shooters in Sacramento State women’s basketball history. The kinesiology major finished her career ranked third all-time in school history with 168 3-pointers and set the program record with 563 3-point attempts. The Mountain View, Calif., native averaged 7.5 points in three years while accumulating 242 assists and 192 rebounds. During her senior season, Field-Polisso led the team with 69 made 3-pointers which ranked her third in the Big Sky Conference. Field-Polisso played in 87 career games, starting 82 of those, and averaged 31.2 minutes per game. She was also prodigious at the charity stripe, with a career free throw percentage of .854. In support for her mother, Nancy, she pushed for the athletics department’s “Threes for the Disease” campaign to raise money for the ALS Association of Greater Sacramento. The Hornets, through a sponsorship from Jiffy Lube, raised $2,160 by hitting 216 3-point baskets during the 2010-11 season. Field-Polisso was responsible for 32 percent of the total 3-pointers made.

Male Hornet Award - Peter Buck
Recognizes members of the program that exhibit true Hornet qualities. This is an award that honors members of Sacramento State athletics who have competed well and honorably on the field of play, have had success in the classroom and who have taken part in extracurricular service on their own.

It is possible that Peter Buck might be the busiest man on campus. A four-year member of the football team, Buck has also served as team captain, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and the Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Council, as well as donating his time to numerous charitable events. As a player, Buck earned second team all-Big Sky honors as a senior after leading the team with 96 total tackles. He leaves Sacramento State ranked fifth in school history with 274 career tackles and shared the career record with five fumble recoveries. The kinesiology major has also been a three-time Big Sky all-academic selection, was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s Campbell Award, and a member of the FCS Athletic Directors All-Star Team.

Female Hornet Award - Ericka Violett
Recognizes members of the program that exhibit true Hornet qualities. This is an award that honors members of Sacramento State athletics who have competed well and honorably on the field of play, have had success in the classroom and who have taken part in extracurricular service on their own.

Currently in her fifth year at Sacramento State, Violett will leave a lasting impression for her work as a student-athlete. In track and field, Violett was named the Big Sky Outstanding Field Athlete at the 2009 Indoor Championships. She is also a four-time Big Sky champion, a four-time NCAA qualifier, an eight-time all-conference selection and was a member of the Hornet track and field all-decade team. Violett has also been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus where she has served on the leadership team since 2008. A Big Sky all-academic selection every year of her career, Violett has also served an internship working with at-risk kids and has helped organize homeless outreach programs.