Softball's Lafulafu Malepeai has been named Sacramento State's Female Newcomer of the Year…the award is given to the top female transfer student-athlete…also named the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year - the first Hornet in program history to accomplish the feat…a second team all-Big Sky selection…started all 48 games in which she appeared (44 in left field, four in right field)…hit .382 (52-for-136), the highest mark among Hornet regulars…also had 38 runs, seven doubles, seven homers, 28 RBIs, a .603 slugging percentage, .469 on-base percentage, 1.072 ops, and was 14-for-15 in stolen base opportunities.

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OTHER NOMINEES

Reese Ampi (Volleyball) - Played in all 33 matches, and all but one set during her first season with the Hornets…began the year as the team's libero on defense, and towards the end of the season, became the team's full-time libero…finished with averages of 2.85 digs and 0.30 aces per set…had 17 matches with double figures in digs, including a season-best 24 vs. Weber State…named Big Sky all-tournament after averaging 4.33 digs per set over three matches…had 22 digs in the championship match victory.

Anna Harmon (Track & Field) - Recorded the fourth-fastest 10K in school history with a time of 35:42.16 at the Bryan Clay Classic…ran races ranging from 800-10K during the outdoor season…competed at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships in the 10K…finished in first place in the event at the Aggie Open in the 1500…ran in a pair of indoor meets…was in the lineup for all six cross country meets…led the team at the USF Invitational and placed 15th overall in her first race with the Hornets.

Jaydia Martin (Basketball) - A second team all-Big Sky Conference selection…led the team in scoring (14.8 points per game) and averaged 5.4 rebounds…ranked fourth in the Big Sky in scoring and total points (459), while sitting second in field goals made (168)…finished with double-figure points in 25 of 31 games, including 23 of her final 25 games, and 13 straight from Nov. 29 to Jan. 23…finished with 20-plus points five times, and had 31 points in a win over Kansas City.

Alexa Ortiz (Softball) - Named honorable mention all-Big Sky Conference in her first season with the Hornets…a valuable part of the staff, Ortiz made a team-high 28 appearances in relief…in 32 appearances (four starts), Ortiz won six games with a 3.18 ERA to go with 64 strikeouts in 72.2 innings…the 32 appearances were nine more than any other Hornet pitcher…her four saves led the Big Sky, and ranked 25th in the nation…in Big Sky play, she was 2-1 with two saves and a 0.36 ERA.

Palina Saulevich (Tennis) - An honorable mention all-Big Sky Conference selection in doubles play…finished a combined 13-7 in doubles with a 5-3 mark in Big Sky play…compiled an 8-2 record at the No. 3 spot in the lineup…was a near-perfect 8-1 with teammate Reese Walker, winning five of those eight in conference play…finished tied for first on the team with five doubles point clinching victories.

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AWARD TIMELINE

June 10 - Female Freshman of the Year - Madison Evers-Lyles (Softball)
June 11 - Male Freshman of the Year - Sean Battistessa (Soccer)
June 12 - Female Newcomer of the Year
June 13 - Male Newcomer of the Year
June 14 - Female Individual Performance of the Year
June 15 - Male Individual Performance of the Year
June 16 - Clutch Performance
June 17 - Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year
June 18 - Male Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year
June 19 - Women's Academic Team of the Year
June 20 - Men's Academic Team of the Year
June 21 - SAAC Award
June 22 - Female Team Performance of the Year
June 23 - Male Team Performance of the Year
June 24 - Team of the Year
June 25 - Coach of the Year
June 26 - Female Hornet Award
June 27 - Male Hornet Award
June 28 - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
June 29 - Male Student-Athlete of the Year