Thirteen Highlanders Named Big West Academic All-Conference

(Dec. 16, 2004) - UC Riverside placed thirteen student-athletes from four fall sports on the Big West Conference All-Academic honors list, it was announced Tuesday. Volleyball had the most representatives, with six student-athletes, followed by men's soccer with four, women's soccer with three, and men's cross-country with one.

The six Highlanders from the women's volleyball team were the most representatives from any of the ten Big West schools. Seniors Tiffany Brooks (Anaheim, CA/Business) and Lindsay Drennen (Hermosa Beach, CA/Sociology) head the team, followed by juniors Valerie Bueno (Culver City, CA/Chemistry) and Kym Murphy (San Diego, CA/History). A pair of sophomores, Michelle Rybka (Palo Alto, CA/Biology) and Willemina Stikker-Breemhaar (Lacombe, Alberta, Canada/Undeclared) round out the UCR contingent.

The four UCR representatives for men's soccer ties for the most from any one team for that sports. Seniors Juan Gutierrez (Santa Ana, CA/Business), Luc Harrington (Diamond Bar, CA/Business Administration), and Jeff Pusey (Alta Loma, CA/Business) were joined by sophomore Charles Alamo (San Luis Obispo, CA/Undeclared).

Three student-athletes from women's soccer made the All-Academic team, including junior Erin Fahres (Alta Loma, CA/Business), who was named to the Academic All-District Team earlier this year. Seniors Dani Geiger (Claremont, CA/Business) and Angela Reling (Costa Mesa, CA/Liberal Studies) were also honored.

Rounding out the UCR representatives was senior Paul Hansen (Rialto, CA/Computer Science) of the men's cross country team.

In total, 154 student-athletes were honored by the Big West Conference for the fall season. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade point average, complete one full academic year at their member institution prior to the season for which the award is being received (at least a sophomore academically), and compete in at least 50 percent of their team's contests. For a complete list of award winners, go to http://www.bigwest.org/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=1153.

UC Riverside 2004 Big West Academic All-Conference Fall Sports Recipients

UCR Rhodes Scholar Team For '05 Announced

(Jan. 7, 2005) - Seven UCR student-athletes have been invited to become members of the UC Riverside Rhodes Scholar team in 2005, program coordinator and UCR Academic Coordinator David Spencer announced Friday.

The seven athletes are: Senior Tiffany Brooks (volleyball), junior Kim Murphy (volleyball), sophomore Willemina Stikker-Breemhaar (volleyball), freshman Sarah Stillwell (women's tennis), junior Erin Fahres (women's soccer), junior Allison Stone (women's soccer) and junior Shannon Meyers (track and field).

The UCR Rhodes Scholar Team was instituted in in the 2001-02 school year to recognize our highest academic achieving student-athletes and to help encourage and aid any interested student-athlete to become candidates for a Rhodes Scholarship, widely recognized as one of the pinnacles of academic
achievement. The Rhodes Scholarship affords a recipient a two year post graduate scholarship to study abroad in Oxford, England. Former recipients of note include Bill Bradley, Tom Hayden, Tom McMillen and Bill Clinton.

UCR Volleyball Team Helping to Raise Money for Red Cross, Tsunami Relief Efforts

(Jan.14, 2005) - The UCR women's volleyball team, in affiliation with the American Red Cross, is raising money for the victims of the recent tsunami.

"We wanted to provide an opportunity for the UCR community to make a donation to the tsunami relief efforts," junior team member Valerie Bueno said. "Our goal is to raise $34,000, and we can get it if 17,000 students donated a dollar, 4,000 staff donated three dollars and 1,000 faculty donate five dollars."

The team kicked off their fundraising campaign at the UCR Highlanders' men's basketball game on January 13 with a donation container set up in the lobby and by "passing the hat" during the game. They will repeat the process at the game on Saturday, January 15.

The primary part of the campaign kicks off on Tuesday, January 18 and runs through January 21, as the team will be in front of the UCR Bell Tower collecting donations from students, staff and faculty. The donation table will be staffed from 12 pm to 3 pm on each of those days.

For more information, contact UCR Head Volleyball Coach Sue Gozansky at 951-827-5439.

"The American Red Cross name is used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied."

UCR Gains 18 On Spring Academic All-Big West Team

(June 15, 2005) - Eighteen spring sport student-athletes from UC Riverside were among 197 student-athletes from the 10 member institutions to earn Academic All-Big West Conference honors, it was announced Wednesday. Baseball had the most representation, with five Highlanders honored, followed by men’s and women’s track with three each, two apiece from softball, men’s golf, and women’s tennis, and one from men’s tennis. A complete list of honorees from UCR is provided below.

UCR Announces Season-Ending
Departmental Awards for 2004-05

(June 1, 2005) - The UC Riverside Athletics Department announced the winners of the 2004-05 Season Ending Awards at the Athletics Department Awards Barbeque on June 1.

The event featured the presentation of seven awards - The Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Harper Scholar Athlete Award, the Lindy Award, the Braveheart Award and the Rob Roy Award.

Kym Murphy • Women's Volleyball • Co- Harper Award
Junior volleyball player Kym Murphy has been named the co-winner of the University of California, Riverside Harper Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2004-05 academic year.
The award is selected by a committee of scholars and is presented annually to a student-athlete whose athletic and scholarly achievements are deemed most outstanding. Murphy shared the award with senior women's tennis player Michelle Beyronneau.
A history major, Kym has a 3.931 GPA. And has been a Regents' Scholar in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05. She has been a member of UCR's Rhodes Scholar program from 2002 through 2005 and has been invited to the Undergraduate Honors Convocation in each of her three years and is a member of the Phi Alpha Theda history honors society.
She has also participated as a volunteer coach with the "Mommy and Me" volleyball clinic in 2004 and 2005, in UCR volleyball camps and as a member of International Student Volunteers, doing conservation work in the summer of 2004.
On the court, Murphy was a team captain and the team's setter. "She has been a great mentor and role model for the younger players in the program and has always been available to tutor players in need," Head Coach Sue Gozansky said. "Kym does everything with a purpose, she is goal driven and works exceptionally hard to achieve her dreams."
With her motivation and work ethic, she will be a success in whatever she chooses to do and will be a great ambassador for UC Riverside and women's athletics," Gozansky said.

Michelle Beyronneau • Women's Tennis • Co- Harper Award
Senior women's tennis player Michelle Beyronneau has been named the co-winner of the University of California, Riverside Harper Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2004-05 academic year.
The award is selected by a committee of scholars and is presented annually to a student-athlete whose athletic and scholarly achievements are deemed most outstanding. Beyronneau shared the award with junior women's volleyball player Kym Murphy.
A liberal studies major, Michelle has a 3.55 GPA and has been on the Dean's Honor List in six of the last seven quarters. She has earned Academic All-Big West honors and ITA Scholar Athlete Honors in each of her three years. She will graduate in June, completing her course-work in four years, and will begin her career as a teacher.
On the court, she tied the team record for singles wins with 18, was named second team All-Big West in singles, her fourth All-Big West singles selection along with two All-Big West honors in tennis. She has been UCR's number one tennis player throughout her four year career.
"Both on and off the court, she has been one of the hardest working student-athletes that I have ever had the privilege to coach," Mark Henry said.

Valerie Bueno • Lindy Citizenship Award
Junior volleyball player Valerie Bueno has been awarded the University of California, Riverside Lindy Citizenship Award for the 2004-05 Academic Year.
The Lindy Award is presented annually to the student-athlete or service group member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication by participating in extracurricular activities in the community and at the university, and who is in satisfactory academic standing.
She spearheaded the UCR Volleyball team Tsunami Relief Fund Raiser, coordinating with the American Red Cross and CALPIRG. She made and posted signs and posters for the Bell Tower and organized the team's appearances at men's and women's basketball games and at the Bell Tower from 10-1 for several days.
"The fundraising effort was a big success and Valerie was the reason," Head Coach Sue Gozansky said. "She is a great ambassador for UCR. She sets the standard for work, play and life as a citizen in the campus community that will leave a lasting impression at UCR."
Bueno, a biology major with a 3.67 GPA who has been on the Big West All-Academic Team three times and reached the Dean's List in 2002, was named to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars team in 2005 and was a member of the Gamma Beta Phi honor society. She has been on the chancellor's list in 2002-03, 03-04 and 04-05 and a member of the Rhodes Scholar Team from 2002 through 2005.
In addition, Bueno volunteers at a local veterinary hospital, has participated in the Mommy and Me Volleyball Clinic and has served as a volunteer volleyball coach in the summers of 2002, '03 and '04.
"I feel she surpasses the criteria that Dr. Lindeburg stressed for student-athletes at the university and in the community," Gozansky said. "She is a model student-athlete and a role model both in the classroom and on the court.

Brendan Steele • Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Senior golfer Brendan Steele has been named the University of California, Riverside Male Student-Athlete of the year for the 2004-05 Academic Year. It marks the second consecutive year that Steele has received the award.
Steele picked up where he left off in 2004, earning a top-10 standing in the Golfstat Cup for the better part of the season.
He opened the season by reaching the third round of the 79th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship
Finished second at the Hawaii Turtle Bay Intercollegiate and first at the Braveheart Classic with a 13-under 203, including a tournament and season low round of 66.
He earned All-Big West First team honors in 2005, leading his team to the programs second straight Big West Championship.
"His true dedication to his sport has carried over to others on the team. As the year went on I have seen a sort of 're-dedication' from his teammates," Head Coach Paul Hjulberg said. "He has always been a true friend and mentor to his teammates. He has always provided me with insight on various team matters that I always consider. It is about the 'we can do this as a team' attitude that strikes me as a true attribute of a team player in an individual sport."

Aqueelah Tillman • Co-Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Senior track and field sprinter Aqueelah Tillman has been named the University of California, Riverside Co-Female Student-Athlete of the year for the 2004-05 Academic Year, sharing the honor with teammate Evangela Dixon.
Tillman, who will graduate in June and plans to go on to medical school, had an outstanding season despite some nagging injuries that slowed her over the course of the campaign.
Tillman holds the school record in the 400 meters at 55:54 and is fourth all time in the 800 at 2:11.26, an NCAA Regional qualifying time.
A highlight of Tillman's season was her participation in the UCR medley relay team at the Drake Relays, where she took the lead during her leg and heard her name and UCR affiliation announced over the P.A. system to the over-18,000 fans in attendance.
"She is an outstanding athlete, a true Division I athlete competing at a national level," Head Coach Irv Ray said. " She is simply one of the greatest female athletes from UCR, ever."

Evangela Dixon • Co-Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Senior track and field thrower Evangela Dixon has been named the University of California, Riverside Co-Female Student-Athlete of the year for the 2004-05 Academic Year, sharing the honor with teammate Aqueelah Tillman.
In 2005 she reached the NCAA Regionals in three events, the hammer, shot put and discus, the first time that has been achieved by any thrower in UCR history. She finished in second place in each of the three events at the Big West Championships, accounting for 24 points, the most scored by a single UCR women's track athlete in school history, helping the team to their best finish ever, a sixth place finish.
Dixon is the school record holder in the shot put at 51'4" and has the second best marks in the hammer and discus.

Randy Betten • Braveheart Award
Assistant baseball coach Randy Betten has been awarded the University of California, Riverside Braveheart Award for the 2004-05 Academic Year.
The Braveheart Award is presented to a student-athlete, coach or staff member who has shown exemplary courage.
Betten, who joined the staff in the fall of 2004, was faced with a father's ultimate fear as his infant son, Cody, underwent skull surgery at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles to allow his brain and skull to develop normally. The impending surgery was foremost on his mind during the Highlanders' pre-season and Betten missed the season opening series at Santa Clara to be with his son and family.
"While obviously concerned with his son, he continued to work on a daily basis with our team. He balanced his personal crisis with his job as well as it can be done," Head Coach Doug Smith said. "His demeanor and preparation at practice before and after surgery was exemplary. He prepared with the same energy and passion that we have come to expect from him on a daily basis. Cody has made a full recovery and Randy has continued to provide us with great things."

Kim Dillon • Braveheart Award
Junior softball player Kim Dillon has been awarded the University of California, Riverside Braveheart Award for the 2004-05 Academic Year.
The Braveheart Award is presented to a student-athlete, coach or staff member who has shown exemplary courage.
Dillon was severely injured in a car accident in January, from which she was thrown over 100 feet and suffered a lacerated spleen, a punctured lung, broken ribs, multiple fractures and torn knee ligaments. She had to undergo emergency brain surgery to save her life, yet just a few weeks later she returned to campus to meet her teammates and walked onto the field for pre-game introductions.
Yet, the Braveheart Awarded is not in recognition of her remarkable recovery from the accident. Rather it was from the challenges she faced and overcame in the months prior.
Dillon had been highly recruited out of high school, but had struggled at times during her first two seasons at UCR. Her velocity was down from her high school career, but she continued to work on her pitching, countering the loss of velocity with improved movement.
"Our infield let a lot of ground balls through for hits, yet Kim never got frustrated. She kept plugging away and remained supportive of her teammates, taking responsibility when she didn't have to," Head Coach Connie Miner said.
Dillon's arm hurt her during much of the season, but with only two pitchers on the staff she gutted it out for the sake of the team, undergoing an MRI at the end of the season. The MRI showed four bone spurs and a missing bone in her right shoulder. In June, 2004 she underwent major surgery to remove the spurs and take a bone graft from her hip and place it into her shoulder to replace the missing bone. A month later she was diagnosed with a staph infection, and to remove it much of the graft and repair work had to be removed. She stayed in the hospital for several days, was on IV's for five weeks and pain drugs for three months. She lost over 25 pounds during the ordeal.
As she rehabbed, a doctor told he she should never pitch again. Rather than quit, Dillon offered to work on her hitting and defense to allow her to play in the field and to provide leadership for the program. In early January another doctor's second opinion cleared her to pitch.
"She started off slowly, taking little steps, but soon she was popping the ball. The spurs were gone and the strength was there. All I saw was her big smile on the mound. You could see the confidence, that the old Kim was back," Miner said. "Then, on January 26th, she was involved in the accident."
As she continues her five-day-a-week rehabilitation, she plans on returning to UCR in the fall and is determined to get back to the field for UCR.
"I do not know anyone who has more courage than her," Miner said. " She does not care what she has to go through to be back on the mound to help her team be successful. She is an outstanding, wonderful young woman. I am so proud to be her coach."

Tony Ontiveros – Rob Roy Award
UC Riverside Certified Athletic Trainer Tony Ontiveros has received the University of California, Riverside Rob Roy Award for the 2004-05 school year.
The Rob Roy Award is presented to a student-athlete, coach or staff member who has shown exemplary integrity.
"Tony has been a staff member who has shown time and time again that he is a team player who has the best interests of everyone in the department at heart," said one co-worker. "He treats every athlete with the most respect and integrity and has put them above any desired results or gains of their sports."
"He has done nothing but what is in the best interests of each individual and their future as non-athletes. Athletic trainers walk a fine line and it is not his job to succumb to the pressure and push a player back too soon for the sake of winning. That is integrity," they added.
Since joining the athletics department in 2003, Ontiveros has worked to build UCR's Sports Medicine program into one of the best in the country, while at the same time never compromising his integrity or morals, or the integrity of the program, for anything or anyone.

Casandra Reeves – Rob Roy Award
UC Riverside senior women's basketball player Casandra Reeves has received the University of California, Riverside Rob Roy Award for the 2004-05 school year.
Already known as one of the best players in UCR history, Reeves stepped out of her comfort zone to help the team. Upon meeting new Head Coach John Margaritis for the first time, Reeves asked him "What do you need from me and how can I help?"
"From then on she assumed a leadership roll, and she was the best leader I have been around in 26 years of coaching," Margaritis said. "Throughout the season she took care of all the little things and proved to all of us that one person can make a paramount difference."
Reeves was able to reinvent her game. After having led the team in scoring the previous two seasons, she passed up scoring opportunities to allow everyone to get involved, leading the team in assists. The Highlanders had four players averaging around 10 points per game, and those multiple threats contributed to the Highlanders' success, as they posted 16 wins compared to seven the year before. However, though her scoring numbers were down, the coaches in the conference recognized her importance to the team, naming her Big West Honorable Mention. It was the fourth consecutive year she had received an All-Conference honor, the first player to achieve that fete.
In 2004-05 Reeves became the program’s all-time leader in career assists, three pointers made, and three pointers attempted, as well as the third-highest scorer in school history. Her endurance has also shown through, as she is second on the career lists for both games started and minutes played. She occupies positions on no fewer than 13 UCR career records lists and is in the top ten on 13 other single-season records charts.
"Casandra displayed the kind of leadership. Sacrifice and integrity that exemplifies athletics in its most pure and idealistic form," Margaritis said. We can't overlook the quality of her character and how it impacted our team, our university and our community