SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The University of San Francisco Athletic Department held it's 12th annual Hilltop Awards Sunday, May 7 at the McLaren Conference Center on the Hilltop campus.

Sunday evening's 75 minute ceremony was hosted by the voice of War Memorial at the Sobrato Center, Joe Hallisy, who lead the proceedings with his professionalism and candor to help highlight the fantastic year on the Hilltop. 

Remarks on Sunday evening included contributions from USF President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. and USF Director of Athletics Larry Williams as the duo honored the efforts of the student-athletes on and off the playing surface. 

Following her tremendous senior season, Ruby Smee (women's cross country and track & field) took home the Anne Dolan Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight year while men's basketball senior Khalil Shabazz (men's basketball) received the Bill Russell Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year award, the second year in a row in which a men's basketball athlete has received the honor (Jamaree Bouyea in 2021-22). 

Jamesen Ward (women's soccer) and Harris Williams III (baseball) both won the Dante Benedetti Award, which is given annually to the male and female student athlete who serve as an inspiration to their teammates through their unwavering sense of loyalty, self-sacrifice, unselfishness, positive attitude and hard work.

Additionally, USF saw a pair of impressive debut seasons this year- Lindsey Chau (women's soccer) and Reid Roberts (men's soccer) – who were both named to the WCC All-Freshman team in addition to being Honorable Mentions. Both student athletes were honored as recipients of the Newcomer of the Year awards.

The Stephen J. Privett, S.J. Award, which honors a student athlete or team who demonstrated a commitment to a higher standard of learning and social justice through their outstanding work in the community, was given to Kalii Caldwell (women's cross country and track & field) on the female side and the USF men's soccer team on the male side.

Men's basketball player Jonas Visser took home the Charles Haney Academic Award, which is given annually to the senior student athlete who has maintained the highest-grade point average during their time at USF. Visser will be graduating this month with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation after compiling an impressive 4.0 GPA across his four years.
 
Following their turnaround year on the court, the USF indoor volleyball program received the Spirit of '51 Award. This honor is given annually to a USF team that embodies success both on the field and in the classroom by creating leaders who are ready to make an impact in the world. The award is named in honor of USF's undefeated, untied and uninvited 1951 football team whose supreme triumph came in its stand against racial inequality. 

Josh Kunen (men's basketball) and Debora dos Santos (women's basketball) were each presented with the Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award. Determined by the Dons' athletic performance staff, the award is presented to a male and female student athlete who displays maximum effort on and off the field of competition through a consistent commitment to nutrition, strength and conditioning, sports medicine and mental performance enhancement. 

Rounding out the individual awards was senior Jade Siphomsay, who received the Roger and Claudia Salquist Athletic Director's Leadership Award, which is presented annually to a senior student-athlete who displays exemplary leadership throughout their time on the Hilltop.
 
AWARD WINNERS:
Anne Dolan Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year: Ruby Smee, Cross Country/Track & Field (2x winner, 2021-22 + 2022-23)

Bill Russell Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year: Khalil Shabazz /Men's Basketball

Dante Benedetti Award: Kalii Caldwell/Women's Cross Country and Track & Field and Harris Williams III/Baseball
 
Newcomer of the Year Award: Lindsey Chau/Women's Soccer and Reid Roberts/Men's Soccer 

Stephen Privett, S.J. Award: Kalii Caldwell/Women's Cross Country and Track & Field and the USF men's soccer team 

Spirit of '51 Award: Indoor Volleyball team 

Charles Haney Academic Award: Jonas Visser/Men's Basketball

Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award: Josh Kunen/Men's Basketball and Debora dos Santos/Women's Basketball 

Roger and Claudia Salquist Athleitc Director's Leadership Award: Jade Siphomsay/Women's Golf 

Excellence Awards: 
Awarded to male and female representatives from each team that have achieved a high level of excellence. This is decided by the coaches based on their own criteria. 
 

Baseball	Mario DeMera
Men's Basketball	Tyrell Roberts
Women's Basketball	Debora dos Santos
Men's Cross Country	Caleb Haugland
Women's Cross Country	Abby Pradere
Men's Golf	Matthew Anderson
Women's Golf	Jade Siphomsay
Men's Soccer	Max Hamelink
Women's Soccer	Marissa Vasquez
Men's Tennis	Nil Giraldez
Women's Tennis	Chiho Mushika
Women's Track & Field	Lorie Cashdollar
Triathlon	Kira Gupta Baltazar
Volleyball	Maria Petkova
Beach Volleyball	McKenna Towne

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