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The 2023 Bannies: Women’s Award Nominations

Cast your vote for the 2023 Bannies!

By Bryson Turner, NicholasPorcelli, and Eric Lopez
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Photo courtesy: UCF Athletics

The yearly tradition returns to the Black & Gold Banneret: the annual honors for UCF Knights Athletic performance and achievement known as The Black & Gold Banneret Awards — The Bannies.

Here’s how it works: We, the staff, put together our nominees for each award. Over the next couple of weeks, we will open fan voting for each award. Each staff member gets one vote, and the winner of the fan vote will get one vote. If there is a tie, the fan vote will be the tiebreaker. The polls will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 27. We will announce the winners after that date.

With all that in mind, below you will find the nominees for the Female award categories (and more). If you want a more in-depth breakdown of the nominees, watch the Bannie nomination show below, where the Banneret’s Eric Lopez, Bryson Turner, and Nick Porcelli do just that:

Happy Voting! Once you are done voting on these categories, check out the Male Award categories here.

Women’s Head Coach of the Year

  • Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak (Women’s Soccer): 9-2-7 (7-0 AAC); AAC Coaching Staff of the Year, AAC Regular-Season Champion, 4 All-AAC First-Team Selections, 1 All-AAC Second-Team selection, 1 AAC All-Rookie team selection, Made NCAA Tournament Second Round, Assistant Coach for U.S. Women’s National Team
  • Todd Dagenais (Volleyball): 28-2 (19-1 AAC); 4 All-AAC First-Team Selections, 1 Second-Team All-Conference Selection, AAC Co-Champion, Made NCAA Tournament Second Round
  • Emily Marron (Women’s Golf): Made NCAA Regional; 4 All-AAC selections; 2nd in AAC Tournament; 7 team Top 5s; 3 Individual wins
  • Bryan Koniecko (Women’s Tennis): 11-12 (1-1 AAC); AAC Tournament Runner-up; 2 All-AAC Selections; Made NCAA Tournament First Round
  • Cindy Ball-Malone (Softball): 40-21 (15-3 AAC); AAC Tournament Champion, 5 All-AAC First-Team Selections, 3 All-AAC Second-Team Selections, 1 All-Rookie Team selection, Made NCAA Regional
  • Dana Boone (Track & Field): AAC Indoor and Outdoor Champions; AAC Indoor and Outdoor Coaching Staff of the Year; Sent 1 athlete to NCAA Indoor Championships; Had 10 All-American selections in NCAA Outdoor Championship.

Poll

Women’s Head Coach of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 15%
    Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak
    (24 votes)
  • 6%
    Todd Dagenais
    (11 votes)
  • 1%
    Emily Marron
    (3 votes)
  • 0%
    Bryan Koniecko
    (1 vote)
  • 70%
    Cindy Ball-Malone
    (113 votes)
  • 5%
    Dana Boone
    (8 votes)
160 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

  • Tim Sahaydak (Women’s Soccer Associate Head Coach): Part of AAC Coaching Staff of the Year; stepped in when HC Sahaydak had to be with USWNT.
  • Jenny Maurer (Volleyball Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator): Served as Offensive Coordinator and trained the setters, including Amber Olson; promoted to head coach.
  • Tyler Heil (Softball): Helped UCF to 2 AAC Championships (21-22) with assisting on defense, and recruiting players like Aubrey Evans.
  • Jenn Salling (Softball): Salling assisted with defense and help UCF win 40 games, 3rd straight NCAA Tournament title, and AAC Championship.
  • Glenn Smith (Track & Field Jumps and Throws Coach): Coached Asherah Collins (Second-Team All-American) and Jasmine Scott-Kilgo (Honorable Mention All-American) to NCAA Outdoor Championships, coached Adrienne Adams as she broke her own UCF Discus Throw record and coached Natalia Madison and Holly Cassels as they both finished Top 5 in AAC Outdoor Championship Heptathlon.

Poll

Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 14%
    Tim Sahaydak
    (26 votes)
  • 7%
    Jenny Maurer
    (13 votes)
  • 44%
    Tyler Heil
    (80 votes)
  • 28%
    Jenn Salling
    (52 votes)
  • 5%
    Glenn Smith
    (9 votes)
180 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Breakout Athlete of the Year

  • Jess Baker (Women’s Golf):

2021-22: 74.07 Scoring Average, 2 Top 10s, 4 Top 20s, T-12th in AAC Championship, T-26th in NCAA Regional

2022-23: 73.34 Scoring Average, 3 Top 5s, 1 Top 10, 3rd in AAC Championship, T-6th in NCAA Regional, won 2022 Women’s Amateur Championship

  • Dayana Martin (Women’s Soccer):

2021: 402 minutes, 10 G, 0 GS, 1 goal, 1 assist, 11 shots, 5 shots on goal

2022: All-AAC First-Team, 1,002 minutes, 18 G, 10 GS, 5 goals, 5 assists, 42 shots, 20 shots on goal

  • Grace Jewell (Softball):

2022: 18 GP, 7 GS, 31.2 IP, 1 complete game, 2-3, 4.86 ERA, 17 SOs

2023: NFCA All-Region Third Team; 32 GP, 19 GS, 122.2 IP, 6 complete games, 12-6, 2.28 ERA, 72 SOs

  • Asherah Collins (Track & Field):

2022: 17th in NCAA Outdoor Championship Triple Jump (Honorable Mention All-American); AAC Indoor Triple Jump Gold, 4th in AAC Outdoor Triple Jump; SBs: (Indoor Triple Jump: 13.15m), (Outdoor Long Jump: 5.53m), (Outdoor Triple Jump: 13.05m).

2023: 10th in NCAA Outdoor Championships Triple Jump (Second-Team All-American); AAC Indoor Triple Jump Bronze, AAC Outdoor Long Jump Silver, AAC Outdoor Triple Jump Gold; SBs: (Indoor Triple Jump: 12.94m), (Outdoor Long Jump: 6.34m), (Outdoor Triple Jump: 13.48m; Set new UCF Outdoor Triple Jump record twice

  • Jasmine Scott-Kilgo (Track & Field):

2022: AAC Indoor Long Jump Bronze, AAC Indoor Triple Jump 4th, AAC Outdoor Long Jump Bronze, AAC Outdoor Triple Jump 7th; SBs: (Indoor Long Jump: 6.12m), (Indoor Triple Jump: 12.95m), (Outdoor Long Jump: 6.18m), (Outdoor Triple Jump: 12.64m)

2023: 18th in NCAA Outdoor Championships Long Jump (Honorable Mention All-American); AAC Indoor Triple Jump Silver, AAC Outdoor Long Jump Bronze, AAC Outdoor Triple Jump Silver; SBs: (Indoor Long Jump: 6.14m), (Indoor Triple Jump: 12.80m), (Outdoor Long Jump: 6.38m), (Outdoor Triple Jump: 13.29m), Broke UCF Outdoor Triple Jump record that had stood since 2009.

Poll

Women’s Breakout Athlete of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 2%
    Jess Baker
    (5 votes)
  • 10%
    Dayana Martin
    (23 votes)
  • 78%
    Grace Jewell
    (167 votes)
  • 5%
    Asherah Collins
    (12 votes)
  • 2%
    Jasmine Scott-Kilgo
    (5 votes)
212 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Senior of the Year

  • McKenna Melville (Volleyball): AVCA First-Team All-American, Unanimous AAC Player of the Year, Unanimous All-AAC First Team selection, 573 kills, 5.51 kills per set, 269 digs, 19 aces and 75 blocks.
  • Amber Olson (Volleyball): AAC Setter of the Year, Unanimous All-AAC First Team selection, 1,230 assists, 11.83 assists per set, 20 aces, 35 kills, 277 digs and 70 blocks.
  • Kristen Scott (Women’s Soccer): AAC Offensive Player of the Year, All-AAC First-Team selection, 866 minutes, 14 G, 12 GS, 9 goals, 5 assists, 29 shots, 17 shots on goal, 5 game-winning goals; Drafted 41st overall in 2023 NWSL Draft by Orlando Pride.
  • Tunrada Piddon (Women’s Golf): All-AAC Selection; 71.68 Scoring Average; Final Ranking: #72 , 3 Top 5s, 3 Top 10s, 2 Top 20s, 7th in AAC Championship, T-28th at NCAA Regional
  • Jasmine Scott-Kilgo (Track & Field): 18th in NCAA Outdoor Championships Long Jump (Honorable Mention All-American); AAC Indoor Triple Jump Silver, AAC Outdoor Long Jump Bronze, AAC Outdoor Triple Jump Silver; SBs: (Indoor Long Jump: 6.14m), (Indoor Triple Jump: 12.80m), (Outdoor Long Jump: 6.38m), (Outdoor Triple Jump: 13.29m), Broke UCF Outdoor Triple Jump record that had stood since 2009.

Poll

Women’s Senior of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 50%
    McKenna Melville
    (53 votes)
  • 8%
    Amber Olson
    (9 votes)
  • 25%
    Kristen Scott
    (26 votes)
  • 4%
    Tunrada Piddon
    (5 votes)
  • 10%
    Jasmine Scott-Kilgo
    (11 votes)
104 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Freshman of the Year

  • Mia Asenjo (Women’s Soccer): Unanimously selected to AAC All-Rookie Team, 26 shots and 8 shots-on-goal.
  • Sierra Godbolt (Women’s Basketball): 29 GP, 14 GS, 132 points, 42-138 FG, 30.4 FG%, 45-66 FTs, 70.3 FT%, 38 rebounds, 98 assists and 45 steals.
  • Stefani Webb (Women’s Tennis): Went 4-6 in Singles and 5-4 in Doubles; Ranked in #57 Doubles pair in the country at one point; Beat No. 1 seed in Junior Australian Open Singles Tournament First Round; Quarterfinalist in Junior Australian Open Doubles Tournament.
  • Aubrey Evans (Softball): NFCA All-Region Third Team, All-AAC Second-Team and All-Rookie Team Selection; 58 GP, 142 ABs, .338 BA, .439 OBP, 74 TB, 18 doubles (UCF single-season record), 2 HRs, 30 RBIs and 11 SOs.
  • Pimpisa Sisutham (Women’s Golf): All-AAC Selection; 72.22 Scoring Average, Final Rank: #89; Won Gator Invitational; 2 Top 5s, 3 Top 10s, 1 Top 20.

Poll

Women’s Freshman of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 14%
    Mia Asenjo
    (22 votes)
  • 2%
    Sierra Godbolt
    (3 votes)
  • 2%
    Stefani Webb
    (3 votes)
  • 78%
    Aubrey Evans
    (117 votes)
  • 2%
    Pimpisa Sisutham
    (4 votes)
149 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Transfer of the Year

  • Georgia Eaton-Collins (Women’s Soccer): Second-Team All-AAC Selection; started all 16 games.
  • Abby Hansen (Volleyball): All-AAC First Team Selection, 127 total blocks, 1.22 blocks per set, 225 kills, and 2.16 kills per set.
  • Chloe Evans (Softball): All-AAC Second-Team Selection; 61 GP, 186 ABs, .355 BA (8th-highest in a single season in UCF history) .411 OBP, 116 TB (5th most in a single season in UCF history), 16 doubles (T-2nd most in a single season in UCF history), 8 Triples (Tied for most in single season in UCF history), 6 HRs and 49 RBIs (6th-most in a single season in UCF history).
  • Sarah Willis (Softball): NFCA All-Region First-Team; Unanimous AAC Pitcher of the Year; Unanimous All-AAC First-Team Selection, AAC Tournament MVP; 53 GP, 27 GS, 10 complete games, 152.1 IP, 19-4, 1 save, 1.65 ERA and 124 SOs; 79 ABs, .228 BA, .299 OBP, 31 TB, 4 HRs and 14 RBIs.
  • Jasmine Williams (Softball): All-AAC Second-Team Selection; 61 GP, 182 ABs, .302 BA, .325 OBP, 6 HRs, 28 RBIs, 82 TB, 33 runs and 0.958 fielding percentage.
  • Anna Nordfors (Women’s Golf): All-AAC Selection; 71.97 Scoring Average, Final Rank: #105, Won UCF Challenge, broke program 18-hole record twice and the program 54-hole record, 3 Top 5s, 2 Top 10s and 2 Top 20s.

Poll

Women’s Transfer of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 9%
    Georgia Eaton-Collins
    (18 votes)
  • 2%
    Abby Hansen
    (4 votes)
  • 64%
    Chloe Evans
    (118 votes)
  • 19%
    Sarah Willis
    (35 votes)
  • 3%
    Jasmine Williams
    (7 votes)
  • 1%
    Anna Nordfors
    (2 votes)
184 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Game of the Year

Poll

Women’s Game of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 15%
    Soccer’s 1st-Round Match vs. NC State
    (22 votes)
  • 12%
    Volleyball vs. Houston for AAC title
    (18 votes)
  • 67%
    Softball’s AAC Tournament Game vs. Memphis
    (97 votes)
  • 0%
    Tennis in the AAC Tournament vs. Memphis
    (1 vote)
  • 4%
    Track & Field at the AAC Championship Outdoor Meet (Tampa)
    (6 votes)
144 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Individual Performance of the Year

  • Caroline DeLisle vs. NC State (Women’s Soccer): 110 minutes + penalty kicks, 8 saves + 2 penalty kick saves, 1 goal allowed.
  • Isabella Richardson at North Alabama Showcase (Cross Country): Ran 5K in 17:12.4; Beats Freshman 5K record by 31.2 seconds; 4th-fastest cross-country 5K in UCF history.
  • Anna Nordfors at the UCF Challenge (Women’s Golf): Went -5 on back nine in Round 3 to get Individual win by two strokes; Broke program 18-hole record twice on back-to-back days; broke program 54-hole record by five strokes.
  • Pimpisa Sisutham at the Gators Invitational (Women’s Golf): Shot 62 in second round (lowest 18-hole score in program history) to force playoff for individual win, won in 3-hole playoff.
  • Sarah Willis vs. Houston (Softball): Perfect Game with 3 Ks. First 7-inning perfect game in UCF Softball history
  • Rayniah Jones at the AAC Outdoor Championship (Track & Field): AAC Women’s MVP; Gold Medal in 100m dash, Gold in 100m hurdles and Bronze in 200-meter dash.

Poll

Women’s Individual Performance of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 14%
    Caroline DeLisle vs. NC State
    (21 votes)
  • 0%
    Isabella Richardson at North Alabama Showcase
    (0 votes)
  • 3%
    Anna Nordfors at the UCF Challenge
    (5 votes)
  • 1%
    Pimpisa Sisutham at the Gators Invitational
    (2 votes)
  • 71%
    Sarah Willis vs. Houston
    (102 votes)
  • 9%
    Rayniah Jones at the AAC Outdoor Championship
    (13 votes)
143 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Play of the Year

  • Olivia Lewis’ goal vs. ECU (Women’s Soccer):
  • McKenna Melville’s 2000th career Kill (Volleyball):
  • Kennedy Searcy’s shoestring catch vs. Houston (Softball):
  • Jasmine Williams’ diving catch vs. Ohio State (Softball):
  • Softball’s 5th-inning Double Play vs. USF in the AAC Tournament (Softball):
  • Chloe Evans’ walk-off HR vs. Boise State (Softball):
  • Asherah Collins’ Record-Breaking Triple Jump in NCAA Championship (Track and Field):

Poll

Women’s Play of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 10%
    Olivia Lewis’ goal vs. ECU
    (17 votes)
  • 7%
    McKenna Melville’s 2000th career Kill
    (12 votes)
  • 6%
    Kennedy Searcy’s shoestring catch vs. Houston
    (10 votes)
  • 7%
    Jasmine Williams’ diving catch vs. Ohio State
    (12 votes)
  • 6%
    Softball’s 5th-inning Double Play vs. USF
    (10 votes)
  • 58%
    Chloe Evans’ walk-off HR vs. Boise State
    (92 votes)
  • 2%
    Asherah Collins’ Record-Breaking Triple Jump in NCAA Championship
    (4 votes)
157 votes total Vote Now

Female Athlete of the Year

  • McKenna Melville (Volleyball): AVCA First-Team All-American, Unanimous AAC Player of the Year, Unanimous All-AAC First Team selection, 573 kills, 5.51 kills per set, 269 digs, 19 aces and 75 blocks.
  • Kristen Scott (Women’s Soccer): AAC Offensive Player of the Year, All-AAC First-Team selection, 866 minutes, 14 G, 12 GS, 9 goals, 5 assists, 29 shots, 17 shots on goal, 5 game-winning goals; Drafted 41st overall in 2023 NWSL Draft by Orlando Pride.
  • Caroline DeLisle (Women’s Soccer): AAC Goalkeeper of the Year, All-AAC First-Team selection, 1,680 minutes, 72 saves, 9 shutouts, 0.696 goals-against average.
  • Tunrada Piddon (Women’s Golf): All-AAC Selection; 71.68 Scoring Average; Final Ranking: #72, 3 Top 5s, 3 Top 10s, 2 Top 20s, 7th in AAC Championship, T-28th at NCAA Regional.
  • Sarah Willis (Softball): NFCA All-Region First-Team; Unanimous AAC Pitcher of the Year; Unanimous All-AAC First-Team Selection, AAC Tournament MVP; 53 GP, 27 GS, 10 complete games, 152.1 IP, 19-4, 1 save, 1.65 ERA and 124 SOs; 79 ABs, .228 BA, .299 OBP, 31 TB, 4 HRs and 14 RBIs.
  • Rayniah Jones (Track & Field): 3 Outdoor All-American Selections (Second-Team for 9th-place overall in 100H, Honorable Mentions for 100m and 4x100m relay); AAC Outdoor Women’s MVP; Gold Medal in 100m dash, Gold in 100m hurdles and Bronze in 200-meter dash; Broke UCF 100m hurdles record that stood since 2012, also set new PBs in 100m dash and Outdoor 200m dash. 12th in NCAA Indoor Championship in 60m hurdles, AAC 60m hurdles Gold medal, AAC 60m dash Silver medal and 5th in AAC Indoor 200m dash.

Poll

Female Athlete of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 16%
    McKenna Melville
    (22 votes)
  • 8%
    Kristen Scott
    (11 votes)
  • 6%
    Caroline DeLisle
    (8 votes)
  • 2%
    Tunrada Piddon
    (3 votes)
  • 58%
    Sarah Willis
    (76 votes)
  • 8%
    Rayniah Jones
    (11 votes)
131 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Team of the Year

  • Women’s Soccer: 9-2-7 (7-0 AAC); AAC Regular-Season Champion, 4 All-Region Selections, 4 All-AAC First-Team Selections, 1 All-AAC Second-Team selection, 1 AAC All-Rookie team selection, Made NCAA Tournament Second Round.
  • Volleyball: 28-2 (19-1 AAC); AAC Co-Champion, 1 All-American, 2 All-Region Selections, 4 All-AAC First-Team Selections, 1 Second-Team All-Conference Selection, Made NCAA Tournament Second Round.
  • Women’s Golf: Made NCAA Regional; 4 All-AAC selections; Ranked 26th in the nation; 2nd in AAC Tournament; 7 team Top 5s; 3 Individual wins.
  • Softball: 40-21 (15-3 AAC); AAC Tournament Champion, 3 All-Region Selections, 5 All-AAC First-Team Selections, 3 All-AAC Second-Team Selections, 1 All-Rookie Team selection, Made NCAA Regional.
  • Women’s Tennis: 11-12 (1-1 AAC); AAC Tournament Runner-up; 2 All-AAC Selections; Made NCAA Tournament First Round.
  • Track & Field: AAC Indoor and Outdoor Champion; Sent 1 athlete to NCAA Indoor Championships; Had 10 All-American selections in NCAA Outdoor Championship.

Poll

Women’s Team of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 18%
    Soccer
    (27 votes)
  • 6%
    Volleyball
    (10 votes)
  • 0%
    Golf
    (1 vote)
  • 69%
    Softball
    (102 votes)
  • 0%
    Tennis
    (0 votes)
  • 4%
    Track & Field
    (7 votes)
147 votes total Vote Now

Story of the Year

  • The Debate of Mikey Keene v. John Rhys Plumlee
  • John Rhys Plumlee’s Historic Spring
  • Rich Wallace Returns to UCF to Become the Head Baseball Coach
  • Becky Cramer’s Resignation as Rowing Head Coach
  • Winning Two AAC Championships, Softball and Track and Field, in One Weekend in Tampa

Poll

Story of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 7%
    The Debate of Mikey Keene v. John Rhys Plumlee
    (8 votes)
  • 11%
    John Rhys Plumlee’s Historic Spring
    (13 votes)
  • 1%
    Rich Wallace Returns to UCF to Become the Head Baseball Coach
    (2 votes)
  • 0%
    Becky Cramer’s Resignation as Rowing Head Coach
    (0 votes)
  • 78%
    Winning Two AAC Championships, Softball and Track and Field, in One Weekend in Tampa
    (86 votes)
109 votes total Vote Now

Photo of the Year

Photo 1: Sarah Willis and Chloe Evans

Brenna Johnson

Photo 2: Dagenais and Melville

Brenna Johnson

Photo 3: Bryana Hardy Takes Her Shot

Brenna Johnson

Photo 4: The Holy Holler

Derek Warden

Photo 5: RJ Harvey celebrates game-winning touchdown vs. Cincinnati with Tylan Grable

Derek Warden

Photo 6: Tampa’s Hometown Team, Too

Derek Warden

Photo 7: C.J. Kelly vs. Houston

Noah Goldberg

Photo 8: Dayana Martin Drops Houston Defender

Noah Goldberg

Photo 9: Kristen Scott’s First Goal of the Season

Noah Goldberg

Poll

Photo of the Year

This poll is closed

  • 61%
    Photo 1: Sarah Willis and Chloe Evans
    (94 votes)
  • 0%
    Photo 2: Melville and Dagenais
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    Photo 3: Bryana Hardy Takes Her Shot
    (1 vote)
  • 14%
    Photo 4: The Holly Holler
    (22 votes)
  • 1%
    Photo 5: RJ Harvey celebrates game-winning touchdown vs. Cincinnati with Tylan Grable
    (2 votes)
  • 5%
    Photo 6: Tampa’s Hometown Team, Too
    (8 votes)
  • 3%
    Photo 7: C.J. Kelly vs. Houston
    (6 votes)
  • 6%
    Photo 8: Dayana Martin Drops Houston Defender
    (10 votes)
  • 7%
    Photo 9: Kristen Scott’s First Goal of the Season
    (11 votes)
154 votes total Vote Now

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