Student-athletes celebrated at BEST Awards

HUNTSVILLE -- The Alabama A&M Department of Athletics honored its best student-athletes Wednesday night in the annual BEST (Bulldogs Excellent Sports Teams) Awards.

The gala event was held in a packed East Hall at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville.

The volleyball team came away the big winner on the night in team and individual awards. The squad won the prestigious Bulldog Cup and the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee Athletic Team Building Spirit Award. The Bulldog Cup is the highest award bestowed upon a team in recognition of its service and leadership in the Alabama A&M campus community and honoring their achievements in academics and athletics.

Junior volleyball student-athlete Ashundria McNeal received awards for Betty Austin Female Student-Athlete of the Year; Junior of the Year; SAAC Best Record Breaking Performance; and Volleyball MVP.

The other award winners were:
SAAC Athletic Trainer of the Year: Colleen Earley
SAAC Total Package (female): Janie Myles
SAAC Total Package (male): Devonte Nesby
SAAC Special Fan Recognition: James Foster
SAAC Best Record Breaking Performance (male): Will Smartt
BEST Highest Team GPA: Baseball
BEST Comeback Student-Athlete Bulldog: Ariel Smith and Carlos Salas
Kenneth Gunn Student-Athlete Scholar of the Year: Marissa Oehler
Vann Pettaway Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Ladarius Tabb
Freshman of the Year: Joi Ballard
Sophomore of the Year: DeTorrian Green
Senior of the Year: Ladarius Tabb

Student-Athlete Scholars and Most Valuable Players
Baseball: Nolan Ramsey/J.T. O'Reel
Men's Basketball: Baryn Houston/Ladarius Tabb
Women's Basketball: Janie Myles/Janie Myles
Bowling: Tiffany-Amber Stage
Cheerleading: Raven New/Savanna Hayden
Football: Tevin McKenzie/Anthony Lanier
Golf: James Watson/Will Smartt
Softball: Emily Lipinski/Imani Largin
Soccer: Marissa Oehler/Estelle Esperance
Women's Tennis: Viraq Hollos/Viraq Hollos
Men's Tennis: Carlos Salas/Nishangan Nadaraja
Cross country: Kiara Brown/Keanna McIntyre
Women's Indoor Track: Keanna McIntyre/Joi Ballard
Women's Outdoor Track: MVP- Brooke Dixon
Men's Indoor Track: Amortez Moody/Devonte Nesby
Men's Outdoor Track: MVP - DeTorrian Green

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Players Mentioned

Viraq Hollos: Freshman

#90 Anthony Lanier: DL; 6' 6"; Senior

#9 Ashundria McNeal: OH/MB; 5' 11"; Junior

#2 Marissa Oehler: GK; 5' 7"; Senior

#20 Janie Myles: F; 5' 11"; Senior

Tiffany-Amber Stage: Junior

Carlos Salas: Junior

#3 Emily Lipinski: P; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#12 Ariel Smith: 3B; 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R

#15 Imani Largin: P/OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

Viraq Hollos
: Freshman

#90 Anthony Lanier
: 6' 6"; Senior
: DL

#9 Ashundria McNeal
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH/MB

#2 Marissa Oehler
: 5' 7"; Senior
: GK

#20 Janie Myles
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

Tiffany-Amber Stage
: Junior

Carlos Salas
: Junior

#3 Emily Lipinski
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#12 Ariel Smith
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R
: 3B

#15 Imani Largin
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/OF