UHH’s Lee Earns PWC Softball POTY Award

University of Hawai`i at Hilo softball player Rebecca Lee has only been with the Vulcans for a season, but her immediate impact with the team in guiding them to a share of the PacWest Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA West 2 Regional has landed her the conference’s highest honor.

The conference announced Thursday that Lee was named the PacWest Player of the Year in 2013. The transfer from East Carolina University was also named to the conference’s third team at shortstop.

Lee played all 56 games for a team that went 39-17 and finished the season in a tie for the top of the PacWest with Dixie State. A tiebreaker gave the Vulcans the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA regionals, where they were seeded seventh, and will face the Red Storm today in St. George.

Lee led the team in batting average (.429), hits (76), doubles (21), walks (22), and slugging percentage (.633). She drove in 41 runs batted in and blasted five home runs out of the park. She also stole 23 bases.

Another Vulcan to earn a top award in the conference was Kristina Victa, a transfer from Cypress College in California. The junior was named the conference’s Newcomer of the Year, solidifying awards for the squad’s 1-2 punch at the top of the batting order.

Victa led UHH in runs scored (53), triples (5), and stolen bases (26). She batted .395 with 22 runs batted in. She also received the All-PacWest Second Team award as an outfielder.

Emily Greene added to her all-PWC preseason award with an all-conference first team award at third base. Greene led the Vulcans with eight home runs and 47 runs batted in. She hit .302 on the season.

All-PacWest Awards

Player of the Year – Rebecca Lee, Hawai`i Hilo

Pitcher of the Year – Stephanie Pesqueira, Grand Canyon

Newcomer of the Year – Kristina Victa, Hawai`i Hilo

Freshman of the Year – Jessica Avila, California Baptist

Coach of the Year – Steve Rianda, Notre Dame de Namur

All-PacWest First Team

First Base – Anna Cue, Dixie State

Second Base – Kylee Bufton, Dixie State

Shortstop – Johnna Brown, Dixie State

Third Base – Emily Greene, Hawai`i Hilo

Outfield – Kayla Henry, Grand Canyon

Outfield – Chante Tesoro, Hawai`i Pacific

Outfield – Claire Zampini, Grand Canyon

Catcher – Savannah Miller, Notre Dame de Namur

Pitcher – Sammy McConvey, Notre Dame de Namur

Pitcher – Stephanie Pesqueira, Grand Canyon

Alternate – Rachel Meyer, California Baptist

Alternate – Siera Phillips, Dixie State

Alternate – Alysia Maddison, Hawai`i Pacific

All-PacWest Second Team

First Base – Sloan McHann, California Baptist

Second Base – Mara Rodriguez, California Baptist

Shortstop – Rayna Strom-Okimoto, Chaminade

Third Base – Dorian Acierto, Hawai`i Pacific

Outfield – Keila Elderts, Hawai`i Pacific

Outfield – Jaelle Judkins, Dixie State

Outfield – Kristina Victa, Hawai`i Hilo

Catcher – Marla Reiter, Dixie State

Pitcher – Jessica Vaila, California Baptist

Pitcher – Kiki Sepulveda, Grand Canyon

Alternate – Tumamaopavaiai Enos, Chaminade

Alternate – Kailey Regester, Grand Canyon

Alternate – Hillary Ruddick, Notre Dame de Namur

All-PacWest Third Team

First Base – Lauren Regester, Grand Canyon

Second Base – Nicole Newbury, Grand Canyon

Shortstop – Rebecca Lee, Hawai`i Hilo

Third Base – Kori Berinobis, Chaminade

Outfield – Courtney Hine, Dixie State

Outfield – Sylia Honne, Notre Dame de Namur

Outfield – Haily MacDonald, Academy of Art

Catcher – Nicole Morrow, Hawai`i Pacific

Pitcher – Kristen Caskey, Hawai`i Pacific

Pitcher – Michelle Duncan, Dixie State

Alternate – Kaydi Kochi, Notre Dame de Namur

Alternate – Kaitlyn Watanabe, Chaminade