LA MIRADA, Calif. ---  For the second-straight year, Biola Athletics is taking to social media and its website to announce its annual EDDIES awards. Since we were unable to announce our finalists and celebrate student-athletes in person with an end-of-year banquet, we will take the next two weeks to do so online and via social media to look back at the most memorable performances of Spring 2021.

The process continues today as we announce five finalists for the 2021 Female Student-Athlete of the Year award. This award is meant to honor the standout female student-athlete performance for the 2021 season. The winner will be announced on July 13 via our @BiolaAthletics social media accounts. 

Female Student-Athlete of the Year Finalists: 
Paige Austin - Softball - Junior
It was a historic season for Biola Softball ace Paige Austin, as she led the Eagles to an NCAA Division II West Region Championship title and all the way to the final game of the 2021 NCAA Division II Softball Championships.

Austin recorded 34.1 scoreless innings in postseason play before giving up her first runs in the final game of the season as the Eagles came up just one game short of a national championship. During the regular season, Austin posted multiple collegiate bests which included a 1.33 earned run average, 16 wins, 18 complete games, 157.1 innings pitched and 175 strikeouts. 

The junior collected PacWest Pitcher of the Week honors twice in the 2021 season, she added selections to the NCAA DII Softball Championship All-Tournament team, D2CCA All-West Region First Team, All-PacWest First Team and NFCA All-West Region First Team in her third season as an Eagle. 


Colbeyshae Emery - Tennis - Freshman
For the second straight year, Emery has earned the honor of being a finalist for the Female Student-Athlete of the Year award. In her debut season as an Eagle, Emery became Biola's first ITA NCAA DII All-American before the 2020 season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Emery continued her dominance in 2021 as she helped lead Biola to nine-straight match victories from February 27 to March 25 as well as its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Regional Championships. The Eagles would go on to finish in fourth place at the PacWest Tournament. 

During her second season as an Eagle, the Ventura, California native won nine straight singles matches and was 14-4 in singles play. Emery finished the 2021 season ranked No. 21 in singles play and ranked No. 17 in doubles alongside partner Mary Brascia. The duo collected a seven match winning streak during the 2021 season and went undefeated in the PacWest Tournament.

Stephanie Lee - Basketball - Sophomore
Lee began her Biola career with a PacWest Freshman of the Year award and followed that up by earning an All-PacWest Southern California Team nod this past season. 

In her sophomore campaign, Lee collected her first career CoSIDA Academic All-District honor as she boasts a 3.98 grade-point average, while majoring in nursing. Academic excellence mirrored her strong performances on the court, as Lee averaged 15.1 points per game and led the PacWest with 37 three-pointers on the season.

Lee was voted as Team Captain by her teammates as a sophomore and helped the Eagles beat three top-25 ranked opponents in the 2021 season. 

Sami Penor - Golf - Junior 
Alongside Emery, Penor earns back-to-back Female Student-Athlete of the Year finalists honors. Penor was the most consistent contributor on Head Coach Jane Carr's squad as she shot 13 of her 15 rounds in the 70's. 

Penor had the lowest scoring average for the Eagles this season and played in all seven tournaments (15 rounds) shooting 76.47. The junior had four top-ten finishes and just missed a fifth by one stroke at the PacWest Championships where she finished in eleventh place. 

The Henderson, Nevada native's best finish came at the Pioneer Shootout where she carded a score of 148 for a third place finish. At the Bay Area Invitational, Penor carded a score of 149 for a fourth place finish and tied for third place at the CLU Regals Invitational with teammate Rachel Reynolds where the duo scored 154.

Kolya Vos - Swim & Dive - Sophomore
After a strong 2020 campaign, Vos picked up right where she left off for Biola swim. In her first meet of the season, Vos took first place in the 100-freestyle (:52.99), 200-freestyle (1:54.87) and finished second in the 500-freestyle (5:14.40) earning PCSC Swimmer of the week honors. 

At the 2021 NCAA Division II Swim & Dive National Championships, Vos notched two top-10 finishes. The Sophomore finished in ninth place in the 200-freestyle, with a time of 1:50.33 after heading into the championships with a top time of 1:52.58, which was 48th-best in the nation. Vos also earned a twelfth place finish in the 100-freestyle prelims which advanced her to the consolation finals where she would finish second in her heat for a tenth place finish overall with a time of :50.88.

In the dual meet against NCAA Division I Loyola Marymount, Vos  was a standout for the Eagles, finishing first in five individual events (200-25-500-100-50-freestyle) and clinching a team win in the 200-freestyle alongside her teammates.

At the Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference Championships Vos accounted for individual championships in the 100-freestyle (:52.90), 200-freestyle (1:51.33), 500-freestyle (5:01.63), and helped Biola to its record breaking 200-freestyle relay (1:35.48) and 800-freestyle relay (7:34.53) championships to earn PCSC Swimmer of the Meet honors.

EDDIES Release Schedule 
July 5 - Finalists Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year 
July 6 - Finalists Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 7 - Finalists Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 8 - Finalists Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 9 - Finalists Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 12 - Winner Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year
July 13 - Winner Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 14 - Winner Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 15 - Winner Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 16 - Winner Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 19 - Winner Announced - Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Award