LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego Athletics celebrated another memorable year of Triton success as scholar-athletes, coaches and teams were honored at the annual Triton Awards inside LionTree Arena.

The ceremony recognized Triton scholar-athletes for their achievements during the 2025-26 academic year in athletic competition, academics, leadership and community impact while highlighting another successful year for the department across NCAA Division I competition.

"Our scholar-athletes continue to post a higher GPA than the campus at large, and we have a higher graduation rate than any other public institution in Division I," UC San Diego Director of Athletics Andy Fee said. "But tonight is not just about wins and results. It's about the people and performances that have made this year memorable. The scholar-athletes who pushed themselves in competition, excelled in the classroom, and supported one another and showed everyone what it truly means to be a Triton."

Leading the evening's honorees were Makayla Rose (women's basketball) and Sebastiano Sani (men's volleyball), who earned Female Athlete of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year honors, respectively. Rose was named Big West Defensive Player of the Year, Co-Best Hustle Player of the Year and 2026 Big West Championship MVP while earning All-Big West First Team and Big West All-Defensive Team recognition. She also set UC San Diego's Division I single-season and single-game steals records. Sani earned Second Team All-America and First Team All-Big West honors after leading the Tritons in points, kills, aces, digs and matches started. He also ranked among the nation's top 50 in five statistical categories. Both athletes also received newcomer honors, with Rose named Female Newcomer of the Year and Sani selected as Male Newcomer of the Year.

The Excellence in Coaching Award was presented to Heidi VanDerveer (women's basketball) after leading the Tritons to their second consecutive Big West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. UC San Diego finished 24-9 overall with a program-best 17-3 conference record, while six Tritons earned All-Big West honors.

UC San Diego also celebrated standout academic achievement, recognizing Sabrina Bennani  (women's swimming), Iris Canko (women's volleyball), Zara Fearns (women's fencing), Mia Park (women's swimming), and Jenna Satovsky (women's cross-country and track and field) as Mark Applebaum Academic Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Here are the 2025-26 Triton Awards honorees:

Karen E. Reis Memorial Award
Jasmine Saran, Women's Volleyball

Triton Changemaker Award
Kyla Bruhn, Women's Water Polo
Tate Meaux, Men's Cross Country / Track & Field

Leon T. Roach Spirit Award
Francis Catalano, Men's Golf

Triton Athletes Council Cup
Women's Water Polo

Cliff Kubiak Team GPA Award
Women's Tennis

All-Triton Academic Scholar-Athlete Team
Emma Dunmire, Women's Cross Country / Track & Field
Robby Griswold, Men's Swimming
Evan Hild, Men's Cross Country / Track & Field
Calvin Kong, Men's Golf
Jasmine Saran, Women's Volleyball
Rosa Smith, Women's Basketball
Liam Urich, Men's Track & Field
Caitlin Wilson, Women's Soccer
Corinne Wilson, Women's Soccer

Mark Applebaum Academic Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Sabrina Bennani, Women's Swimming
Iris Canko, Women's Volleyball
Zara Fearns, Women's Fencing
Mia Park, Women's Swimming
Jenna Satovsky, Women's Cross Country / Track & Field

Top Female Newcomer of the Year
Makayla Rose, Women's Basketball

Top Male Newcomer of the Year
Sebastiano Sani, Men's Volleyball

Best Women's Record-Breaking Performance
Sylvana Northrop, Women's Cross Country / Track & Field

Best Men's Record-Breaking Performance
Steele Murdock, Baseball

Best Women's Upset Performance
Women's Basketball
Women's Volleyball

Best Men's Upset Performance
Men's Volleyball

Excellence in Coaching Award
Heidi VanDerveer, Women's Basketball

All-Triton Team
Olivia Allegre, Women's Tennis
Bennett Axline, Men's Water Polo
Leo Beath, Men's Basketball
Chloe Braun, Women's Swimming
Gabe Camacho, Baseball
Landon Egeland, Men's Swimming
Zara Fearns, Women's Fencing
Nathan Garderes, Men's Cross Country / Track & Field
Jim Garrison, Men's Volleyball
Katherine Kim, Women's Fencing
Molly McCluskey, Women's Volleyball
Davis McDowell, Men's Golf
Sylvana Northrop, Women's Cross Country / Track & Field
Abigail Schechter, Women's Water Polo
Sunny Sharma, Men's Fencing
Ava Tibor, Women's Soccer

Male Athlete of the Year
Sebastiano Sani, Men's Volleyball

Female Athlete of the Year
Makayla Rose, Women's Basketball