2019 Auggie Awards - Women's Most Improved Team Nominees

2019 Auggie Awards Header - Monday, April 22, Si Melby Hall
170422018-19 BASKETBALL (18-19: 22-5 overall, 16-2 MIAC, MIAC playoff finalist; 17-18: 12-12 overall, 8-10 MIAC) -- Augsburg recorded its best season in varsity program history (since 1972-72), setting both overall and MIAC school records. The Auggies finished second in the MIAC standings -- its best league finish ever -- earning a spot in the MIAC postseason playoffs for the third time in the past five seasons and reaching the conference playoff championship game for the first time in school history. Augsburg also earned its first-ever national ranking, being ranked No. 24 in the final D3hoops.com ranking of the regular season. Head coach Ted Riverso was named the MIAC’s Coach of the Year, while guard Aiza Wilson was named MIAC Sixth Player of the Year. Guard Tamira McLemore earned All-MIAC first-team honors for her third straight year, and was named to the D3hoops.com All-West Regional second team for the second time. Arianna Jones was also an All-MIAC first-team honoree, while Carlee Kobow was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team.
1718-wlacrosse-team2018 LACROSSE (2018: 13-5 overall, 10-1 MWLC, MWLC playoff finalist; 2017: 12-6 overall, 8-3 MWLC, MWLC playoff participant) -- Augsburg set new marks for wins in both overall and conference play. The Auggies qualified for the Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference postseason playoffs for the third straight year since joining the league, reaching the playoff title game. Goalie Marissa Guilou was named the MWLC’s Defensive Player of the Year, All-MWLC first team, and IWLCA All-Great Lakes Region second team. Attacker Helena Nguyen was named the MWLC’s Attacker of the Year and was an All-MWLC first-team honoree. Defender Christina Nelson also received All-MWLC first-team and IWLCA All-Great Lakes Region second-team honors. Midfielders Delaney Everett and Izzy Snow, and defender Citaly Escobar also claimed All-MWLC first-team honors, while defender Annika Hegrenes was an All-MWLC Honorable Mention honoree, and defender Hannah Valen was named to the All-MWLC Sportsmanship Team. Eight Auggies earned MWLC postseason honors, a new program record. Augsburg’s six honorees were the most of any school selected to the 15-member All-MWLC first team. It’s the first time in Augsburg’s three years in the MWLC that the Auggies have had an athlete win any of the major MWLC awards.
149372018 SOFTBALL (2018: 22-18 overall, 13-9 MIAC, MIAC playoff participant; 2017: 21-19 overall, 9-13 MIAC) -- Augsburg recorded its most wins in a season since the 1992 campaign, the seventh time in the last 10 seasons finishing with 20-plus wins. The Auggies qualified for the MIAC playoffs for the third time in program history and first time since 2012. Augsburg went into the MIAC playoffs on a seven-game win streak, claiming league doubleheader sweeps of Hamline, Gustavus and Concordia-Moorhead and a win over Crown. Pitcher Samantha Anderson earned All-MIAC honors for the third straight season, joining shortstop Anesia King and left fielder Katie Parker on the 35-player All-MIAC team. Catcher Taylor Mattice was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team. It’s the first time Augsburg has had three softball players earn All-MIAC honors since the 2008 season. The Auggies recorded the 18th-best team grade-point average among all NCAA Division III teams nationally, receiving the Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Academic Team award for 2018.