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All-Time Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year
The Big West is delighted to name the 22 individuals were named 2024-25 Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Two student-athletes from each institution – one male and one female – were honored by their institutions and the conference for their accomplishments on the field, in the classroom and in their communities.
The stories and accomplishments of these outstanding scholar-athletes will be featured in The Big West Academic Honors on ESPN+, airing Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. PT. The show returns for a fifth consecutive year on ESPN+ to herald these exceptional scholar-athletes and their contributions. The show is available on the ESPN App, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices to fans who receive their video subscription through an authenticated provider, and will be available on demand for 30 days following.
Host Chloë Clark will be joined by Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly to highlight the achievements of the 22 Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
Facts on The Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year:
- The 22 honorees hail from five different states and 10 foreign countries on four continents
- Athletically the group includes Big West MVP’s, All-Americans, Olympic hopefuls and top professional draft picks.
- Honorees represent 15 of the 21 Big West sports
- The group has an average GPA of 3.71.
The Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year represent nearly 2,700 Big West student-athletes made the Commissioners Honor Roll, which requires a 3.0 GPA or better. Nearly half of those on the Honor Roll had a 3.5 GPA or better.
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Aynsley Conner
Sport: Women’s Soccer (Defender)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Loomis, Calif.
Major/GPA: Psychology / 3.93
As a defender, Aynsley Conner buoyed the Cal Poly back line starting in all 19 matches and leading the team in minutes (1,683) during the 2024 season. Academically, the senior from Loomis, Calif. was named to the Dean’s List eight times, as well as the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and Big West All-Academic teams. Conner plans to attend graduate school at Boston College pursuing Sports Administration and work in the sports industry in the future. |
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Sean Kamyshev
Sport: Men’s Tennis
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Nesher, Israel
Major/GPA: Business Administration / 3.7
Sean Kamyshev, along with doubles partner John Cross compiled a 6-2 record, 3-1 in conference play, last season to earn Second-Team All-Big West honors. The sophomore from Israel won eight matches in singles. Kamyshev plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in quantitative analysis. |
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Ella Erteltova
Sport: Women’s Volleyball (Setter) / Beach Volleyball
Class: Senior
Hometown: Zilina, Slovakia
Major/GPA: Kinesiology / 3.58
Ella Erteltova is a two-sport student-athlete as a member of the Cal State Bakersfield indoor volleyball and beach volleyball teams. The senior setter averaged 3.15 assists and 1.13 digs per set on the hardwood. On the sand, Erteltova and partner Vivi Kaelin went 25-10 on the year, ranking in CSUB’s top five all-time in both single-season wins (25) and win % (.714) en route to earning All-Big West First Team and AVCA Top Flight honors. Erteltova hopes to play professionally after Cal State Bakersfield and has aspirations becoming a physical therapist or owning a bakery after volleyball. |
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Connor Mautino
Sport: Men's Soccer (Forward)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Lake Forest, Calif.
Major/GPA: Business Administration / 3.81
In 2024, Connor Mautino led The Big West with eight goals during conference play and 11 total goals to earn All-Big West First Team honors. The senior became the second Roadrunner at the DI level to record a hat trick against Sacramento State. Academically, the senior from Lake Forest has made the Dean’s List each semester and is a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree. Mautino plans to pursue a professional career in soccer before working in the financial field. |
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Isabella Cruz
Sport: Women's Soccer (Forward)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Kerman, Calif.
Major/GPA: Communication / 3.93
Isabella Cruz is an All-West Region honoree, two-time All-Big West First Team midfielder with seven goals and nine assists in three seasons. Cruz graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2.5 years. The Kerman, Calif. native plans to pursue a professional soccer career after graduating with a master’s degree in communications. After hanging up the cleats, the Cruz would like to work in the sports marketing field. |
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Jonathan Pfeiffer
Sport: Cross Country / Track & Field (mid-distance)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Hacienda Heights, Calif.
Major/GPA: Civil and Environmental Engineering / 3.77
Jonathan Pfeiffer, a 2024 Track & Field All-Big West honoree, broke the Cal State Fullerton 800m school record with a time of 1:49.26 at the Oxy Invitational. The Hacienda Heights, Calif. product also helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2024 Cross Country Championships. Pfeiffer is currently working as a full-time engineer and is taking steps to obtain a Professional Engineer (P.E.) license. |
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Tasha Mae
Sport: Beach Volleyball
Class: Senior
Hometown: Selangor, Malaysia
Major/GPA: Psychology / 3.97
Tasha Mae was an All-Big West Honorable Mention in 2023, alongside partner Lauren Eknoian. The senior from Malaysia ranks 10th in CSUN beach volleyball history with 46 career wins and with teammate Kinley Leindhardt were the No. 1 pair for the Matadors in 2025. Mae plans to pursue beach volleyball professionally, while also pursuing a career in sports psychology. |
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Donovan Constable
Sport: Men’s Volleyball (Setter)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Clovis, Calif.
Major/GPA: Real Estate / 3.63
Donovan Constable is a two-time All-Big West First Team member and two-time AVCA All-American. The senior setter posted a career-high 1,101 assists on the season for 3,664 career assists, which ranks in the top five in CSUN program history. Constable has earned multiple Big West Academic All-Conference and Commissioner’s Honor Roll and CSUN Dean’s List awards, and graduated with Cum Laude status. The Clovis, Calif. native plans to play professional volleyball oversees and work in real estate afterwards. |
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Lilian Turban
Sport: Women’s Track & Field
Class: Senior
Hometown: Tallinn, Estonia
Major/GPA: Communications and Psychology / 3.99
Lilian Turban won two titles in the high jump and javelin at the 2025 Big West Championship to earn Field Athlete of the Meet honors. The Estonian competed at the NCAA First Round in both events, to become the first UH athlete since 2016 to compete at the First Round with multiple entries. Turban claimed CSC Academic All-District, Big West Academic All-Conference and Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and Dean’s List honors multiple times. The senior plans to pursue a professional career in track & field. |
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’Eleu Choy
Sport: Men’s Volleyball (Libero)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawai‘i
Major/GPA: Civil Engineering / 3.80
‘Eleu Choy capped off a senior year leading Hawai‘i to the 2025 NCAA Championship semifinal round, picking up All-Big West and All-American honors along the way. The libero started all 33 matches and averaged 1.69 digs per set. Since graduating in May, Choy has started a full-time job with a civil engineering firm in Honolulu, while planning to pursue an MBA and Professional Engineering License in the future. |
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Corissa Sweet
Sport: Softball (Outfielder)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Placentia, Calif.
Major/GPA: Biochemistry / 3.73
In 2025, Corissa Sweet played in 47 games and hit .324 for Long Beach State team that tied for second in The Big West. The Beach outfielder was named an All-Big West Honorable Mention and CSC Academic All-District honors. Following graduation, Sweet plans to pursue a career in medicine, with the long-term goal of becoming a physician. |
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Skyler Varga
Sport: Men's Volleyball (Opposite Hitter)
Class: Junior
Hometown: Muenster, Saskatchewan, Canada
Major/GPA: Kinesiology / 3.54
Skyler Varga achieved nearly everything in 2025: a national title, a Big West regular season title, the No. 1 ranking, and NCAA All-Tournament Team, All-American First Team, All-Big West First Team and CSC Academic All-District honors. The Beach opposite hitter led the team in kills (270) and kills per set (2.73) and was second in aces (33). Varga plans to pursue a professional volleyball career after one final season at Long Beach State. |
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Olivia Utterback
Sport: Sport: Women’s Volleyball (Outside hitter)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Plainfield, Ind.
Major/GPA: Human Development / 3.37
Team captain Olivia Utterback started and appeared in 28 matches, leading UC Davis with 422 kills (3.67 per set), ranking third in the Big West, to earn All-Big West First Team and AVCA All-Region honors. Utterback’s name is in the Aggie career top 10 in kills (1,296) and aces (151) and compiled four All-Big West honors (2021-24). Utterback is currently playing professionally in ASP Thetis in Greece and would like to pursue a career in naturopathic medicine after volleyball. |
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Niko Rocak
Sport: Men's Basketball (Forward)
Class: Graduate Student
Hometown: Geneva, Switzerland
Major/GPA: MBA / 3.75
Niko Rocak was a steady paint presence for UC Davis averaging a team-high 6.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, while shooting 51.4 percent on field goals. The graduate student from Switzerland has earned CSC Academic All-District, Big West Academic All-Conference and Commissioner’s Honor Roll accolades. Rocak plans to pursue professional basketball and aspires to work in the bioscience field afterwards. |
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Suus de Bakker
Sport: Sport: Women’s Soccer (Defender)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Major/GPA: Business Economics / 3.83
Suus de Bakker has played 63 career matches with 39 starts, recording 12 career points with four career goals, for the Anteaters. The Amsterdam, Netherlands native has experienced the NCAA Tournament thrice, three Big West Championship wins and a Big West regular-season title in 2021. The senior defender has earned CSC Academic All-District, Big West Academic All-Conference, Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll and UCI Dean’s List honors. de Bakker plans to pursue a career in professional soccer and has aspirations of becoming a sports agent. |
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Noah Zamora
Sport: Men’s Tennis
Class: Senior
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Major/GPA: Business Economics / 3.40
Noah Zamora, the Big West Men’s Tennis Player of the Year this past season, has had a stellar four-year career with the Anteaters. The San Diego, Calif. product has third Big West Championship titles, three NCAA Tournament appearances, eight All-Big West honors (four singles, four doubles) and was a qualifier for the NCAA Division I Singles Championship. The business economics major is a four-time dean’s list and three-time scholar athlete awardee at UC Irvine. Zamora plans to play tennis professionally before going into a career in sports marketing. |
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Esther Matarranz
Sport: Women’s Basketball (Forward)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Madrid, Spain
Major/GPA: Electrical Engineering / 3.80
Esther Matarranz played in 32 games and averaged 7.0 rebounds to help UC Riverside qualify for The Big West Championship and an appearance in the WNIT. The Madrid, Spain native was UCR's Student-Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2022-23, a SAAC representative, Dean's List and Chancellor's List honoree and graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.80 GPA) with a degree in electrical engineering. |
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Andrew Rivas
Sport: Baseball (First Base)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Newbury Park, Calif.
Major/GPA: Business Finance / 3.70
Andrew Rivas played in 52 games with 47 starts in 2025 and recorded 51 hits, 10 doubles, two home runs, 24 RBI and 25 runs. The Newbury Park, Calif. product was a recipient of the Harper Award scholarship at UC Riverside. Rivas is a business finance major with a 3.70 GPA. |
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Chloe Braun
Sport: Women's Swimming (Breaststroke)
Class: Junior
Hometown: Tulouse, France
Major/GPA: International Studies - Political Science / 3.85
Chloe Braun won three medals at The Big West Championship (200m MR, 1st; 100m BS 1st; 200m BS, 2nd) and qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100m breaststroke to highlight the 2025 season. The junior from Tulouse, France has picked up Big West Academic All-Conference, CSC Academic all-District and Provost Honors List awards along the way. Braun has aspirations of continuing to train and hopefully qualify for the LA2028 Olympics before completing a Master’s Degree in International Relations. |
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Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones
Sport: Men’s Basketball (Guard/Forward)
Class: Senior
Hometown: Wellington, New Zealand
Major/GPA: Communication / 3.37
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones led UC San Diego to its first-ever Big West regular-season and championship titles, and NCAA Tournament appearance. The Triton swingman earned Big West Player of the Year, NABC All-District, All-Big West and participated in the NABC Reese’s College All-Star Game. Tait-Jones intends to pursue a professional basketball career and aspires to become a youth basketball coach in New Zealand afterwards. |
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Amelia Honer
Sport: Women’s Tennis
Class: Senior
Hometown: Newtown, Pa.
Major/GPA: Sociology / 3.83
Amelia Honer is now a two-time Big West Scholar Athlete of the Year after winning the same accolade last year. An All-American, All-Big West performer, and ranked 15th nationally in singles, Newtown, Pa. product will leave UC Santa Barbara as one of the most decorated student-athletes. With multiple appearances on UCSB’s Dean’s List, Big West Academic All-Conference and Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Honer has plans to play professional tennis before pursuing a career in sports psychology. |
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Cole Anderson
Sport: Men's Basketball
Class: Senior
Hometown: Fresno, Calif.
Major/GPA: Sociology / 3.58
Cole Anderson made 81 3-pointers during the 2024-25 season to break a UC Santa Barbara school record and earn a spot on the All-Big West Honorable Mention list. The Gaucho guard helped UC Santa Barbara to a fourth-place finish in The Big West. Anderson plans to pursue a professional career in basketball before going into real estate. |