The Big South conference announced Wednesday Radford University’s Olivia Hunter (lacrosse) and Helena Willson (women’s soccer) have been named nominees for the conference’s Woman of the Year award.
Hunter, a political science major, was involved in Morgan’s Message in 2023 and 2024 as an Ambassador. She hosted events to educate others about mental health to end the negative stigma around the issue. The two-year captain was also a Dean’s List honoree three times at Radford.
Willson, a biology major, was the Big South Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Year honoree in 2023, and helped the Highlanders win the Conference Championship. Off the pitch, she was involved with REALISE, which focused on inclusiveness and diversity to bring peers together as one in the Artis College of Science and Technology. She also participated in Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honors Society.
The committee will use criteria of Service and Leadership (including community services, campus activities and leadership positions), Academic Achievement, Athletics Excellence and a Personal Statement from each candidate when determining this year’s award recipient. Whoever is named will also become the conference’s candidates for the national NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
Since the Big South began the Woman of the Year initiative after the 2005-06 season, four have earned the award including Hope Creasy (2009-10), Jessica Wollmann (2018-19), Sydney Fisher (2020-21) and most recently Saleena Lynch (2022-23).
The 2023-24 Big South Woman of the Year nominees include:
Blake Holtorf, Charleston Southern Softball
Callie Scheier, High Point Basketball
Lauren Fox, Longwood Softball
Kaitlyn Tucker, Presbyterian Softball
Olivia Hunter, Radford Lacrosse
Helena Willson, Radford Soccer
Mallory Haney, UNC Asheville Track & Field
Cora Brendle, USC Upstate Soccer
Valentine Savioz, Winthrop Golf
Radford University Athletics