HAMPTON, Va. – Going with a different theme this year, the Hampton University Department of Athletics held their annual athletic banquet (H.U.A.S.) at the Convocation Center on Monday evening, honoring the standouts from the 2018-19 academic year.

Junior Ashley Bates and senior Jerrick Powell were recognized as the Male and Female Athletes of the Year. Senior Luca Taglialegne of the sailing team and junior Jakari Harris of women's golf team took home the Academic Awards.

Bates, a team captain of the women's basketball team, led the Lady Pirates to an overall 16-14 and 12-6 Big South conference record this season. She was named to the first team All-Conference along with being named the Conference Player of the Year as well as Defensive Player of the Year. She finished as the leading scorer in the Big South with 17.4 point per game as well as 4.3 steal per game and finished seventh in field goal percentage. Defensively, her 125 steals are a Big South single-season record and was third-most in NCAA Division I this year. 

Powell, made his mark at the Big South Indoor Championships in February where he earned Field Performer of the Meet after accounting for 34 points and five medals in Hampton's inaugural Big South team title.  He set season bests in the 200 (21.63), long jump (23-10.75) and triple jump (45-6.25) in the meet and came away with a first place finish (4x400 relay), a pair of second place finishes (200 and 400 meters) and a pair of thirds (high jump and long jump) to earn his five medals.  Powell, a St. Louis, Mo. native, also came in fifth in the triple jump and seventh in the 60 hurdles at the conference championships.  Currently in the outdoor season, he sits at tenth in the long jump with a 21 feet 9 inches jump and a 55.51 in the 400m hurdles lands him at fifth.

For more information on Hampton University athletics, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

Below is a list of the award winners on the night – by sport.

Men's Golf
MVP – Everett Whiten
Outstanding Freshman – Jairus Gaines
Women's Golf
MVP – Jakari Harris
Most Improved – Lizabeth Randles
Outstanding Freshman – Kayla Cole
Indoor Track – Men
MVP – Jerrick Powell
Most Improved – Joshua Hunter
Outstanding Freshman – Nicholas Edwards
Indoor Track – Women
MVP – Ayana Culhane
Most Improved – Mallory Pitchford
Outstanding Freshman – Jailyn Raines
Outdoor Track – Men
MVP – Jaelan Williams
Most Improved – Isaiah Norris
Outstanding Freshman – Nicholas Edwards
Outdoor Track – Women
MVP – Autumn Smith
Most Improved – Kameryn Trussell
Outstanding Freshman – Shakeria Johnson
Cross Country – Men
MVP – Geoffrey McCullough
Most Improved – Colby Price
Cross Country - Women
MVP – Asia Johnson
Most Improved – DeVonya Brown
Outstanding Freshman – Zuri Rashad
Men's Basketball
MVP – Trevond Barnes, Kalin Fisher, Akim Mitchell, Jermaine Marrow
Most Outstanding – Greg Heckstall
Outstanding Freshman – Benjamin Stanley
Women's Basketball
MVP – Ashley Bates
Most Improved – Mahaley Holit
Outstanding Freshman – Laren VanArsdale
Volleyball
Most Improved – Kyndall Nicholas
Outstanding Freshman – Gabby Calloway, Isis Black
Bring it Award – Megann Delgado
Men's Tennis
MVP – Davy Van Geerke
Most Improved – Luke Thompson
Outstanding Freshman – 
Women's Tennis
MVP – Kiah Turner
Most Improved – Julia D'Auvergne
Outstanding Freshman – Viktoria Ljungman
Football
Offensive MVP – Delmon Williams
Defensive MVP – William Robinson
Outstanding Freshman – Kentrelle Groom
Cheerleading
MVP – Jamea Lott
Most Improved – Seleata McDonald
Outstanding Freshman – Imani Johnson
Softball
MVP – Taylor Warrick
Most Improved – Joya Greer
Coaches Award – Daniella Milloy
Sailing
MVP – Luca Taglialegne
Most Improved – Olivera Stojilovic
Good Skipper – Filip Stevanovic
Women's Soccer
MVP – Khasya Cunningham
Most Improved – Maya Andrews
Outstanding Freshman – Alix Allen
Men's Lacrosse
MVP – Pierce Johnson
Most Improved – Malcolm Flynn
Outstanding Freshman – Ian  Groom, Lonnie Jones
Iron Pirate Award
Women – Isobel Finnegan
Men – Gibril Ghee
Comeback Pirate Award
Women – Kiah Turner
Men – Tyler Frazier
Student-Athlete of the Year
Women – Ashley Bates
Men – Jerrick Powell
Game Face Award
Benjamin Stanley and Daniella Milloy
Academic Award
Women – Jakari Harris 
Men – Luca Taglialegne