Greetings Highlanders Fans!
 
I hope you enjoyed March Madness as much as I did. Certainly, we would have loved to have seen the Highlanders advance further in their respective tournaments, but the NCAA Tournament provided quite a bit of excitement for college basketball fans just the same.
 
It was special for me to be able to represent our university and our department as a member of the NCAA Women's Basketball Committee this year, and I look forward to doing so over the next four years as well. It truly was an incredible experience taking part in the behind-the-scenes machinations of the committee, and watching 64 of the best college basketball teams in the nation pursue their championship dreams.
 
Speaking of championships, the UC Riverside Men's and Women's Golf Teams defend their 2016 Big West titles over the next month or so. The Men's Team travels to Santa Barbara, California's Sandpiper Golf Club from May 1-3, while the Women's Team hosts the conference championship at Oak Quarry Golf Club from April 23-25. Admission to both tournaments is free, so I encourage you to join us on the links as our golf program's go for side-by-side, back-to-back Big West Championships.
 
You may remember that last year, the Men's Tennis Team enjoyed its best season in two decades finishing with 13 victories. Well this season, the Highlanders are already knocking on the door of that mark led by Cooper Bridge and Kyle McCann, both of whom have added Big West Player of the Week honors to their résumés. Men's Tennis is also looking to translate another record-setting performance into Big West success at the conference championship at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, April 26-29.
 
Women's Tennis has already picked up more wins this season than in any of their last six years, and is taking a run at its best overall mark during the program's Big West era. They head to Indian Wells Tennis Garden from April 27-30.
 
Track & Field recently held its first home meet of the season, and in addition to posting a number of individual first place finishes, the Men's Team captured the meet championship, besting the likes of Wisconsin, Utah, Long Beach State, UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton.
 
New Head Coach Nikki Palmer has Softball hurtling towards its third straight 30-win season as conference play gets underway. Hannah Rodriguez makes a run at becoming just the fourth member of the Highlanders to hit .400 for a season over the last 19 years.
 
Baseball also began Big West play last weekend, taking the conference opener from #10 Cal State Fullerton at The Plex. It doesn't get any easier as #19 Long Beach State waits for the Highlanders this weekend, but to be the best, you've got to beat the best. Don't forget that you can enjoy hospitality access at baseball with an annual donation of $600 or more to the Athletics Association. To sign up, please contact Krysta Plato in the UC Riverside Athletics Development Office at 951-827-6823.
 
As busy as the Highlanders have been on the fields of competition, they have also continued to make their mark in the community. The Volleyball Team helped out with Habitat For Humanity's "Brush With Kindness," which helps low-income homeowners impacted by age, disability and family circumstances, who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes, to reclaim their homes with pride and dignity.
 
The Baseball Team took time out of its busy March schedule to hold its annual El Protector Baseball Clinic in conjunction with the Riverside Police Department.
 
UC Riverside Athletics was also represented at the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce Inaugural Celebration in late March. Women's Golfer Haley Wian, Women's Tennis player Natalie Penner, and Track & Field athlete Solomon Demeku-Ousman joined Chancellor Kim Wilcox and others, as the Chamber honored former UC Riverside Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Stan Morrison as its 2016 Citizen of the Year.
 
The Highlanders honored their own set of All Stars on April 15 at the UC Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame celebration at the Mission Inn (view photo gallery). Inducted this year were Regina Carbajal Legates (volleyball), Deanna Dresmann Lopez (softball), Troy Percival (baseball), Dr. Aaron Rubin (team physician), Doug Smith (baseball), and Brendan Steele (men's golf). Click on each inductees name to watch their introductory video.
 
Also coming up soon on the social calendar is 99 For Title IX—our annual fundraiser to support the Highlanders' nine women's programs. The Riverside Art Museum will provide a beautiful backdrop to the proceedings on the evening of Friday, May 19, as we enjoy live jazz, food, refreshments, a live auction, and raffle, all to provide academic and athletic opportunities to our women student-athletes.
 
It's a busy month ahead for UC Riverside Athletics, and we can't wait to share it with you.
 
Until then ... All the best, and Go Highlanders!