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The High Point University Athletic Department held its fourth annual Athletic Awards Ceremony presented by BB&T on Thursday night at the Hayworth Fine Arts Center. Marisa Abbott of the women's soccer team and Nate Roberts of the baseball team were voted Panther Cup winners as HPU's Athletes of the Year. Laura Eldridge of the women's soccer team earned the Tobias Award and David Campbell of the men's basketball team earned the Davis Award as HPU's top scholar-athletes.

Abbott was named the female Panther Cup winner after leading the HPU women's soccer team to the 2009 Big South Championship. She was named Tournament MVP after shutting out every opponent during the tournament and saving two penalty kicks in the championship game. She made an HPU record 14 saves against eventual national champ North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament and set HPU Div. I records for saves and shutouts in a season and saves, shutouts and wins in a career.

Roberts was named the male Panther Cup winner for his outstanding season in baseball. The right fielder ranks in the top three in the Big South in every major category and leads the league in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs, walks and plate appearances. He is batting .403 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 59 runs, 21 stolen bases and seven outfield assists in 40 games. He hit three homers in a game against Towson and has been named Big South Player of the Week and a CB360 Primetime Performer.

Eldridge, a senior, was named HPU's top female scholar-athlete after posting a 3.98 GPA in Sport Management. She was a four-time Millis Scholar-Athlete and a member of the Big South Honor Roll. She was women's soccer team captain, a two-time first-team All-Big South selection and ranks second in HPU's Div. I era in points and goals.

Campbell, a junior, has a 3.7 GPA in Business and Finance, is a three-time Millis Scholar-Athlete and a member of the Big South Presidential Honor Roll. He played in all 30 game for the HPU men's basketball team in 2009-10, scoring a season-high 14 points against Hampden Sydney and recording 10 points and seven rebounds in the Big South Tournament against UNC Asheville.

Eldridge and senior Josh Morgan of the men's cross country and track teams were nominated for the Big South's Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence. Eldridge's exploits are listed above. Morgan was named Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year in both indoor and outdoor track this year.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee named Whitney Tarver of the women's basketball team the Sportswoman of the Year and named Pablo Rosario of the baseball team Sportsman of the Year. The honor, which is voted on by members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, awards the female and male student-athlete who best exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership and community service.

Every senior received a senior ring commemorating their accomplishments as a student-athlete at HPU.

HPU's senior speakers were Lauren Stockell of the women's soccer team and Jesse Cherry of the men's track team. Senior Lisa Chandler of the women's golf team gave the invocation, senior Tara Dyer of the volleyball team spoke about the Panther Club and Tarver gave the closing remarks. The women's soccer team won the Competition Cup.

Women's Panther Cup: Marissa Abbott, Women's Soccer
Men's Panther Cup: Nate Roberts, Baseball
Tobias Female Scholar-Athlete Award: Laura Eldridge, Women's Soccer
E. Vance Davis Male Scholar-Athlete Award: David Campbell, Men's Basketball
Sportswoman of the Year: Whitney Tarver, Women's Basketball
Sportsman of the Year: Pablo Rosario, Baseball

Panther Cup Women's Team MVPs
Ashlee Samuels, Basketball
Emily Webb, Cross Country
Leahanna Newton, Golf
Marissa Abbott, Soccer
Joya Canfield, Indoor Track
Manika Gamble, Outdoor Track
Julie Hershkowitz, Volleyball

Panther Cup Men's Team MVPs
Nate Roberts, Baseball
Nick Barbour, Basketball
Neal Darmody, Cross Country
Curtis Brotherton, Golf
Shawn Sloan, Soccer
Josh Morgan, Indoor Track
Jesse Cherry, Outdoor Track

Tobias Female Scholar-Athlete Award Nominees
Mackenzie Maier, Women's Basketball
Emily Webb, Women's Cross Country
Lisa Chandler, Women's Golf
Laura Eldridge, Women's Soccer
Christina Fenske, Women's Indoor & Outdoor Track
Megan Kaminskas, Volleyball

E. Vance Davis Male Scholar-Athlete Award Nominees
Matt Gantner, Baseball
David Campbell, Men's Basketball
Josh Morgan, Men's Cross Country
Curtis Brotherton, Men's Golf
Adam Hatem, Men's Soccer
Jevin Monds, Men's Indoor Track
Cole Atkins, Men's Outdoor Track