MALIBU, California – For the second straight year, Pepperdine University Athletics hosted its annual student-athlete awards ceremony remotely with a live YouTube broadcast on Thursday evening.
 
Dubbed the "PEPP Espys" and presented by University Credit Union, the event was hosted by men's cross country/track athletes Karl Winter and Jackson Felkins.
 
The Scholar-Athletes of the Year were a pair of seniors, Madi Cook of the women's soccer team and RJ Manke of the men's golf team.
 
The Wave of the Year, presented by Pepperdine's Waves Leadership Council, honors student-athletes for outstanding contributions in spirit and service to the athletics program and the university community. The honorees were seniors Alli O'Harra of the women's indoor volleyball team and Spencer Wickens of the men's volleyball team.
 
Pepperdine also honored Dr. Don Shores, a long-time professor at Pepperdine and the NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative since 1998, who is retiring.
 
Student-athletes, coaches and staff voted on the remainder of the awards, which are all in their seventh year of existence. They cover events held over the last 12 months, dating back to May 2020. Here were those winners:
 
Female Athlete in a Starring Role: Rachel Ahrens, women's indoor volleyball
Male Athlete in a Starring Role: Colbey Ross, men's basketball
Female Athlete in a Supporting Role: Isabel Zelaya, women's indoor volleyball
Male Athlete in a Supporting Role: Joe Highsmith, men's golf
Female Breakout Athlete of the Year: Madison Shields, women's indoor volleyball
Male Breakout Athlete of the Year: Spencer Wickens, men's volleyball
Female Newcomer of the Year: Taisiya Pachkavela, women's tennis
Male Newcomer of the Year: Guy Den Ouden, men's tennis
Best Moment of the Year: men's golf winning the prestigious East Lake Cup, beating Oklahoma 4-1 on the Golf Channel
Best Upset of the Year: men's tennis beating #8 USC on the road, 4-3, for the team's first win at Marks Tennis Stadium in 21 years.