NCAA RELEASE
POMONA -- Cal Poly Pomona's
Ayana Fields has been selected as one of two candidates from the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) to be nominated for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
From over 500 initial submissions, Fields is now is one of 151 conference nominees nationwide across all three NCAA divisions, including just 39 at the NCAA Division II level to advance past the conference nominee phase. This year's conference nominees include 53 student-athletes from Division I, 39 from Division II, and 59 from Division III. The average GPA of this year's nominee pool is 3.8.
The NCAA Woman of the Year program is rooted in Title IX and has recognized graduating female college athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership since its inception in 1991. Eligible female student-athletes are first nominated by their member school. Each conference office then reviews the nominations from its core member schools (and sponsored sports) and submits its conference nominee(s) to the NCAA.
The conference-level nominees who will be considered for Top 30 honors include the 151 nominees submitted by conference offices plus five nominees advancing from a pool of 30 school nominees who compete in a sport not sponsored by the school's primary conference or compete for independent schools. The 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced during an award ceremony at the NCAA Convention in January 2023.
On the track, the sophomore Fields put together one of the most historic seasons in recent years and helped lead the Broncos to its first CCAA Track & Field Championship since 1998. The Los Angeles native won the 100m, 200m, and 400m and helped Cal Poly Pomona take first place in both relays. Her five gold medals scored 35 points for the Broncos, and she won the High Point Award for the meet. She was also a four-time CCAA Track Athlete of the Week, the CCAA Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year, and a USTFCCCA Division II Athlete of the Week.
Her success did not stop at the conference level. Fields' times earned her qualifications for NCAA Nationals, and she seized on the opportunity to bring home multiple All-American honors. She posted a season-best time of 53.44 to place second in the 400m and took third in the 200m with a time of 23.54.
These were the second and third All-American awards in her outdoor career and followed her accomplishments during the indoor season. During the winter, Fields earned pair of All-American honors in the 200m and the 400m, placing fifth and second, respectively.
Her success was not limited to the track, as Fields was also recognized for her outstanding work in the classroom. She was named to the prestigious CoSIDA Academic All-America team as a Kinesiology major, making her a two-time recipient and the only CCAA track & field student-athlete to receive the honor. She was also named to the President's List, the CCAA honor roll, and the USTFCCCA All-Academic team.
Fields also put in the time and effort to help her fellow students and her community during the 2021-22 campaign. She was part of multiple outreach efforts to local elementary schools that saw her and her fellow members of SAAC play with the children and conduct physical fitness activities. Fields helped organize and execute a pair of canned food drives, bringing in nearly 1,700 cans for a local food pantry.
The other CCAA nominee is Alexis Cardoza of Cal State San Bernardino volleyball. She was named the AVCA Division II National Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She led the Yotes to their fifth consecutive CCAA Tournament Championship and the No. 2 ranking in the nation.
The outside hitter paced the CCAA this season in kills (3.97) and points per set (4.46). She posted double-figure kills in 26 of 30 matches, including a season-high 26 (in four sets) against Alaska Anchorage in the NCAA West Regional.
The three-time CCAA Player of the Year helped CSUSB go undefeated in conference play and post a 23-match winning streak to claim the No. 1 seed in the NCAA West Regional. She wrapped up her career on the court by earning her third All-American award and her second consecutive CCAA Female Athlete of the year honor.
The Psychology major is also a standout academically. Cardoza earned her fourth CCAA honor roll selection this season and was named to the prestigious CoSIDA Academic All-America team for a school-record third consecutive year. The Chino Hills native wrapped up her career as the most decorated student-athlete in the history of CSUSB Athletics.
Cardoza has given back to her community by sharing her volleyball knowledge with the next generation. She regularly coaches youth to train them in the fundamentals of the game. These same lessons were applied through the disABILITY Sports Festival, where Cardoza worked with those with mental or physical disabilities. She has also assisted local efforts to cloth those in need through organizations like Santa's Helpers.
For more information about the NCAA Woman of the Year program and previous winners, please visit
ncaa.org/woty.
