Volleyball | 7/20/2023 11:23:00 AM

DENTON, Texas (July 20, 2023) – Forever ingrained in Texas Woman's University athletics history, not only for their performances on the court but also for their excellence in academics, leadership and community service, Sadie Moyer and Trixie Oche have been nominated for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year program "honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions."

This year, a record-breaking 619 student-athletes were nominated for consideration for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year – 128 of those nominees were from Division II institutions. The 619 student-athletes represented 24 different sports and boasted an average grade point average (GPA) of 3.76.

Sadie Moyer, a TWU basketball student-athlete, recently graduated with a degree in Kinesiology Exercise Science. From Broken Arrow, Okla., Moyer played for the Pioneers from 2019-23 and helped guide them to a historical run in her four years.

"Sadie personifies the ideal meaning of being a passionate leader," TWU Basketball Head Coach Beth Jillson said. "In her four years as a Pioneer, Sadie's selfless and sacrificial approach to leadership guided our team to success on the court, because her authenticity in serving others helped build a foundation of trust within her teammates. I loved watching Sadie play basketball because she played with an untenable joy—a joy she showcases in every aspect of her life. She daily commits herself to loving her teammates, loving others and empowering the world through service. Sadie showed up every day ready to work hard and bring her best in all she did, on the court, in the classroom and in her community. The accolades continue to come for Sadie because she is intentional in pursuing excellence; however, beyond the accolades, Sadie lives life with immense gratitude and humility. She is a wonderful representation of what it means to be a successful student-athlete in all areas, and she is so deserving of this nomination."

After earning 12 starts as a freshman, Moyer quickly solidified herself as an integral member of the Pioneers' starting five. Her sophomore season was cut short due to COVID-19, but Moyer averaged double-digit points in 14 games and was named a Third Team All-Lone Star Conference (LSC) selection.

Her game continued to elevate during her junior season. Moyer started in all 29 of the Pioneers' games and led the team in points on the season, scoring 410 points. She solidified her name in the TWU record book by breaking the all-time record for season free-throw percentage, as Moyer set the new mark at 88.7% on the season. At the close of the regular season, Moyer was named Second Team All-LSC and honored for her academic achievements by being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team and LSC All-Academic team.

She also led the Pioneers to their first NCAA South Central Regional Tournament victory on March 11, 2022 over MSU Denver. During the 2022 NCAA South Central Regional Tournament, Moyer averaged 27 points and went 100% from the free throw line (22-22) in two games. After the Pioneers fell to West Texas A&M in the semifinal round, Moyer was named to the 2022 NCAA South Central Regional All-Tournament Team—the only honoree not on one of the two teams in the final game.

The dedicated hard work Moyer put into her craft showed her senior year, as her game elevated once again. During her senior season, Moyer joined the 1,000-point exclusive club, becoming just the 11th Pioneer All-Time to reach the milestone. She closed her career with 1,136 points, which ranks sixth all-time in TWU program history. She started all 32 games for the Pioneers and guided them to a historical year. During the 2022-23 season, TWU recorded their most wins, fewest losses, best start, most consecutive wins, highest national ranking and highest regional ranking in program history. The Pioneers finished the regular season with the best overall record in the LSC (19-3), claiming the Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship Title. After playing in the LSC Tournament Championship game for the first time since the 2010-11 season, the Pioneers advanced to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament for the second consecutive season as the second seed.

During her senior year, Moyer was named First Team All-LSC, selected to the LSC All-Tournament team and the D2CCA All-South Central Region Team. For her academic achievements, Moyer was honored as a College Sports Communicators, formally CoSIDA, Academic All-District member for the second straight year, and she was also named an LSC Scholar-Athlete.

At the TWU Oakley's, our athletic department award ceremony, Moyer was honored with the TWU Athletic Directors Award.

Paired with her success on the court, Moyer was also committed to serving her community during her time at TWU. Moyer showcased her passion for others by volunteering her time with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Cross Timbers Student and College Ministry, Feed the City, TWU Student Life, Meet Up, Clean Up, Maroon Mania, TWU Move-In and Change the World Missions. Throughout her many community service efforts, Moyer served also served in various leadership roles at the organizations, including leading FCA at TWU and serving as the lead team member at Cross Timbers Ministry.

Trixie Oche, a TWU volleyball student-athlete, recently graduated with a degree in Kinesiology with a Biology minor and is currently pursuing her master's degree at TWU. From Richardson, Texas, Oche played for the Pioneers from 2018-22 and posted a storied career, earning numerous accolades and honors.

"Trixie Oche is the epitome of what it means to maximize your collegiate experience," TWU Volleyball Head Coach Jeff Huebner said. "She led our team and department through one of the most challenging times in the history of NCAA athletics and did so with poise and intentionality that only a few could have. As an All-American volleyball player, Trixie's work ethic and consistent loving attitude positioned our team into yearly progress with her as a leader. As a student, she graduated from one of our most challenging programs in four years and will complete her Master's in five and a half years. As a person, Trixie was asked to help lead our program through COVID-19, the death of George Floyd, the repealing of abortion law, and most recently affirmative action. She was even and firm, thoughtful and committed to sharing her perspective, listening to her teammates and meeting every person on the team and in the department where they were, to help in whatever way she could. Trixie served as SAAC President and has won nearly every award at Texas Woman's University; however, her approach to life doesn't change. She is grateful and appreciative in a way that I hope to live up to, and I am so very blessed to live through with her. I can imagine no one finer to represent the NCAA as the Woman of the Year."

In her freshman season with the Pioneers, Oche made an immediate impact, recording 120 kills and 68 blocks on the year. Oche's commitment to excellence led her to work hard and continue to grow her game in her sophomore season. In 2019, Oche recorded 254 kills and 151 total blocks in 116 sets played. She also led the LSC in blocks on the season with 23 solo blocks and 128 block assists for an average of 1.30 blocks per set. Her 128 block assists still rank third all-time in a single season in program history, and her 151 total blocks rank second all-time in a single season in program history.

Oche, prominent in her middle blocker position, guided the Pioneers to recording a program record for block assists in a game with 28 twice in the 2019 season. Following the season, Oche was named a First Team All-LSC selection and an LSC Championship All-Tournament team member. She also received American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-South Central Region Honorable Mention. The accolades continued to come in for Oche during her incredible sophomore season, as she received AVCA Division II All-America Honorable Mention honors, becoming just the fifth AVCA All-American in TWU program history. For her academic success, she was named to the LSC All-Academic team.

During her junior season, which was a shortened season that took place in Spring 2021 due to COVID-19, Oche played in 42 sets for the Pioneers and closed the season with 81 kills, 25 block assists and 39 total blocks. She also helped guide the Pioneers to the title of LSC Academic Champions, as TWU posted the highest GPA among LSC volleyball programs.

In her fourth season with the Pioneers in 2021, Oche's excellence continued to rise. She saw action in 95 sets across 28 matches and led TWU in total points (224.0), kills (168), solo blocks (30), block assists (52) and total blocks (82.0). After the season, Oche received All-LSC Honorable Mention and was named to the 2022 LSC Athletic Performance All-Conference Team.

Across her four years, Oche helped the Pioneers maintain a 16-year consecutive streak of earning the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award. 

While achieving incredible stats on the volleyball court and leading her team, Oche also served as the 2021-22 TWU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President, guiding TWU through community service projects and involvement, leading initiatives to raise money for Make-A-Wish, hosting the annual TWU Oakley's and serving as a voice for the student-athletes. During her presidency, Oche led the Pioneers to a third-place finish in the LSC SAAC Cup. Oche was also honored by TWU with the Campus Leader with a Heart Award, and she received the Jo Kuhn Award for her outstanding leadership.

Oche made the decision to return for one more season with the Pioneers, using her fifth year of eligibility from COVID-19. In her final year with TWU in 2022, Oche's joy for playing, bringing her all and working hard led her to another great season. She played in 99 sets for the Pioneers, finishing the season with 176 kills, second most on the team, and the most solo blocks (23), block assists (61) and total blocks (84.0). With her 84 blocks on the season, Oche closed her career with 424.0 total blocks—the third most all-time in TWU program history. She earned Second Team All-LSC honors for the season.

At the 2023 TWU Oakley's, Oche received the Athletes' Choice Award, as selected by her peers, and the Chancellor's Award for her commitment to excellence in her sport and in the classroom.

Through leading as the Community Service Chair with SAAC and then as President, Oche daily lived out her love for others by serving her community. Throughout her five years with the Pioneers, she served with over 15 different organizations, including Dog Toy Creation, School Fairs, TWU Move-In, Association Talita Cumi, Brookdale Denton North, Holiday Gift Program, Hearts for Homes, Make-A-Wish, Volleyball Youth Clinic, SECC TriBALLathon, Boo at the U, Keep Denton Beautiful, Mobile Food Pantry, Denton Holiday Lighting Festival and Minerva's Market. Through all of the opportunities, Oche was committed to giving her time daily to help and lead others.

Each conference office will now review the nominations from its core member schools and sponsored sports and submit its conference nominees to the NCAA. If a sport is not sponsored by its primary conference, then those student-athletes will go into a separate pool. Then, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee chooses a Top 30 – 10 from each division. Next, they select three finalists from each division. Finally, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics awards the NCAA Woman of the Year to one of the nine finalists at a luncheon during the NCAA Convention.