This years top teams, coaches and performers

Male athlete of the year
Ricky Barnes, golf ÷ If the senior would have just won the U.S. Amateur Championship, that would have been enough to get him nominated. But his name appearing on the leaderboard at the Masters, and his consistency for the men's golf team, puts him on top. No one could have realistically thought that Barnes would win at Augusta, but as he hung with the leaders, we all couldn't help but wonder, "What if he did take home the green jacket?" Alas, it was not to be, but it's clear that Barnes deserves to be on the pro tour.

Female athlete of the year
Alicia Hollowell, softball ÷ We can't help but wonder if Alicia Hollowell will finally be cut off from winning conference Player of the Week awards. She has five already, and the only reason she won't get many more is that the season is ending. Her impressive 34 wins are second only to the mind-boggling fact that she is a freshman, and she has had to fill the biggest shoes on campus öö those of Jennie Finch. Though the legend of Finch will always remain, when it comes to pitching, it appears Hollowell will be everything Finch was ÷ maybe more.

Performance of the year
Jason Johnson, football ÷ The senior quarterback, who was arguably the most-scrutinized athlete on campus this year, stepped up in a big way at perhaps the most crucial point in the football team's season. Johnson threw for a school-record 492 yards and four touchdowns during the Wildcats' 52-41 road win over California on Nov. 16. The game was Arizona's first since part of the team revolted against head coach John Mackovic. Mackovic stayed, was carried off the field after the win, and was given the game ball by Johnson, who was also named Pac-10 Player of the Week for his efforts.

Best clutch performance
Women's volleyball ÷ Down 0-2 to No. 4 Stanford, the 20th-ranked women's volleyball team watched as thousands upon thousands of UA fans poured into McKale Center for Midnight Madness. Maybe that was what the team was waiting for as it rallied to win the next three games to take the match. In the process, the team earned a few more fans and set the single game conference attendance record. Sure the fans were showing up for a different reason, but for a young team to respond like that in front of so many against the defending champs is far and away the biggest money performance.

Top male nobody knows
Chris Nallen, golf ÷ The junior, a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan award ÷ given to the nation's best collegiate golfer ÷ would be a superstar at any other program. The native of Blairstown, N.J., has been overshadowed by the success and fanfare of his teammate Barnes (see male athlete of the year). Statistically, Nallen has been better than Barnes this season for UA. He has been a consistent force, leading the Wildcats with a 71.39 stroke average. Nallen has finished in the top 10 in 13 events this season, picking up eight top-10 and three top-20 finishes along the way.

Top female nobody knows
Kelly Nelson, soccer ÷ A torn ACL followed by the greatest scoring season in Arizona soccer history, but where are the No. 19 jerseys at McKale? A redshirt freshman, Nelson kicked 27 points (13 goals, one assist), and netted an overtime winner against a World Cup goalie but no one wonders if she's leaving for the draft. Renew your subscription to Soccer Buzz magazine next year, as she'll likely move beyond the All-Freshman team. 2002 Second team Pac-10? Do we hear first team 2003? Team MVP? Times two · three. Where's the celebrity status? Perhaps a Chastain-type celebration mixed with the ÎZona Zoo plan?

Coach of the year
Andy Lopez, baseball ÷ In his second season at Arizona, head baseball coach Andy Lopez restocked the roster with 22 players, including 14 freshmen. The inexperienced team slogged through a tough pre-conference schedule with the likes of defending national champion Texas and Baylor, but finished 22-14. Now with six games left on the season, the team is batting .328 ÷ that is 39 points higher than last year's squad. Arizona is two games out of first place in the Pac and can win their way into the NCAA Regionals for the first berth in four years. Lopez righted a sinking ship and steered it on a course similar to that of the glory days of Jerry Kindall.

Team of the year
Men's basketball ÷ Whenever anyone around the nation hears about the University of Arizona, the first thing that comes to mind is men's basketball. Lute Olson is more of a god than a man anywhere in southern Arizona and in the middle of the NBA playoffs you see the contribution this program has had on the next level. This year's team was no different than any in the past; they got the most attention and deserved the most attention. It started with the mob scene for tickets and a preseason No. 1 ranking and ended with a tough loss. National Championship or not, the hoops team was No. 1 on campus all year long.

Club team of the year
Men's Volleyball ÷ A national title is impressive. Four in five years is remarkable. That is what the men's club volleyball team accomplished last month after beating UC Davis to win its second straight title. And the fact that the team only lost one game in the entire tournament is dumbfounding. Oftentimes a club team can pull incredible feats but gets lost in the hype and success of varsity sports that keep adding banners on National Championship Drive, but this one was too good to pass up.