Five SUNYAC Fall Athletes Voted 2025 SUNY Scholar Athletes of the Year
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - There are 22 fall student-athletes, including five SUNYAC athletes, being honored with the 2025 SUNY Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards for combining academic achievement with success in the arena of athletic competition.
The SUNY Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards recognize student-athletes from SUNY colleges and universities sponsoring intercollegiate athletics at the four- and two-year levels who were nominated and voted upon by representatives of their respective institutions.
Nominating information includes cumulative grade point average, current and career statistics, and athletic and academic honors.
More than 14,000 student-athletes compete at SUNY institutions representing 53 different colleges and universities at the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III/USCAA and NJCAA levels and are eligible for the awards.
The winter winners will be released in April and the spring in June. The overall male and female Scholar Athletes of the Year in each division will be announced in July. Student-athletes will receive photo plaques commemorating their accomplishments.
The following SUNYAC student-athletes have been selected as the 2025 Fall SUNY Scholar Athlete Award winners:
Field Hockey - Rachel Tama, New Paltz
Tama was named to the 2025 All-SUNYAC first team and was an NFHCA Senior All-Star selection. She holds program records in goals, points, game-winning goals and is second in assists. Tama holds a 3.88 overall GPA.
She graduated undergrad a year early and is currently in grad school studying business analytics. Tama works within the athletic department as a student staff assistant. She was named to the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll list the last three years, she is a Chi Alpha Sigma inductee and a two-time NFHCA All-Academic squad member. Tama was recently named the SUNYAC Field Hockey Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Men's Soccer - Jordan Ott, Cortland
Ott started in all 21 games and played every minute in goal for the Red Dragons in 2025. He helped his team win the SUNYAC regular-season title and advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. Ott finished his senior season with a 0.51 goals against average and an .891 save percentage. He totaled 90 saves and finished with a 14-1-6 overall record. At the end of the season Ott was recognized as a United Soccer Coaches Fourth Team All-America Goalie and was named to the First Team All-Region 3. He was also voted the SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the All-SUNYAC first team.
Ott holds Cortland's single-season record with 13 shutouts and he is tied for second nationally in Division III. He is also ranked third nationally in save percentage and seventh in goals against average. Ott is the program's career leader with 30 shutouts in three seasons.
Ott is a sport management major with a 3.63 overall GPA. He was honored on the CSC Academic All-American second team and has been on the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll list the last two years. Ott was recently voted the SUNYAC Men's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Women's Soccer - Katie Diem, Cortland
After helping her team win the SUNYAC regular-season and tournament titles, Diem was recognized on the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team. At the end of the 2025 season, she was also named a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region 3 defender, the SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Year and recognized on the First Team All-SUNYAC. Diem started all 21 games at defense for the Red Dragons and contributed four goals and three assists for 11 points. Cortland advanced to the NCAA tournament and finished the season with a 14-3-4 overall record.
Diem is a Biology major maintaining a 4.0 overall GPA as a senior. She was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) first team Academic All-American and was the 2025 SUNYAC Women's Soccer Elite 20 awardee. Diem has also earned SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll status the last two years. She was also voted the 2025 SUNYAC Women's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Women's Tennis - Olivia Kunz, New Paltz
Kunz was named to the SUNYAC first team doubles and was selected to the All-Tournament doubles team after helping the Hawks win their fourth-straight SUNYAC title. Kunz was undefeated in doubles competition throughout the fall 2025 season.
Kunz is a junior psychology major with a 3.92 overall GPA. She is a two-time SUNYAC Commissioner's List recipient and has been honored on the Hawks Academic Honor Roll four times.
Women's Volleyball - Kira Pirrera, Cortland
Pirrera was an AVCA honorable mention All-American and first team All-Region 3 outside hitter in 2025. She was also named the SUNYAC Player of the Year and CSC Academic All-District. Pirrera played in all 114 sets over 32 matches totaling 435 kills, .226 attack percentage, 54 aces, 338 digs and 54 blocks. She led her team in kills and aces and was second in digs. The Red Dragons finished 24-8 (9-0 SUNYAC) and won SUNYAC regular-season and tournament titles.
Pirrera is a junior inclusive childhood education major with a 3.89 overall GPA. She has been named to the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic List the last two years. Pirrera was also named the SUNYAC Women's Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year.
