Fresno State Athletics
Robnett, Pandzic Named 2003-04 Athletes of the Year
 |  Richie Robnett was named the 2003-04 Fresno State Athlete of the Year on the men's side. |
June 14, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - Sophomore outfielder Richie Robnett (Visalia, Calif.) and freshman tennis player Jelena Pandzic (Split, Croatia) have been named the 2003-04 Fresno State Athletes of the Year by a vote of Fresno-area media members.
"Richie and Jelena have clearly been the top performers for the year and the margin by which the media selected them was nearly unanimous, which demonstrates how dominating they were," said athletics director Scott Johnson. "Jelena's accomplishments were certainly unprecedented at Fresno State, but also by a tennis player in the WAC. Richie had a sensational season, one of the best by a Bulldog baseball player ever. I couldn't agree more that these two outstanding individuals are deserving of being called Fresno State Athletes of the Year."
The 2004 WAC Player of the Year, Robnett led the conference in overall batting average (.384), slugging percentage (.699), doubles (27), total bases (160), stolen bases (21) and was second in hits (88) and third in home runs (13). His single-season doubles total ranks second in school history while he became the first Bulldog since Steve Hosey in 1988 to record at least 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases.
Robnett played a pivotal role in the Bulldog's late-season surge, which saw the team win nine of its final 11 games. He was selected as one of four Louisville Slugger national players of the week by Collegiate Baseball for May 3-9, as he hit .889 (8-9) with four home runs and seven RBI in a series against San Jose State.
After the season, Robnett was tabbed a Louisville Slugger second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. He was selected as the 26th overall pick by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft last week. He is the tenth Bulldog taken in the first round and the first since Ben Fritz was picked 30th overall by the Athletics in the 2002 draft.
Pandzic was instrumental in leading Fresno State to only its third top-10 national ranking in school history. Sparked by Pandzic's play, the Bulldogs advanced to the round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for just the second time ever and won their third consecutive WAC title.
In just her first collegiate season, Pandzic racked up a 29-2 overall record and reached the national championship match of the NCAA Singles Tournament- advancing farther than any other Bulldog in program history. She also finished 21-3 in doubles and played in the NCAA Doubles Tournament with partner Lucia Tallo, where the tandem reached the round of 16.
Pandzic also won virtually every award possible: WAC Player of the Year, WAC Freshman of the Year, Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Rookie of the Year, first-team All-WAC in singles and doubles and Singles All-American. She was also a finalist for the Honda Award for tennis, presented annually to the nation's top female tennis player.