SEATTLE – The coronavirus pandemic has brought so many aspects of everyday life to a halt all around the world.
 
But nothing can stop excellence – and that includes the successes of Seattle Pacific's leading student-athletes.
 
Each spring at the year-ending Athletic Awards Banquet, the final presentation of the evening is the Falcon Award for Excellence. It is regarded as the Athletics Department's highest honor, given for career achievement in academics and athletics.
 
It was 32 years ago when SPU coaches and administrators developed the high standards and criteria for the award, taking into account not only the students' athletic and academic accomplishments, but their character, as well.
 
This year's list of nominees submitted by coaches totaled eight. All of them lettered at least two years and are on schedule to graduate with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
 
The final selections, of which we have four, were judged to have excelled in athletics, made a positive impact on those around them, fulfilled a leadership role on their teams, and, during their careers, proved themselves to be consummate student-athletes for Seattle Pacific.
 
Since we are not having an in-person banquet this year (one of those things halted by the virus), we are going to introduce these award winners to you, one each day, alphabetically, throughout this week.
 
Today's winner is …
 
GABBY ODDO
Volleyball
Although Oddo missed the last portion of her freshman season with a knee injury, she made the most of every opportunity she had on the court, becoming just the third player in the 34-year history of SPU volleyball to achieve a "triple thousand," topping 1,000 kills (1,369), 1000 points (1,550) and 1,000 digs (1,062).
 

The four-year letterwinner earned four All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selections: honorable mention as a freshman in 2016, then first team as a sophomore, junior, and senior. She also was voted to the Preseason All-GNAC team in 2018 and 2019.
 
Oddo finished her career at No. 2 on Seattle Pacific's all-time list for career kills, No. 4 for kills per game (3.48), and No. 3 in career points.
 
She logged 52 career kill-dig double-doubles, and topped 100 career service aces (120) and total blocks (129).
 
In addition, Oddo made her mark in the classroom. A business administration major, she was a three-time member of the GNAC All-Academic team.