TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona senior catcher Sydney Stewart has been named one of 25 finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, announced on Wednesday morning by USA Softball. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women's collegiate softball.

Stewart is batting .431 and leads the Wildcats in home runs (19), RBI (73), walks (41), slugging percentage (1.055), and on base percentage (.584). The catcher leads the Big 12 in RBI, RBI per game (1.55), home runs per game (.40), slugging percentage, and walks per game (.87). Her 73 RBI ranks seventh in the nation and her 1.055 slugging percentage ranks eighth in the NCAA.  

The senior from San Jose, California has earned Big 12 Player of the Week distinction twice this season and leads the team with 19 multiple RBI games.  

This is the first time Stewart is a finalist for the award. She is trying to become Arizona's first winner of the award, which was first given in 2002.

The list of 25 will be cut to 10 finalists on May 13 and then three on May 18. The award will be given out prior to the Women's College World Series.

Stewart and the Wildcats are back in action this weekend when they head to Utah to close out the regular season beginning Friday, May 1.