All-American Kate Robinson became the first University of Hawaii softball player to be been named one of 25 finalists for the 2008 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award

This award, which is considered one of the top honors in women's collegiate softball, recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. The Top 25 is composed of players representing 18 colleges and 10 different NCAA Division I Conferences and is selected by the Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States.

Robinson continues to lead the nationally ranked Rainbo Wahine (28-11 overall, 4-1 Western Athletic Conference) with team-highs in average (.385), runs scored (31), hits (47), home runs (14), and RBI (34). She enters this weekend's series against WAC rival San Jose State, just one home run shy of tying the UH career home run record of 38, held by former UH All-American and current Australian national team member, Stacey Porter in 2003.

As a pitcher, Robinson is 12-3 record with a 1.68 ERA in 100 innings pitched.

She has thrown 11 complete games in 16 starts with six shutouts thus far while holding opposing teams to a .221 batting average.

Earlier this year, Robinson was selected to the 2008 Pre-Season Division I Watch List. From that list the ASA evaluates players on the watch list, as well as other nominees during a mid-season review to determine the 25 finalists.

The list will be reduce to the top 10 on May 7, then the top three on May 21. The top three will travel to Oklahoma City for the announcement of the winner at the 2008 NCAA Women's College World Series Party at the Park on May 27.

Tennessee's Monica Abbott captured the 2007 honor before leading her team to the WCWS Final Series. Past winners of the award include Stacey Nuveman (UCLA-2002), Cat Osterman (Texas-2003, 2005 and 2006) and Jessica Van der Linden (Florida State-2004).

The Top 25 finalists for the 2008 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, listed in alphabetical order, are:

Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi State) - Sophomore - Catcher/Infield - Cordova, Tenn.

Katie Burkhart (Arizona State) - Senior - Pitcher - San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Tonya Callahan (Tennessee) - Senior - Infield - Holden, Mo.

Samantha Camuso (UCLA) - Freshman - Utility - Redding, Calif.

Kaitlin Cochran (Arizona State) - Junior - Outfield - Yorba Linda, Calif.

Samantha Findlay (Michigan) - Senior - First Base - Lockport, Ill.

Amber Flores (Oklahoma) - Sophomore - Outfield - Calexico, Calif.

Megan Gibson (Texas A&M) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base - Spring, Texas

Sam Marder (Ohio State) - Sophomore - Catcher - Calabasas, Calif.

DJ Mathis (Oklahoma) - Junior - Pitcher - East Alton, Ill.

Charlotte Morgan (Alabama) - Sophomore - Pitcher/Utility - Moreno Valley, Calif.

Rosey Neill (Stanford) - Sophomore - Catcher - Laguna Hills, Calif.

Stacey Nelson (Florida) - Junior - Pitcher - Los Alamitos, Calif.

Carmen Paez (Florida Gulf Coast) - Senior - Outfield - Belle Glade, Fla.

Missy Penna (Stanford) - Junior - Pitcher/Utility - Miami, Fla.

Kate Robinson (Hawaii) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base - Honolulu, Hawaii

Brittany Rogers (Alabama) - Junior - Outfield - Dacula, Ga.

Anjelica Selden (UCLA) - Senior - Pitcher - Vacaville, Calif.

Angel Shamblin (Houston) - Senior - Pitcher/Utility - Davie, Fla.

Holly Tankersley (Louisiana-Lafayette) - Senior - Designated Player/Outfield - Kirbyville, Texas

Jordan Taylor (Michigan) - Freshman - Pitcher - Valencia, Calif.

Angela Tincher (Virginia Tech) - Senior - Pitcher - Eagle Rock, Va.

Brooke Turner (Long Beach State) - Freshman - Pitcher - Buena Park, Calif.

Jackie Vasquez (Arizona State) - Senior - Outfield - Tucson, Ariz.

Tammy Williams (Northwestern) - Junior - Infield - Roscoe, Mo.