FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State seniors Kendra Lee (equestrian) and Abbey Simshauser (water polo) have been named the Bulldog athletic department's nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
The NCAA Woman of the Year program was established in 1991 and honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2025.
Kendra Lee - Fresno State Equestrian
Lee, a native of Bellingham, Wash., had a successful career as a Bulldog. A member of the horsemanship squad for four seasons, Lee graduated as a second team horsemanship All-American in the 2024-25 season.
Earned All-Big 12 honors in 2024-25, becoming the first Bulldog to earn All-Big 12 honors in horsemanship since 2019-20.
Finished her senior season with a single season personal best record of 8-5-1 with four MOP honors.
Earned academic honors from the NCEA and Big 12 in each season
Graduated from Fresno State with a degree in marketing and a minor in psychology. She carried a 3.96 cumulative GPA throughout her undergrad program.
Outside of the classroom and show ring, Lee spent time with various volunteering and judging events as well as internships within the athletics department.
Abbey Simshauser - Fresno State Water Polo
Simshauser joined the Fresno State water polo program as a transfer from Wagner College ahead of the 2024 season, and made an immediate impact.
She appeared in all 51 games in her two-year Bulldog career. She leaves Fresno State with 128 goals as a Bulldog, putting her at No. 6 in career goals at Fresno State.
She became the fastest Bulldog to score 100 career goals, doing so in her 41st game with the program.
In her collegiate career, with four years at Wagner College (2020-23) and two at Fresno State (2024-25), she totaled 371 career goals. In unofficial research among Div. I water polo SIDs, only a handful of players have ever scored 300+ goals in their careers in collegiate water polo history.
Simshauser earned All-America and All-Conference honors throughout her career, both at Fresno State and at Wagner.
She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology while maintaining a 3.85 cumulative GPA.
Outside of the classroom and the pool, Simshauser was an active member of the international community on campus. She interned with the International Office, assisting students with the transition to the states as well as helping with Visa questions and planning events for the international students.