CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) recognized Madison Kellione (Cynthiana, Ky.) as the 2021-22 HCAC Athlete of the Year for women’s sports on Thursday, following a vote of league officials.
 
The junior from Transylvania University had an outstanding junior campaign on the court for the Pioneers. Kellione was instrumental leading the nationally ranked Transylvania women’s basketball team to a historic season, where they went undefeated in the regular season. The Pioneers clinched the regular season HCAC title as well as the HCAC Conference Tournament crown. In the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament, Kellione led the squad to a historic Elite 8 appearance.
 
Kellione started in all 28 games with the team, finishing with a mark of 27-1 in 2021-22. The guard averaged a team-best 17.4 points per game with her best performances coming in wins against No. 3 John Carroll University (33 points) and No. 7 Tufts University (22 points).
 
The junior took home many awards for her incredible 2021-22 campaign, including First Team All-HCAC, a two time HCAC Athlete of the Week pick, HCAC All-Tournament Team, D3 Hoops 8th Region First Team, WBCA All-American Honorable Mention, 2022 CoSida Academic All District Team, as well as the 2022 Transylvania Athlete of the Year for a women's sport. Her squad received National Team of the Week recognition from D3 Hoops, and she was also named the MVP of the Pat Deacon Classic.
 
The HCAC Athlete of the Year award is in its ninth year of existence. The award is voted on by the sports information directors of each member institution.
 
For more information on all things HCAC, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.
 
HCAC Female Athlete of the Year
2022    Madison Kellione, Transylvania University
2021    Alehia Tucker, Softball, Mount St. Joseph University
2020    Brynna Sentel, Women's Swimming and Diving, Franklin College
2019    Aishat Sadiq, Track & Field, Earlham College
2018    Renae Morton, Softball, Transylvania University
2017    Jordin Fender, Track & Field, Transylvania University
2016    Terrill Webb, Track & Field, Bluffton University
2015    Anna Murdock, Cross Country and Track & Field, Franklin College
2014    Bridgette Rowe, Soccer and Track & Field, Manchester University