Three University of Maine alumna will be recognized at the National Girls and Women in Sports Day State Awards Reception in Portland Saturday.

Former UM softball coach Janet Anderson; current softball coach Deb Smith; and senior Viktoriya Rybalko, a women’s track and field standout, will be honored.

Anderson will receive the 2003 Exemplary Lifetime Commitment Award for a career spanning nearly 30 years – 21 of which were spent as the program’s only softball coach. She also served as UM field hockey and volleyball coach.

Smith will receive the 2003 Exemplary Professional Award as she heads into her fourth season as the team’s coach. Smith was named both North Atlantic Conference co-Player and co-Pitcher of the Year in 1994 while playing for Anderson.

Rybalko, an honorable mention for the 2003 Exemplary College Student Award, was Maine’s top point-producer last season and placed 16th nationally in the triple jump at the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Anyone wishing to attend the reception should RSVP to Jen DeRice at 767-7650.

Orono observes sports day

National Girls and Women in Sports Day activities will be hosted in Orono and Augusta Saturday and Sunday.

The University of Maine will recognize the day during a ceremony before Saturday’s noon home basketball game at Alfond Arena between the Maine and Hartford women. Also during the ceremony, junior forward Heather Ernest will be presented a commemorative game ball for becoming the 12th player in UM women’s basketball history to score 1,000 career points.

On Sunday, almost every UMaine women’s team will be represented at a Blaine House reception in Augusta in honor of NGWS Day. Female students from all Maine high schools are invited to attend.

NGWS Day was chartered by Congress in 1986 to honor female athletic achievement. This year, NGWS Day is Feb. 5. The theme is “Succeed in sports. Lead in life.”

Leavitt to play for Husson

Piscataquis High School basketball star Buddy Leavitt was scheduled to play his first game in a Husson College uniform since transferring from the University of Maine last week. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound guard-forward was to play his first game as a Brave Tuesday night at Waterville against Thomas College.

“We are excited to get Buddy in uniform. He makes us a better basketball team,” head coach Warren Caruso said in a press release. “He adds to our depth and will help us in our championship run.”

Husson is 9-4 overall before Tuesday’s game and 5-1 in the Sunrise Conference.