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UB Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Announced
9/1/2026 1:39:00 PM | Football, General, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball, Swimming and Diving
BUFFALO, NY – Six former University at Buffalo Athletics standouts have been selected for induction into the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz Family UB Athletics Hall of Fame. The class of 2026 consists of Jackie Hall (women's soccer), Tom Murphy (baseball), Steve Nappo (football), Jessica Powers (women's swimming & diving), Davone Shannon (football) and Kelly Svoboda (volleyball).
Hall was one of the best defenders to ever play for the Buffalo women's soccer team. A two-time All-MAC First Team and All-Region selection, she became the first UB women's soccer player to earn All-America honors in the program's Division I era. She was also the 2014 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Hall scored the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute of the 2014 MAC Championship game. She was a two-time Academic All-MAC selection, a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete and in 2014 was named an Academic All-American.
Murphy had a standout career on the diamond for the UB baseball team from 2009-12. The former UB catcher was an All-MAC First Team selection in 2011 and 2012 and was the 2011 MAC Player of the Year. He is the program's career leader in slugging percentage (.588). He also ranks second in career home runs (27), fourth in career doubles (47) and sixth in career RBIs (120). He was selected in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies and enjoyed a nine-year major league career with the Rockies, Mariners and Giants.
Nappo starred in the defensive backfield for the UB football team from1983-86. HIs best season was in 1986 when he had a school-record 13 interceptions. He was named a Division III All-American that year. His 13 interceptions rank third in NCAA Division III history for a single season. He finished his career with a school-record 19 interceptions and also holds the program record for career turnovers captured with 23. He is one of only six players in program history to record three interceptions in a single game when he had three picks against Frostburg State in 1986.
Powers was one of Buffalo's best distance swimmers from 2013 through 2016. She was an 11-time MAC Champion, winning both the 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle for three consecutive seasons. She also won the 200 freestyle once and 800 freestyle relay four times. In addition, Powers won the silver and bronze medal twice at the MAC Championships. She was a four-time All-MAC First Team selection. Powers is the school record holder in the 1,000 freestyle (9:54.07) and 1,650 freestyle (16:21.10). Out of the pool, Powers was twice named a CSCAA Scholar All-American.
Shannon (2007-10) is the top tackler to ever play for the UB football team. His 461 career tackles are the most in program history. He also holds the school record for career solo tackles with 258. His 10 interceptions rank in the top 10 in program history. The UB safety was a four-time All-MAC First Team selection. He is just one of four players in the history of the Mid-American Conference to be named to the first team all four years. His 20 tackles against Army in 2008 were the second most in program history for a single game.
Svoboda was a libero on the UB volleyball team from 2010-13. She holds the school record for career digs with 1,928. Along with being an All-MAC First Team selection in 2013, she became the first player in program history to be named MAC Defensive Player of the Year. She set a school record with 634 digs in 2013. In addition, she set a program record with 43 digs in a match against Toledo. A two-year team captain, Svoboda was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week ten times in her career, second most in program history.
The induction ceremony for the 2026 UB Athletics Hall of Fame Class is scheduled for October 23. Click here for ticket information.
For sponsorship opportunities, click here.
Hall was one of the best defenders to ever play for the Buffalo women's soccer team. A two-time All-MAC First Team and All-Region selection, she became the first UB women's soccer player to earn All-America honors in the program's Division I era. She was also the 2014 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Hall scored the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute of the 2014 MAC Championship game. She was a two-time Academic All-MAC selection, a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete and in 2014 was named an Academic All-American.
Murphy had a standout career on the diamond for the UB baseball team from 2009-12. The former UB catcher was an All-MAC First Team selection in 2011 and 2012 and was the 2011 MAC Player of the Year. He is the program's career leader in slugging percentage (.588). He also ranks second in career home runs (27), fourth in career doubles (47) and sixth in career RBIs (120). He was selected in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies and enjoyed a nine-year major league career with the Rockies, Mariners and Giants.
Nappo starred in the defensive backfield for the UB football team from1983-86. HIs best season was in 1986 when he had a school-record 13 interceptions. He was named a Division III All-American that year. His 13 interceptions rank third in NCAA Division III history for a single season. He finished his career with a school-record 19 interceptions and also holds the program record for career turnovers captured with 23. He is one of only six players in program history to record three interceptions in a single game when he had three picks against Frostburg State in 1986.
Powers was one of Buffalo's best distance swimmers from 2013 through 2016. She was an 11-time MAC Champion, winning both the 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle for three consecutive seasons. She also won the 200 freestyle once and 800 freestyle relay four times. In addition, Powers won the silver and bronze medal twice at the MAC Championships. She was a four-time All-MAC First Team selection. Powers is the school record holder in the 1,000 freestyle (9:54.07) and 1,650 freestyle (16:21.10). Out of the pool, Powers was twice named a CSCAA Scholar All-American.
Shannon (2007-10) is the top tackler to ever play for the UB football team. His 461 career tackles are the most in program history. He also holds the school record for career solo tackles with 258. His 10 interceptions rank in the top 10 in program history. The UB safety was a four-time All-MAC First Team selection. He is just one of four players in the history of the Mid-American Conference to be named to the first team all four years. His 20 tackles against Army in 2008 were the second most in program history for a single game.
Svoboda was a libero on the UB volleyball team from 2010-13. She holds the school record for career digs with 1,928. Along with being an All-MAC First Team selection in 2013, she became the first player in program history to be named MAC Defensive Player of the Year. She set a school record with 634 digs in 2013. In addition, she set a program record with 43 digs in a match against Toledo. A two-year team captain, Svoboda was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week ten times in her career, second most in program history.
The induction ceremony for the 2026 UB Athletics Hall of Fame Class is scheduled for October 23. Click here for ticket information.
For sponsorship opportunities, click here.
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