Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) girls Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Dec. 30-Jan. 4.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Leilani Cortez, James Lick soccer: The senior midfielder scored two goals and assisted on the other as James Lick beat Andrew Hill 3-2.
Layla Dixon, Carondelet basketball: Dixon scored 13 points as Carondelet kept it close for a while against elite SoCal power Etiwanda in a 79-56 loss at the SI20 showcase in Concord.
Deoujenea Clay, Clayton Valley basketball: Clay led Clayton Valley with 21 points as the Ugly Eagles lost 61-52 to Piedmont in OT.
Natasha Hill, Valley Christian soccer: The senior goalkeeper stopped six shots to secure a 0-0 draw against Branham on Friday.
Andrea Martin, Piedmont basketball: Martin, a freshman, scored 23 points to lead the Highlanders to a 61-52 overtime victory over Clayton Valley at the SI20 showcase.
Lilly Murphy, Branham soccer: The junior goalkeeper secured six saves to earn Branham a 0-0 tie against Valley Christian.
Alyssa Rudd, San Ramon Valley basketball: Rudd led SRV to a big win over Oakland Tech, scoring 20 points – 18 in the second half – and adding 11 rebounds.
Terri’A Russell, Oakland Tech basketball: Russell scored 17 points and had 15 rebounds as Oakland Tech lost a 53-48 nail-biter to SRV.
Nicole Steiner, Los Gatos basketball: Steiner recorded the first triple-double in Los Gatos basketball program history, scoring 16 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and dishing 10 assists as the Wildcats beat Milpitas 61-29 to open league play.
McKenna Woliczko, Mitty basketball: Woliczko scored 21 points and also contributed five rebounds, two blocks and multiple steals in a 79-54 win over St. Joseph’s-Santa Maria.
