Eastern Connecticut State University

 As a four-year starter in two sports, Andrea E. Costa earned distinction as the only male or female in the history of the intercollegiate athletic program to garner All-America honors in two sports. At 5-foot-4 inches, Costa possessed speed, quickness and remarkable leaping ability. The Fall River, Mass. native was a catalyst in the most celebrated era in Eastern women’s athletic history, serving as a four-year starter in both volleyball and softball. As a junior setter in volleyball, Costa became the program’s first All-America selection when she was named to the AVCA Division III second team; as a senior outfielder in softball, she was a first-team NFCA All-America pick. With Costa participating in all possible 364 games in her career, the Eastern volleyball and softball teams never missed an NCAA Division III tournament. In that span, the softball teams won 79.2 percent of their games, four regional championships and two national titles (1985-86). In both sports, Costa was named All-New England in each of her final two seasons, earning New England Player-of-the-Year accolades as a senior in volleyball. In her All-America volleyball season, Costa’s play helped the Warriors attain their highest national ranking ever when they were rated third following a 17-1 start. Three times in national softball tournament play, Costa was also selected to the all-tournament team. Today, her career softball records for games played, runs and hit-by-pitch remain intact.