ROHNERT PARK, Calif- It is with great pleasure that the Sonoma State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announces the 2011 induction class of the SSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Jennifer Clifton, Paula DeCosta (Kayler), Tommy Everidge, Erik Johnson, and Emiria Salzmann will be honored for their athletic excellence and contributions to the history of Sonoma State University athletics.

Jennifer Clifton (Napa/Vintage High School) played for the Sonoma State volleyball team for four seasons, from 1992 to 1995.  A three-time All-Northern California Athletic Conference selection, Clifton ranks sixth in school history service aces (107), second in blocks (347), seventh in digs (936) and fifth in kills (899).  Her all-around effort, helped guide the Seawolves to a conference championship in 1995.

A star in the early years of the department, Paula DeCosta (Kayler) of Oakley, Calif. played four years of volleyball and one year of basketball at Sonoma State, from 1979 to 1983.  Though statistics are hard to come by from her era, DeCosta (Kayler) is still regarded as one of the top setters in the program's history.  Her hard work resulted in the program appearing in their first NCAA Championship Tournament, in 1982.

Tommy Everidge (Sonoma/Sonoma Valley HS) played three years for Sonoma State University before embarking on what continues to be a successful professional baseball career.  The California Collegiate Athletic Association's Freshman of the Year in 2002, Everidge was a three-time all-league pick and a Second Team All-American in 2004.  As a sophomore and junior he led his team to the championship game of the NCAA West Regional and he can still see his name littered throughout the SSU record books as he ranks second in runs scored (158), hits (213), doubles (43), home runs (32), runs batted in (153), and walks (91).  Everidge was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 10th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft and he made his big league debut in 2009, becoming the third player in school history to reach the majors.

One of the most consistent players in men's basketball history, Erik Johnson (Vallejo/Vallejo HS) played four years for Sonoma State, from 1982 to 1986.  Following a freshman season that saw him appear in 26 of 28 team games, Johnson proceeded to lead his team in scoring as a sophomore, junior, and senior.  He was also SSU's leading rebounder as a junior and a senior and his 32 blocks from his junior season are tops in school history for a single season.  More than 25 years since his graduation, Johnson still ranks third in school history in points (1,227), fourth in rebounds (550), and second in blocks (70).

A three-year performer for Sonoma State, Emiria Salzmann (Santa Rosa/Piner HS) tormented defenses around the Northern California Athletic Conference from 1994 to 1996.  A three-time all-conference and two-time all-region selection, Salzmann was named an NSCAA All-American following a senior season that saw her scored 16 goals (second in school history for a single season).  She also holds the No. 3 spot on the single season goals list with 15 as a junior in '95.  Salzmann's career total of 38 goals ranks second in school history and she was a huge part of 1994's league title team and 1995's NCAA semi-finalist squad.

The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 8th, 2011 at the Green Music Center on the Sonoma State University campus. Limited seating is available and tickets will go sale in August, so stay tuned to sonomaseawolves.com. Dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the program will start at approximately 8:00 p.m.