X-Women volleyball receive all-star honors
February 15, 2013
X-Women middle/outside hitter Catherine Thornton was named an AUS first team all-star Thursday night at the awards banquet in conjunction with the Subway AUS championship in Memorial, NF. StFX teammates Aneta Nejmanova (middle) and Maria Dunphy (libero) were named AUS second team all-stars. The X-Women face UNB tonight at 6:00 pm in the AUS quarter-final match. The complete awards release follows.
2012-13 AUS Women's Volleyball Awards and All-Stars Announced
SMU's Ariel Smith named most valuable player
(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2012-13 AUS women's volleyball all-stars and major award winners as selected by the conference's eight head coaches following regular season play.
Fifth-year Saint Mary's right side Ariel Smith was named the Atlantic University Sport most valuable player, Thursday night.
Other AUS major award winners announced tonight during the awards banquet held in St. John’s, Nfld., were Saint Mary’s middle Josie LeDuc of Okotoks, Alta., who was named rookie of the year; SMU's Anastasia Callaghan of Truro, N.S., who was selected as the libero of the year for the second year in a row; Dalhousie's Louise Facca of Aurora, Ont., who received the student-athlete community service award; and Dalhousie head coach Rick Scott, who was named the AUS coach of the year for the first time in his career.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Ariel Smith, Saint Mary's
Ariel Smith, a 5-foot-10 right side with the defending AUS champion and second place Saint Mary’s Huskies, wrapped up her fifth and final year of eligibility by leading the conference in scoring (4.7 points per game) and kills (4.20 per game).
Smith also ranked seventh in AUS digs (3.38 per set) and ninth in hitting percentage (0.226) as the Huskies recovered from an 0-6 start to the regular season to win 10 of their final 12 matches to finish the year with a 10-8 record and earn a first round bye in this year’s Subway AUS women’s volleyball championship.
This is the fourth time in the past five seasons that a player from Saint Mary’s has taken home the conference’s top award. Smith follows in the footsteps former Huskies star Kerri Smit, who was named the league MVP in 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Smith was also named an first team AUS all-star tonight for the second year in a row.
“Ariel is an athlete who plays with heart and dedication every time she steps on the court,” said Saint Mary's head coach Darren Russell. “She is one of the fiercest competitors ever to play volleyball in the AUS.”
Smith will look to become the first AUS player to be named CIS player of the year since 1981-82, when Dalhousie's Karen Maessen won the award.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Josie LeDuc, Saint Mary’s
LeDuc, a native of Okotoks, Alta., becomes the third player from the Saint Mary’s program to claim the AUS rookie of the year award and the first since the 2007-08 when Kerri Smit was recognized as the top rookie. Danielle Shorthall (2003-04) is the only other Huskies player to have won this award.
Josie, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker, started all 18 matches for the Huskies in her freshman season, playing in all 68 sets.
Leduc tallied 1.21 kills per game, 0.63 blocks per game and averaged of 1.9 points per game.
“As a rookie, Josie has come in wanting to learn and contribute right away,” says Saint Mary’s head coach Darren Russell. “She is focused and dedicated both on and off the court and brings intensity, passion and all around hard work to our team. She is an athlete who will continue to make herself and others better and I look forward to what the future holds for Josie and our program.”
No Atlantic conference player has ever won the Mark Tennant Award as the CIS rookie of the year.
LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Anastasia Callaghan, Saint Mary's (Kristen Ryan Memorial Award)
Callaghan is the 2012-13 recipient of the Kristen Ryan Memorial Award as the conference’s top libero, and is also the first player to win this award in back-to-back seasons.
A third-year student-athlete from Truro, N.S., Anastasia led the conference and all CIS women’s volleyball players with an average of 4.70 digs per game this season.
"Anastasia is an athlete who trains hard and treats each practice and game like it is her last. Her hard work has paid off and translated into success at every level she has competed,” said Saint Mary's head coach Darren Russell. “She is one of best all-around athletes that I have ever worked with and is always working to not only make herself better, but her teammates around her."
Callaghan (2011-12), Christena MacRae (2007-08) and Catherine MacFarlane (2003-04) are the only Saint Mary's players to be named the Atlantic conference's top Libero since the award was established in 1999-00.
Earlier this year the award was renamed in honour of former Cape Breton Capers student-athlete Kristen Ryan. Ryan, a native of Port Hastings, N.S., and a five-year member of the CBU women's volleyball team, passed away in October following a motor-vehicle accident outside of Halifax.
No Atlantic conference player has yet been recognized as the CIS libero of the year.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Rick Scott, Dalhousie
Scott, in his fifth year at the helm of the Tigers program, becomes the first ever Dalhousie women’s volleyball head coach to be selected by his peers as the AUS coach of the year.
Dalhousie finished in first place this season with a 16-2 regular season record, with their only losses coming in interlock play to Montreal and Laval.
The Tigers enter this year’s Subway AUS women’s volleyball championship riding a 14-match winning streak and having only lost 10 sets all season. Their last nine matches against conference opponents have all been 3-0 straight set victories.
Scott’s Dalhousie squad has now been ranked in the CIS top ten poll for all 14 weeks this season, including a No. 3 ranking in each of the past three weeks.
As a team, Dalhousie led the conference in scoring (16.3 points per game), service aces (2.74 per set) and hitting percentage (.175). The Tigers also ranked second in AUS kills (11.21 per set) and blocks (2.31 per set).
Prior to assuming the head coaching duties with the Tigers program, Scott, experienced tremendous success in Manitoba coaching women's volleyball at the high school, club and provincial levels.
“In the past five years, Rick Scott has completely rejuvenated the Dalhousie women's volleyball program,” said Karen Moore, Director of Athletics at Dalhousie. “He is a tireless worker and does whatever it takes to ensure excellence not only with our varsity program but also with elite club programs and the provincial team. We are so fortunate that he made the move from Manitoba to work with the Tigers and we look forward to witnessing continued progress for our team and volleyball in the region.”
Scott will represent the AUS as the nominee for CIS coach of the year at the CIS awards banquet in Sherbrooke, Que.
Moncton head coach Monette Boudreau-Carroll is the only AUS coach to ever be named the CIS coach of the year.
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Louise Facca, Dalhousie (Erin Bursey Memorial Award)
Dalhousie fifth-year outside hitter Louise Facca is the 2012-13 recipient of the Erin Bursey Memorial Award, given to the women's volleyball student-athlete who best exhibits outstanding achievements in three (3) areas: volleyball, academics, and community involvement.
Louise has not only enjoyed success on the court this past season, but has also excelled in the classroom and the community.
Facca played in 60 of 61 sets for the Tigers this season, finishing second in AUS scoring (3.8 points per game), second in service aces (0.55 per game) and fourth in kills (3.00 per game).
A starting left side player in each of her four years with the program, Louise has been an AUS all-star in each of her previous three years.
Facca is graduating from the Therapeutic Recreation program this year from the Dalhousie Faculty of Health Professions and School of Health and Human Performance. She was an Academic all-Canadian last year with a GPA of 3.71 and is on pace to receive her second Academic all-Canadian recognition this year.
Her community involvement spans a number of areas.
In addition to volunteering with the Tigers Girls Club volleyball program and as a Session Leader every Sunday at the Social and Cultural Recreational Inclusion Society, Louise also coordinated and led a fundraising effort for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. The Dalhousie Tigers Women's Volleyball Team raised $2,511 for the event and Louise personally raised $845 as this cause is extremely close to her heart with her father having passed away from this cancer in May 2011.
Facca was awarded the Physical Health and Education (PHE) Canada Student Award this past fall, recognizing outstanding undergraduate student leadership in the field of physical and health education. This past summer she worked as an Assistant at L'arche Daybreak, in Richmond Hill where she was responsible for the care of four women with disabilities for 24 hours a day, 5.5 days a week. She lived in a community home with these individuals, participated in community events such as outdoor concerts, information workshops and awareness events.
“Louise has brought an excellent work ethic this year, provided great leadership for the team and has served as a mentor to the first year athletes,” said Dalhousie head coach Rick Scott. “She is a tremendous role model for other athletes and is well respected by all of her teammates, coaches and people that know her.”
This award was recently renamed in honour of former Memorial Sea-Hawks student-athlete Erin Bursey. Bursey, a two-time CIS Academic all-Canadian and a captain with Sea-Hawks women's volleyball team, passed away earlier this year following a pedestrian vehicle accident in St. John's, Nfld.
Louise will be the AUS nominee for the CIS Therese Quigley Award. Acadia's Lori-Beth MacEwen (2002-03 and 2003-04) and Mount Allison's Megan Toews (2001-02) are the only Atlantic conference recipients of the CIS award.
FIRST AND SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
The Atlantic University Sport first and second team all-stars were also announced Thursday evening, along with this year's all-rookie team.
First Team All-Stars:
Ariel Smith, Saint Mary’s (5th year – Yarmouth, N.S.)
Maggie Li, Dalhousie (2nd year – Beijing, China)
Catherine Thornton, StFX (5th year – Kobe, Japan)
Louise Facca, Dalhousie (5th year – Aurora, Ont.)
Rebecca Glancy, UNB (4th year – Toronto, Ont.)
Angela Peddle, Memorial (4th year – St. John’s, Nfld.)
Libero - Anastasia Callaghan, Saint Mary’s (3rd year – Truro, N.S.)
Second Team All-Stars:
Kristen Bolduc, Acadia (4th year – Sudbury, Ont.)
Véronique Carroll, Moncton (4th year – Moncton, N.B.)
Vanja Mitrovic, UNB (2nd year – Fredericton, N.B.)
Aneta Nejmanova, StFX (1st year - Prague, Czech Republic)
Jane Pegg, Saint Mary’s (4th year – Weyburn, Sask.)
Hilary Sears, Dalhousie (4th year – Bible Hill, N.S.)
Libero - Maria Dunphy, StFX (4th year – Antigonish, N.S.)
All-Rookie Team:
Josie LeDuc, Saint Mary’s (Okotoks, Alta.)
Marissa Chin, Acadia (Markham, Ont.)
Olivia Henderson, Saint Mary’s (Whitby, Ont.)
Rachelle Lemoine, Moncton (Winnipeg, Man.)
Paige Nelmes, UNB (Poole, U.K.)
Jill Snow, Memorial (Bishop’s Falls, Nfld.)
The 2013 Subway Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball championship gets under way this weekend at Memorial University.
Live webcasts of all five matches of the championship will be available at www.AUStv.ca.
The championship schedule is as follows:
Friday, February 15th
Quarter-final #1: UNB (4th) vs. StFX (5th), 6:00pm
Quarter-final #2: Moncton (3rd) vs. Memorial (6th), 8:00pm
Saturday, February 16th
Semifinal #1: Dalhousie (1st) vs. Winner of Quarter-final #1, 4:30pm
Semifinal #2: Saint Mary’s (2nd) vs. Winner of Quarter-final #2, 6:30pm
Sunday, February 17th
Championship Game: Semifinal Winners, 2:00pm
-30-
2012-13 AUS Women's Volleyball Awards and All-Stars Announced
SMU's Ariel Smith named most valuable player
(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2012-13 AUS women's volleyball all-stars and major award winners as selected by the conference's eight head coaches following regular season play.
Fifth-year Saint Mary's right side Ariel Smith was named the Atlantic University Sport most valuable player, Thursday night.
Other AUS major award winners announced tonight during the awards banquet held in St. John’s, Nfld., were Saint Mary’s middle Josie LeDuc of Okotoks, Alta., who was named rookie of the year; SMU's Anastasia Callaghan of Truro, N.S., who was selected as the libero of the year for the second year in a row; Dalhousie's Louise Facca of Aurora, Ont., who received the student-athlete community service award; and Dalhousie head coach Rick Scott, who was named the AUS coach of the year for the first time in his career.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Ariel Smith, Saint Mary's
Ariel Smith, a 5-foot-10 right side with the defending AUS champion and second place Saint Mary’s Huskies, wrapped up her fifth and final year of eligibility by leading the conference in scoring (4.7 points per game) and kills (4.20 per game).
Smith also ranked seventh in AUS digs (3.38 per set) and ninth in hitting percentage (0.226) as the Huskies recovered from an 0-6 start to the regular season to win 10 of their final 12 matches to finish the year with a 10-8 record and earn a first round bye in this year’s Subway AUS women’s volleyball championship.
This is the fourth time in the past five seasons that a player from Saint Mary’s has taken home the conference’s top award. Smith follows in the footsteps former Huskies star Kerri Smit, who was named the league MVP in 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Smith was also named an first team AUS all-star tonight for the second year in a row.
“Ariel is an athlete who plays with heart and dedication every time she steps on the court,” said Saint Mary's head coach Darren Russell. “She is one of the fiercest competitors ever to play volleyball in the AUS.”
Smith will look to become the first AUS player to be named CIS player of the year since 1981-82, when Dalhousie's Karen Maessen won the award.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Josie LeDuc, Saint Mary’s
LeDuc, a native of Okotoks, Alta., becomes the third player from the Saint Mary’s program to claim the AUS rookie of the year award and the first since the 2007-08 when Kerri Smit was recognized as the top rookie. Danielle Shorthall (2003-04) is the only other Huskies player to have won this award.
Josie, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker, started all 18 matches for the Huskies in her freshman season, playing in all 68 sets.
Leduc tallied 1.21 kills per game, 0.63 blocks per game and averaged of 1.9 points per game.
“As a rookie, Josie has come in wanting to learn and contribute right away,” says Saint Mary’s head coach Darren Russell. “She is focused and dedicated both on and off the court and brings intensity, passion and all around hard work to our team. She is an athlete who will continue to make herself and others better and I look forward to what the future holds for Josie and our program.”
No Atlantic conference player has ever won the Mark Tennant Award as the CIS rookie of the year.
LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Anastasia Callaghan, Saint Mary's (Kristen Ryan Memorial Award)
Callaghan is the 2012-13 recipient of the Kristen Ryan Memorial Award as the conference’s top libero, and is also the first player to win this award in back-to-back seasons.
A third-year student-athlete from Truro, N.S., Anastasia led the conference and all CIS women’s volleyball players with an average of 4.70 digs per game this season.
"Anastasia is an athlete who trains hard and treats each practice and game like it is her last. Her hard work has paid off and translated into success at every level she has competed,” said Saint Mary's head coach Darren Russell. “She is one of best all-around athletes that I have ever worked with and is always working to not only make herself better, but her teammates around her."
Callaghan (2011-12), Christena MacRae (2007-08) and Catherine MacFarlane (2003-04) are the only Saint Mary's players to be named the Atlantic conference's top Libero since the award was established in 1999-00.
Earlier this year the award was renamed in honour of former Cape Breton Capers student-athlete Kristen Ryan. Ryan, a native of Port Hastings, N.S., and a five-year member of the CBU women's volleyball team, passed away in October following a motor-vehicle accident outside of Halifax.
No Atlantic conference player has yet been recognized as the CIS libero of the year.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Rick Scott, Dalhousie
Scott, in his fifth year at the helm of the Tigers program, becomes the first ever Dalhousie women’s volleyball head coach to be selected by his peers as the AUS coach of the year.
Dalhousie finished in first place this season with a 16-2 regular season record, with their only losses coming in interlock play to Montreal and Laval.
The Tigers enter this year’s Subway AUS women’s volleyball championship riding a 14-match winning streak and having only lost 10 sets all season. Their last nine matches against conference opponents have all been 3-0 straight set victories.
Scott’s Dalhousie squad has now been ranked in the CIS top ten poll for all 14 weeks this season, including a No. 3 ranking in each of the past three weeks.
As a team, Dalhousie led the conference in scoring (16.3 points per game), service aces (2.74 per set) and hitting percentage (.175). The Tigers also ranked second in AUS kills (11.21 per set) and blocks (2.31 per set).
Prior to assuming the head coaching duties with the Tigers program, Scott, experienced tremendous success in Manitoba coaching women's volleyball at the high school, club and provincial levels.
“In the past five years, Rick Scott has completely rejuvenated the Dalhousie women's volleyball program,” said Karen Moore, Director of Athletics at Dalhousie. “He is a tireless worker and does whatever it takes to ensure excellence not only with our varsity program but also with elite club programs and the provincial team. We are so fortunate that he made the move from Manitoba to work with the Tigers and we look forward to witnessing continued progress for our team and volleyball in the region.”
Scott will represent the AUS as the nominee for CIS coach of the year at the CIS awards banquet in Sherbrooke, Que.
Moncton head coach Monette Boudreau-Carroll is the only AUS coach to ever be named the CIS coach of the year.
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Louise Facca, Dalhousie (Erin Bursey Memorial Award)
Dalhousie fifth-year outside hitter Louise Facca is the 2012-13 recipient of the Erin Bursey Memorial Award, given to the women's volleyball student-athlete who best exhibits outstanding achievements in three (3) areas: volleyball, academics, and community involvement.
Louise has not only enjoyed success on the court this past season, but has also excelled in the classroom and the community.
Facca played in 60 of 61 sets for the Tigers this season, finishing second in AUS scoring (3.8 points per game), second in service aces (0.55 per game) and fourth in kills (3.00 per game).
A starting left side player in each of her four years with the program, Louise has been an AUS all-star in each of her previous three years.
Facca is graduating from the Therapeutic Recreation program this year from the Dalhousie Faculty of Health Professions and School of Health and Human Performance. She was an Academic all-Canadian last year with a GPA of 3.71 and is on pace to receive her second Academic all-Canadian recognition this year.
Her community involvement spans a number of areas.
In addition to volunteering with the Tigers Girls Club volleyball program and as a Session Leader every Sunday at the Social and Cultural Recreational Inclusion Society, Louise also coordinated and led a fundraising effort for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. The Dalhousie Tigers Women's Volleyball Team raised $2,511 for the event and Louise personally raised $845 as this cause is extremely close to her heart with her father having passed away from this cancer in May 2011.
Facca was awarded the Physical Health and Education (PHE) Canada Student Award this past fall, recognizing outstanding undergraduate student leadership in the field of physical and health education. This past summer she worked as an Assistant at L'arche Daybreak, in Richmond Hill where she was responsible for the care of four women with disabilities for 24 hours a day, 5.5 days a week. She lived in a community home with these individuals, participated in community events such as outdoor concerts, information workshops and awareness events.
“Louise has brought an excellent work ethic this year, provided great leadership for the team and has served as a mentor to the first year athletes,” said Dalhousie head coach Rick Scott. “She is a tremendous role model for other athletes and is well respected by all of her teammates, coaches and people that know her.”
This award was recently renamed in honour of former Memorial Sea-Hawks student-athlete Erin Bursey. Bursey, a two-time CIS Academic all-Canadian and a captain with Sea-Hawks women's volleyball team, passed away earlier this year following a pedestrian vehicle accident in St. John's, Nfld.
Louise will be the AUS nominee for the CIS Therese Quigley Award. Acadia's Lori-Beth MacEwen (2002-03 and 2003-04) and Mount Allison's Megan Toews (2001-02) are the only Atlantic conference recipients of the CIS award.
FIRST AND SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
The Atlantic University Sport first and second team all-stars were also announced Thursday evening, along with this year's all-rookie team.
First Team All-Stars:
Ariel Smith, Saint Mary’s (5th year – Yarmouth, N.S.)
Maggie Li, Dalhousie (2nd year – Beijing, China)
Catherine Thornton, StFX (5th year – Kobe, Japan)
Louise Facca, Dalhousie (5th year – Aurora, Ont.)
Rebecca Glancy, UNB (4th year – Toronto, Ont.)
Angela Peddle, Memorial (4th year – St. John’s, Nfld.)
Libero - Anastasia Callaghan, Saint Mary’s (3rd year – Truro, N.S.)
Second Team All-Stars:
Kristen Bolduc, Acadia (4th year – Sudbury, Ont.)
Véronique Carroll, Moncton (4th year – Moncton, N.B.)
Vanja Mitrovic, UNB (2nd year – Fredericton, N.B.)
Aneta Nejmanova, StFX (1st year - Prague, Czech Republic)
Jane Pegg, Saint Mary’s (4th year – Weyburn, Sask.)
Hilary Sears, Dalhousie (4th year – Bible Hill, N.S.)
Libero - Maria Dunphy, StFX (4th year – Antigonish, N.S.)
All-Rookie Team:
Josie LeDuc, Saint Mary’s (Okotoks, Alta.)
Marissa Chin, Acadia (Markham, Ont.)
Olivia Henderson, Saint Mary’s (Whitby, Ont.)
Rachelle Lemoine, Moncton (Winnipeg, Man.)
Paige Nelmes, UNB (Poole, U.K.)
Jill Snow, Memorial (Bishop’s Falls, Nfld.)
The 2013 Subway Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball championship gets under way this weekend at Memorial University.
Live webcasts of all five matches of the championship will be available at www.AUStv.ca.
The championship schedule is as follows:
Friday, February 15th
Quarter-final #1: UNB (4th) vs. StFX (5th), 6:00pm
Quarter-final #2: Moncton (3rd) vs. Memorial (6th), 8:00pm
Saturday, February 16th
Semifinal #1: Dalhousie (1st) vs. Winner of Quarter-final #1, 4:30pm
Semifinal #2: Saint Mary’s (2nd) vs. Winner of Quarter-final #2, 6:30pm
Sunday, February 17th
Championship Game: Semifinal Winners, 2:00pm
-30-