SHERBROOKE, Que. (CIS) – Shanice Marcelle, a fifth-year outside hitter from the reigning five-time national champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, was named CIS player of the year in women's volleyball, Wednesday evening.
A native of Victoria, Marcelle claimed the Mary Lyons Award for the second time in three years and kept the trophy in the UBC family for the fourth consecutive season. Former teammates Kyla Richey and Liz Cordonier won the award in 2012 and 2010, respectively.
Other major award winners announced during the All-Canadian Banquet held at the Delta Hotel in Sherbrooke, Que., were outside hitter Raïssa Nasser from the hometown Vert & Or, who captured the Mark Tennant Award as CIS rookie of the year; Saint Mary's Anastasia Callaghan, who earned top-libero honours; Meagan Nederveen from McMaster, who merited the Thérèse Quigley Award for her excellence in volleyball, academics and community service; as well as UBC Okanagan head coach Steve Manuel, who received the Marilyn Pomfret Award.
The 2013 CIS championship kicks off Thursday at Université de Sherbrooke and culminates Saturday at 4 p.m. with the gold-medal final. All 11 games from the competition will be webcast live on www.CIS-SIC.tv.
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wvball/index
MARY LYONS AWARD (player of the year): Shanice Marcelle, UBC
Marcelle is the first UBC player, and the ninth CIS standout overall, to claim two Mary Lyons Awards.
The 6-foot senior is about to wrap up one of the most decorated careers in CIS women's volleyball history. A member of the CIS all-rookie team in 2008-09, she has now been voted to the first all-Canadian squad each of the past three seasons. She helped the Thunderbirds capture the national title in each of her first four campaigns with the team and garnered all-tournament status on each occasion, including in 2011, when she was named championship MVP. The kinesiology student was also the Canada West nominee for the 2011 BLG Award as CIS female athlete of the year.
This season, Marcelle once again excelled in all areas, finishing fourth in Canada West in kills (3.33) and points (4.16) per set, sixth in hitting percentage (.302) and seventh in service aces (0.46), while also contributing defensively with 166 digs, good for second on the team. Thanks in large part to her stellar play, UBC took first place in the conference with a 21-1 record, including a 20-game winning streak to conclude league play.
A long-time member of Canada's national team programs, both indoor and beach, Marcelle represented Canada at the 2011 Summer Universiade in China.
“This award is well deserved for Shanice. She's had a fantastic season and an outstanding career,” said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. “Shanice is an incredible all-around player as she does every aspect of the game so well. Her attacking is often what gets the wow factor but what is impressive is how skilled she is in all areas both front and back court. She has been a pleasure to coach and I know she will continue to leave a legacy wherever she plays in the future.”
The other finalists for the Mary Lyons Award were Saint Mary's left side Ariel Smith, Sherbrooke middle Roxanne Hasseni and Ottawa left side Karina Krueger Schwanke.
MARK TENNANT AWARD (rookie of the year): Raïssa Nasser, Sherbrooke
A native of Yaoundé, Cameroun, Nasser is the fourth Sherbrooke rookie to merit the Mark Tennant Award. She follows in the footsteps of Marie-Christine Pruneau (2005), Annie Martin (2001) and Anne-Marie Lemieux (1997).
The 18-year-old outside hitter was an immediate contributor in her university debut as she finished fourth in the RSEQ in points per set (3.6) and third in kills per set with a team-high 2.98. She also excelled defensively (1.8 digs/s), at the net (0.53 blocks/s) and at the service line (21 aces). Her performances helped the Vert & Or claim first place in Quebec for the first time in eight years with a 15-5 record.
Nasser, a business administration student who moved to France at the age of six, competed in three Coupe de France finals from 2008 to 2011 before crossing the Atlantic to join the Vert & Or.
“Raïssa has exceptional potential. Despite an injury that bothered her all season long, she offered performances that greatly contributed to our team's success,” said Sherbrooke head coach Denis Fontaine. “There's no doubt in my mind she has the tools to be a dominant player. For her, the best is yet to come.”
Saint Mary's middle Josie LeDuc, Ryerson outside hitter Veronica Livingston and Mount Royal left side Carolyn O'dwyer were also in the running for the Tennant Award.
LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Anastasia Callaghan, Saint Mary's
A two-time recipient at the conference level, Callaghan is the first AUS player to be named CIS libero of the year since the inception of the national award in 2005-06.
The third-year junior from Truro, N.S., was a logical choice for the honour after she led the country in the regular season in both digs per set (4.7) and total digs (315). A first-team AUS all-star, the science student guided the Huskies (10-8) to a second-place finish in the conference standings.
“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.”
The other nominees were Sherbrooke's Andréanne Whittom, Lakehead's Breanne Hilhorst and Trinity Western's Kristen Moncks.
MARILYN POMFRET AWARD (coach of the year): Steve Manuel, UBC Okanagan
Manuel became UBC Okanagan's first national award winner since the school joined CIS a year ago.
Competing in only their second season in the ultra-competitive Canada West conference, the Heat surprised many by finishing fourth in league play with a 15-7 record and earning a home playoff date, a remarkable improvement from their 6-14 mark from a year ago. The team made its first-ever appearance in the Top 10 in late November and was eventually ranked nationally in eight of 14 weekly coaches' polls.
Manuel completed his 12th campaign overall at the helm of the Heat. He was a two-time women's volleyball coach of the year in the CCAA and was also named CCAA national coach of the year across all sports on two occasions.
“I am very pleased for Steve, particularly as I am aware of the very high calibre of the other conference coaches of the year,” said Rob Johnson, director of athletics and recreation at UBC's Okanagan campus. “On top of all his other excellent qualities, he is a humble person and I know it means a great deal to him to be recognized by his peers and to be included in a group of nominees he himself holds in such high esteem.”
Dalhousie's Rick Scott, Sherbrooke's Denis Fontaine and Lakehead's Chris Green were also up for coach-of-the-year honours.
THÉRÈSE QUIGLEY AWARD (volleyball, academics & community service): Meagan Nederveen, McMaster
Nederveen, who hails from Dundas, Ont., is the first McMaster recipient of the Thérèse Quigley Award.
The fifth-year libero and team captain started every game for the Marauders in her final season and finished fourth in the OUA and sixth in the country with 261 digs in league play (3.68 per set).
In the classroom, the kinesiology student was named as a Marauder Scholar and CIS Academic All-Canadian in January thanks to an academic average above 9.5 in 2011-12.
In the community, Nederveen plays a leading role within McMaster's Mac Athletes Care project as well as the Mountain Volleyball Club's VolleyTotz initiative. She volunteers with several local hospitals in the field of speech pathology, and travelled to the Dominican Republic a year ago to help build a house as part of the McMaster chapter of the DREAMS program.
“Meagan is the model for today's student-athlete. She is a tremendous leader, both on our team and in the McMaster community,” said Marauders head coach Tim Louks. “Her talents and competitive spirit combine with a tremendous work ethic to make her a very deserving recipient of the Thérèse Quigley Award.”
The other finalists were Dalhousie's Louise Facca, McGill's Geneviève Plante and Alberta's Jaki Ellis.
ALL-CANADIAN TEAMS
Joining Marcelle on the first CIS squad were conference most valuable players Smith (AUS), Hasseni (RSEQ) and Krueger Schwanke (OUA), as well as UBC teammate and outside hitter Lisa Barclay, Alberta setter Jaki Ellis, and Laval middle Sophie Dallaire.
Like Marcelle, Ellis became a three-time all-Canadian thanks to previous selections on the first (2012) and second teams (2011). Hasseni was also a CIS all-star a year ago (second unit).
The second dream team for 2012-13 is made up of Trinity Western middle Alicia Perrin, York outside Brandie Wilkerson, UBC setter Brina Derksen-Bergen, Trinity Western setter Kelci French, Dalhousie middle Maggie Li, Montreal outside Marie-Sophie Nadeau, and Manitoba left side Rachel Cockrell.
It was the third straight selection for Nadeau, who made the first squad last season and the second two years ago. Perrin and Wilkerson are both returnees from the 2012 second unit.
In addition to Nasser, the list of CIS all-rookies includes conference top freshmen LeDuc, Livingston and O'dwyer, as well as McGill outside Ashley Norfleet, UBC Okanagan setter Emily Oxland and Alberta outside Kacey Otto.
2012-2013 CIS WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS
Mary Lyons Award (player of the year): Shanice Marcelle, UBC
Mark Tennant Award (rookie of the year): Raïssa Nasser, Sherbrooke
Libero of the year: Anastasia Callaghan, Saint Mary's
Marilyn Pomfret Award (coach of the year): Steve Manuel, UBC Okanagan
Thérèse Quigley Award (volleyball, academics & community service): Meagan Nederveen, McMaster
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First Team All-Canadian |
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Position |
Athlete |
University |
Year |
Hometown |
Faculty |
|
LS |
Ariel Smith |
Saint Mary's |
5 |
Yarmouth, NS |
Arts |
|
S |
Jaki Ellis |
Alberta |
5 |
Mississauga, ON |
Physical Education & Recreation |
|
LS |
Karina Krueger Schwanke |
Ottawa |
3 |
Blumenau, Brazil |
Communication |
|
OH |
Lisa Barclay |
UBC |
3 |
Brandon, MB |
Kinesiology |
|
M |
Roxanne Hasseni |
Sherbrooke |
2 |
Paris, France |
Political Science |
|
OH |
Shanice Marcelle |
UBC |
5 |
Victoria, BC |
Kinesiology |
|
M |
Sophie Dallaire |
Laval |
3 |
St. Georges-de-Beauce, QC |
Education |
|
Second Team All-Canadian |
|
|
|
|
|
|
M |
Alicia Perrin |
TWU |
3 |
Creston, BC |
General Studie |
|
OH |
Brandie Wilkerson |
York |
3 |
Innisfil, ON |
Communication |
|
S |
Brina Derksen-Bergen |
UBC |
5 |
Abbotsford, BC |
Arts |
|
S |
Kelci French |
TWU |
3 |
Okotoks, AB |
Music |
|
M |
Maggie Li |
Dalhousie |
2 |
Beijing, China |
Commerce |
|
OH |
Marie-Sophie Nadeau |
Montreal |
3 |
St. Aime, QC |
General Studies |
|
LS/RS |
Rachel Cockrell |
Manitoba |
2 |
Winnipeg, MB |
Arts |
|
All-Rookie Team |
|
|
|
|
|
|
OH |
Ashley Norfleet |
McGill |
1 |
Brossard, QC |
Education |
|
LS |
Carolyn O'dwyer |
Mount Royal |
1 |
Calgary, AB |
Science |
|
S |
Emily Oxland |
UBC Okanagan |
1 |
North Vancouver, BC |
Human Kinetics |
|
M |
Josie LeDuc |
Saint Mary's |
1 |
Okotoks, AB |
Science |
|
OH |
Kacey Otto |
Alberta |
1 |
Calgary, AB |
Physical Education & Recreation |
|
OH |
Raissa Nasser |
Sherbrooke |
1 |
Yaounde, Cameroon |
Business Administration |
|
OH |
Veronica Livingston |
Ryerson |
1 |
Kelowna, BC |
Nursing |
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