Tag: awards

Glen-Carter named to 1st Team, Zakutney to All-Rookie Team

CALGARY, AB – Acadia’s Lucy Glen-Carter was named as a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian, while teammate Sydney Zakutney was named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team. Glen-Carter is the first Axewomen to be named as a first team All-Canadian

Dalhousie setter Courtney Baker was honoured with the Mary Lyons Award as U SPORTS women’s volleyball Player of the Year Thursday night, as the national award winners were celebrated at the annual All-Canadian gala.

Past Award Winners

UBC Okanagan outside hitter Amaya Perry captured the Mark Tennant Award as Rookie of the Year, while McGill outside hitter Rowan Fletcher earned the Marilyn Pomfret Award for Student-Athlete Community Service for her outstanding contribution both on and off the court. Finally, MacEwan bench boss Ken Briggs took home the Thérèse Quigley Award as Fox 40 Coach of the Year.

Hosted for the fifth time by the Calgary Dinos, first serve on the 2020 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship flies on Friday and the event concludes Sunday with the gold medal game at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. All games be played at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium

Livestreaming is available via subscription on USPORTS.LIVE.

MARY LYONS AWARD (Player of the Year): Courtney Baker, Dalhousie

A fifth-year kinesiology student from Bridgewater, N.S., Baker finished second in the conference in both assists (607) and assists per set (8.93).

The setter appeared in 21 matches for the Tigers this season, helping the team finish first in the AUS standings with a 19-1 record.

In addition to being selected as U SPORTS MVP, Baker earned a spot on the First Team All-Canadian squad for the third consecutive year.

She is the second player from the Dalhousie Tigers to be named the nation’s most valuable player, after Karin Maessen took home the honour in 1981-82.

Nominees

CW: Kory White, Alberta

OUA: Cailin Wark, Ryerson

RSEQ: Maud Chapleau, Laval

AUS: Courtney Baker, Dalhousie(Winner)

MARK TENNANT AWARD (Rookie of the Year): Amaya Perry, UBC Okanagan

Amaya Perry is the first UBC Okanagan Heat volleyball player to earn the nation’s top honour for a first-year player.

The Chin, Alta., native finished inside the top 25 in Canada West in several key statistical categories this season, including second in service aces with 59. Other top 25 stats included: kills per set (2.36), total attacks (679), and points per set (3.2).

Starting all 24 of UBCO’s games this season, Perry was the best of an excellent Heat rookie group that also included fellow CW All-Rookie team member Abigail Dueck.

“We counted on Amaya to play like a veteran all season, and she did not disappoint. Fearless from the service line, she used her devastating float serve as a weapon to keep teams off balance every single time she stepped back to the end line,” said UBC Okanagan head coach Steve Manuel. “A joy to coach and a fierce competitor, our coaching staff is excited to continue to work with her in the coming years and we couldn’t be happier for her win of this much deserved award.”

Nominees

CW: Amaya Perry, UBC Okanagan (Winner)

OUA: Jasmine Rivest, Ryerson

RSEQ: Marianne Boucher, Sherbrooke

AUS: Sydney Zakutney, Acadia

THÉRÈSE QUIGLEY AWARD (Student-Athlete Community Service): Rowan Fletcher, McGill

A 23-year-old political science senior from Montreal West and Martlets team captain, Fletcher is a six-foot right-side hitter and was the team’s only member to play in all 80 sets, for the second straight year. A key stalwart on defence, she registered a team-leading 2.81 digs per set – with a season-high of 26 digs in one game — and tallied 29.5 blocks. Offensively, she produced 72 kills, 13 aces and 34 assists.

Off the court, aside from serving as a team marketing rep and spearheading team fundraising projects, she served as VP of community outreach on the McGill Varsity Council. Elected as the athletics representative on the Students Society of McGill University, she also chaired the Student Athletics Council. She has been a volunteer in numerous projects, including an annual varsity Christmas gift-wrapping event in support of the Sun Youth organization for under-privileged families and the team’s annual “Pink Game” in support of breast cancer awareness. She has served with the Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Foundation for children, the McGill Community Engagement committee, the McGill Athletics & Recreation Advisory Board, the varsity athletics gala nomination committee and the McGill Sports Hall of Fame Committee.

This summer, Fletcher has signed up for an internship with Artistri Sud, a non-profit organization aimed at empowering women artisans in developing countries to fight poverty through an entrepreneurial program. Among their projects is collaboration with women in Montreal, Vietnam and Ecuador to prepare teaching programs for impoverished female artisans. Since 2013, she has helped organize an annual “Shave to Raise” event for the Andy Collins Kids Foundation, benefitting the Montreal Children’s Hospital. She sits on the city of Montreal West’s planning advisory committee and volunteers for their annual “Santa’s Breakfast”. She also served at the Royal Vale elementary school’s “Jump Rope for Heart” fitness program.

“Rowan is a true role model, both on and off the court,” said McGill head coach Rachèle Béliveau. “A hard and disciplined worker, she puts in a consistent effort every day. As team captain, she brings a positive attitude and leads by example. Fluently bilingual, she makes her teammates feel comfortable and has developed strong relationships with everyone. She has an impressive ability to multi-task and manage to excel in all areas, whether it be team-related or for the community.”

Fletcher is the second McGill player to earn the award after former Martlet Myriam Robitaille in 2017.

Nominees

CW: Kendra Finch, Thompson Rivers

OUA: Sophia Currier, Toronto

RSEQ: Rowan Fletcher, McGill (Winner)

AUS: Margaret Henley, Memorial

MARILYN POMFRET AWARD (Fox 40 Coach of the Year): Ken Briggs, MacEwan

Briggs guided the Griffins to their best Canada West finish ever – a fourth-place finish during the regular season with a record of 17-7 – earning MacEwan its first playoff appearance since joining U SPORTS volleyball for the 2014-15 season

The Griffins have been trending upwards under Briggs the last several seasons, going from four wins in 2017-18, to 12 a year ago when they narrowly missed out on the postseason.

“I think it’s a tremendous honour for the institution and a testament to all the hard work of the student-athletes and coaching staff. We’re really proud of their accomplishments and Ken’s ability to motivate those young women to higher levels,” said MacEwan Athletic Director Ken Schildroth. “He’s got a very experienced roster and he’s put in a lot of time in developing their skills, so it’s nice to see him get rewarded. They came together at the right time. I think that’s a tremendous credit to them as a group of women.”

Briggs is the first Griffins coach to win the award.

Nominees

CW: Ken Briggs, MacEwan (Winner)

OUA: Dustin Reid, Ryerson

RSEQ: Olivier Trudel, Montreal

AUS: Michelle Wood, Acadia

First Team All-Canadians
Pos.	First Name	Last Name	School	Elig.	Hometown	Program
S	Courtney	Baker	Dalhousie	5	Bridgewater, N.S.	Kinesiology
OH	Kory	White	Alberta	4	Edmonton, Alta.	Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
OH	Maud	Chapleau	Laval	4	Quebec City, Que.	Health and Security in the Workplace
RS	Cailin	Wark	Ryerson	4	Georgetown, Ont.	Geographic Analysis
OH	Hilary	Howe	Trinity Western	4	Calgary, Alta.	Business
RS	Alina	Dormann	Toronto	5	Ottawa, Ont.	Health & Disease
OH	Lucy	Glen-Carter	Acadia	3	Toronto, Ont.	Kinesiology
Second Team All-Canadians
OH	Sarah	Glynn	Waterloo	2	Fredericton, N.S.	Kinesiology
OH	Kendra	Finch	Thompson Rivers	5	North Vancouver, B.C.	General Studies
OH	Maude	Babin	Montreal	3	Montreal, Que.	Security and Police Studies
MB	Nyadholi	Thokbuom	Mount Royal	2	Calgary, Alta.	Arts
OH	Laura	Condotta	Brock	4	Etobicoke, Ont.	Sport Management
MB	Victoria	Haworth	Dalhousie	5	Waverley, N.S.	Medical Sciences / Engineering
OH	Emily	Koshinsky	Saskatchewan	4	Jansen, Sask.	Kinesiology
All-Rookie Team
OH	Amaya	Perry	UBC Okanagan	1	Chin, Alta.	Sciences
S	Sydney	Zakutney	Acadia	1	Ottawa, Ont.	Science
MB	Marianne	Boucher	Sherbrooke	1	Chambly, Que.	Physical Activity Sciences Applied to Sports Training
OH	Jasmine	Rivest	Ryerson	1	Montreal, Que.	Arts & Contemporary Studies
OH	Trinity	Solecki	Calgary	1	Cochrane, Alta.	Open Studies
S	Audrey	Trottier	McGill	1	Longueuil, Que.	Kinesiology
MB	Light	Uchechukwu	Manitoba	1	Winnipeg, Man.	Arts

Eric Cederberg is the Director of Communications for Acadia Athletics.

March 28, 2020

McDonald & Veinot named as All-Star, Rice recipient of MacLeod Award
(HALIFAX, N.S.) – Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2019-20 AUS women’s basketball all-stars and major award winners as selected by the conference’s eight head coaches following regular season play.
Acadia’s Haley McDonald was named to the AUS First Team All-Star squad, while teammate Jayda Veinot was named to the Second Team All-Star list. Senior forward Kelsey Rice was named the AUS Tracy MacLeod Award winner.
Fourth-year UPEI Panthers guard Jenna Mae Ellsworth of Charlottetown, P.E.I., was named the AUS most valuable player today as well as the AUS defensive player of the year.
Other AUS major award winners announced were Cape Breton’s Hailey MacLeod of Marion Bridge, N.S., who was named AUS rookie of the year; Acadia’s Kelsey Rice of Beaverbank, N.S., who is the AUS Tracy MacLeod Award Nominee; UNB’s Mikaela Dodig of Bolton, Ont., who received the student-athlete community service award; and Memorial Sea-Hawks head coach Mark English, who was named AUS coach of the year for the first time in his career.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Jenna Mae Ellsworth, UPEI Panthers
Jenna Mae Ellsworth, a five-foot-10 guard with the UPEI Panthers, is the Atlantic University Sport women’s basketball most valuable player.
A fourth-year science student from Charlottetown, P.E.I., Ellsworth led the Panthers with 20.5 point per game this season. She averaged 5.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
UPEI finished in first place in the regular season standings with a 17-3 record and have earned a bye through to the playoff semifinals.
In addition to being named conference MVP, she also earned defensive player of the year honours and a place on the AUS first team all-star squad today.
This marks the first time Ellsworth has been named an AUS first team all-star. She is a three-time AUS second team all-star and also earned rookie of the year nods and a place on the AUS all-rookie team in her inaugural season with the Panthers in 2016-17.
With 1,231 career points scored in four seasons, she now sits tied for second in UPEI school history with a year of eligibility remaining.
Ellsworth is just the third player in UPEI history to earn the conference MVP award and the first since 1998-99 when former Panthers standout Jennifer Johnston won the award. The only other UPEI player to be named AUS MVP was Paula Edwards in 1985-86.
Ellsworth now becomes the AUS nominee for the Nan Copp Award for U SPORTS player of the year.
Only two players from the AUS conference have earned the national honour: Acadia’s Paloma Anderson who took home the award in 2017-18 season, and Saint Mary’s Justine Colley who earned back-to-back Nan Copp awards in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Hailey MacLeod, Cape Breton Capers
Hailey MacLeod of the Cape Breton Capers is the AUS women’s basketball rookie of the year.
A five-foot-11 forward from Marion Bridge, N.S., MacLeod made an immediate impact with the Capers this season, starting in eight games and playing in all 20.
She boasted the second-best field goal percentage in the conference (50.8) and averaged 11.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this season.
In a Feb. 8 game versus Saint Mary’s, MacLeod posted a career-high 31 points and 12 rebounds.
Along with being honoured as the conference’s top rookie, she also earned a place on the AUS all-rookie team.
She is the fifth player from the Capers to earn the honour as the conference’s top rookie. Former Cape Breton winners include Alison Keough (2013-14), Colleen Keane (2012-13), Amanda Fisher (1998-99) and Janice Moseychuck (1994-95).
MacLeod will now represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the Kathy Shields Award for U SPORTS rookie of the year.
Alison Keough is only player from the Capers to ever win the national rookie of the year award.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jenna Mae Ellsworth, UPEI Panthers
Jenna Mae Ellsworth of the UPEI Panthers women’s basketball team is the 2019-20 AUS defensive player of the year in addition to earning the conference’s top honour as AUS MVP.
The fourth-year guard from Charlottetown, P.E.I. led the Panthers with 2.1 steals per game. She also averaged 3.8 defensive rebounds per game.
UPEI boasted the most effective defence in the conference this season, limiting their opponents to an AUS-best 61.9 points per game.
This marks the third consecutive year a player from the Panthers has been named AUS defensive player of the year. Teammate Carolina Del Santo earned the honour the past two seasons.
Ellsworth will now become the Atlantic conference nominee for the U SPORTS defensive player of the year award.
Former Saint Mary’s Huskies standout Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse earned the national honour in 2015-16. She is the only AUS player to ever be honoured with the U SPORTS award.
TRACY MACLEOD AWARD NOMINEE: Kelsey Rice, Acadia Axewomen
Kelsey Rice of the Acadia Axewomen is the 2019-20 nominee for the U SPORTS Tracy MacLeod Award.
This award rewards a women’s basketball player who demonstrates determination, perseverance and unwavering spirit to continue playing the game of basketball.
A fifth-year forward from Beaverbank, N.S., Rice has displayed resilience and passion for the game throughout a five-year AUS career plagued with injuries.
Throughout her first four seasons, she suffered multiple concussions which sidelined her several times. Last season, after missing 12 games in the second half following a concussion, she was medically cleared to return to play in the final regular season game.
At the AUS championship, she played in all three games, helping the Axewomen to their second straight conference title.
Unfortunately, during Acadia’s final game of the U SPORTS championship last season, Rice suffered an ACL tear which she had to undergo surgery to repair in May 2019.
This season, she spent months rehabbing the injury, determined to return to play. She was medically cleared in February and played in Acadia’s final three regular season games.
“Kelsey has shown an extraordinary amount of resilience and a pure love for the game of basketball,” said Acadia head coach Len Harvey. “Kelsey was an AUS all-rookie team member in her first year, and though much of her career potential has been derailed due to her concussions and her ACL injury, she remains as steadfast as ever to return to play the game she loves during her final year of university.”
“Kelsey’s toughness and desire to return to play are inspiring,” said Harvey. “Through it all, she has kept her wonderful, positive attitude and has been relentless in her pursuit of getting back on the court.”
Rice’s win marks the second consecutive year a player from the Axewomen has earned this honour. Lanae Adams won the AUS award for Acadia last season and went on to earn the national honour.
Rice now becomes the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Tracy MacLeod Award. Prior to Adams’ win last season, the only other AUS players to take home the national honour have been Memorial’s Brittany Dalton (2010-11) and Dalhousie’s Janet Wells (1999-00).

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Mikaela Dodig, UNB Reds
Fourth-year UNB guard Mikaela Dodig is the 2019-20 recipient of the AUS student-athlete community service award and the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Sylvia Sweeney award.
A five-foot-six guard from Bolton, Ont., Dodig has achieved success on the basketball court and in the classroom, while also being heavily involved in the community.
She started in all 20 games for the Reds this season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game this season.
Following this season, she now sits second in UNB history with 113 career three-point field goals made.
She was named an AUS second team all-star today for the second consecutive season. She was also named to the AUS all-rookie team in her inaugural season with UNB in 2016-17.
Dodig holds a 4.1 GPA and has maintained academic all-Canadian status since her arrival at UNB.
Her extensive volunteer efforts include founding and co-chairing the first student-led Women in Sport conference to be held at UNB. The conference, which aims to empower, educate and support girls and women as participants and leaders in sport, is set for April 4, 2020.
She serves as vice president of the athlete’s council on campus and initiated the She is Active program with the Reds—a day where young girls join Reds varsity student-athletes to play various sports.
She is a member of SAMHI (Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative) on campus and she is a volunteer at the Fredericton Community Kitchen.
Dodig has also served as a volunteer coach for multiple teams, including the U17 provincial team and the Jr. Reds U13 team.
She is the fourth player from the Reds to take home this honour and the first since 2011-12 when Melissa Foster won the award. Other winners from UNB include Amanda Sharpe (2010-11) and Emily Murphy (2005-06)
Dodig now becomes the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Sylvia Sweeney Award.
AUS student-athletes have taken home the national honour in three of the past four seasons. UPEI’s Kiera Rigby won the award in 2017-18, Acadia’s Katie Ross took home the honours in 2016-17 and Dalhousie’s Ainsley MacIntyre won in 2015-16.

DR. CAROLYN SAVOY AWARD (AUS COACH OF THE YEAR): Mark English, Memorial Sea-Hawks
Memorial Sea-Hawks head coach Mark English has been chosen by his peers as the recipient of the Dr. Carolyn Savoy Memorial Award for AUS coach of the year for the first time in his career.
In his fifth season at the help of the program, Coach English led the Sea-Hawks to a 13-7 regular season record and a third-place finish in the AUS standings.
The Memorial squad averaged 75.7 points per game this season—good for second best in the conference.
Last season, the Sea-Hawks finished as runners up at the AUS championship after entering the playoffs as a No. 5 seed and upsetting the fourth-seeded UNB Reds in the quarterfinals and No. 1-seeded Cape Breton Capers in the semifinals.
English now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the U SPORTS coach of the year award.
Saint Mary’s head coach Scott Munro is the most recent AUS coach to win the national award. He took home the honour in 2012-13.
FIRST AND SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
The Atlantic University Sport first and second team all-stars were also announced today, along with this year’s all-rookie team.
First Team All-Stars
Jenna Mae Ellsworth, UPEI (4th year – Charlottetown, P.E.I.)
Haille Nickerson, Memorial (5th year – Grimsby, Ont.)
Haley McDonald, Acadia (4th year – Port Williams, N.S.)
Reese Baxendale, UPEI (3rd year – Sussex, N.B.)
MacKenzee Ryan, Cape Breton (3rd year – Glace Bay, N.S.)
Second Team All-Stars
Jayda Veinot, Acadia (2nd year – Port Williams, N.S.)
Mikaela Dodig, UNB (4th year – Bolton, Ont.)
Alaina McMillan, Saint Mary’s (2nd year – Brantford, Ont.)
Alana Short, Memorial (2nd year – Barrie, Ont.)
Monique Calliste – Cape Breton (4th year – Toronto, Ont.)
All-Rookie Team:
Hailey MacLeod, Cape Breton (Marion Bridge, N.S.)
Aliyah Fraser, StFX (New Glasgow, N.S.)
Lucina Beaumont, Saint Mary’s (Fredericton, N.B.)
Chloe Wilson, Dalhousie (Dartmouth, N.S.)
Lauren Rainford, UPEI (Toronto, Ont.)
Eric Cederberg is the Director of Communications for Acadia Athletics
March 8, 2020
Soccer Hero: Acadia Hosts Women’s Soccer Championship
It isn’t very often that the CIS Women’s Soccer Championship makes its way to Wolfville. Acadia was host to the event in its second year of existence in 1989, and again in 2000. Now, sixteen years later, Acadia University was honoured with hosting the Championship once again on its 30^th anniversary. The CIS Women’s Soccer Championship took place on November 10-13, which featured eight teams from conferences across Canada, including Acadia’s Axewomen, all gathered in one place to compete to become the national champions. Over the course of four days, eleven games were played to determine which team of the eight would be the last ones standing.
With four recently announced AUS Soccer All-Stars, the Axewomen fought hard and advanced to the consolation semi-finals where victory was taken in a shoot out against the StFX X-Women, securing a spot in the consolation finals where Acadia defeated Saskatchewan in another shoot out. The cheers from the crowd during the four-day event proves just how proud our community is of the Acadia Axewomen soccer team. While the games were certainly a highlight this fall study break, we were also reminded that the greatest honours often happen off the field. The 2016 Championship has recognized Laura Sanders, former Axewomen soccer coach, as Honorary Chairperson.
Sanders came to Acadia in 1984 to coach soccer which had not seen varsity results yet. However, during the 80’s and 90’s, the Axewomen soccer team saw great success winning six conference titles and even claiming the national title in 1990. Due to this high success rate, coach Laura Sanders has been awarded the AUAA (now AUS) coach-of-the-year six times, and holds a CIAU (now U Sports) coach-of-the-year under her belt for the 1990 national championship win. Sanders retired from coaching for Acadia women’s soccer in 2001, but remains a fan favourite in the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame and goes down in history as coaching some of the best University soccer teams in Canada. For the 30^th year anniversary of the CIS Women’s Soccer Championship, there is no one better to be Honorary Chairperson than our own Laura Sanders.
Laura Sanders has consistently proved to Axemen and Axewomen that the glory of a team is more than just how the game is played on the field. She exemplifies dedication, determination, teamwork, and knows exactly how to overcome adversity. These qualities are what makes the history of Acadia athletes so tremendous, no matter the number of wins, losses, or titles. Sanders demonstrates all that Acadia strives to be, and we are proud to congratulate her on being Honorary Chairperson for the 2016 CIS Women’s Soccer Championship.
November 20, 2016

Tag: awards

Glen-Carter named to 1st Team, Zakutney to All-Rookie Team

McDonald & Veinot named as All-Star, Rice recipient of MacLeod Award

Soccer Hero: Acadia Hosts Women’s Soccer Championship