Two University of Winnipeg Wesmen women’s volleyball players and their coach have been honoured with CIS awards at the All-Canadian Gala in Hamilton, Ontario.
Wesmen left side Ozana Nikolic captured the Mark Tennant Award as rookie of the year, while fifth-year middle and team captain Lauren Sears was named First Team All-Canadian. Head coach Diane Scott received the Marilyn Pomfret Award, presented by Coaches of Canada.
Nikolic is the second Winnipeg player in three years — and the fourth in program history — to be named CIS rookie of the year. The 18-year-old biology student cracked the starting lineup from day one and went on to place third in Canada West in both kills per set (3.26) and total kills (238), while finishing sixth in points per set (3.6).
Sears led the team in service aces (41), blocks (72), points (320.5) and finished second in kills with 225. She finished in the top 10 in several Canada West statistical categories including 1st in service aces and points, 5th in number of kills and blocks and 8th in hitting percentage.
Scott became the third Wesmen sideline boss to be named CIS coach of the year in women’s volleyball. The 17th-year veteran led her team to a 14-6 record and a third-place finish in the Canada West standings, one year after the team missed the playoffs for the fifth straight campaign with a 6-12 mark.
Across town, University of Manitoba Bison women’s volleyball player Christina Souza was selected to the 2011-12 CIS All-Rookie Team at the setter position.
