Lakers athletes of the year

Nipissing University athletes were front and centre at the Best Western Saturday, as the institution honoured the best from its varsity sports – as well an extramural team – at the 15th annual awards banquet.

Nipissing President Dr. Dennis Mock praised the athletes for being ambassadors for the school and praised their commitment and dedication as student-athletes.

Mock then announced Seamus Strutt and Stefanie Hancock as the 2007-2008 male and female athletes of the year.

Hancock, a third year 5’9” left side player from Huntsville posted career best accumulating an impressive 3.80 points per game average on 149 kills, 21 aces and 16 blocks. Hancock also reached a career high with 26 points collected in a five set marathon victory against Humber.

Hancock led the team in points per games and digs and was seventh in the OCAA scoring race.

The Lady Lakers posted an 11-3 regular season record and returned to the OCAA gold medal game for the third straight season against rival Humber College. This was a great accomplishment since the defending champions lost eight players from last year’s squad.

Hancock was named a Central-West – West Division first team all-star as well as an OCAA championship all-star and the Lady Lakers Most Valuable Player.

Strutt, a 6’4” fourth year left side player who hails from London, led the Lakers offense with 3.93 points per game on 140 kills, 22 aces, and 15 blocks.

Strutt has been a force for the Lakers for the past four seasons and this year served his way to fourth on the OCAA all time serving aces list.

Strutt was second in scoring in the Central-West division only to CCAA player of the year Jasmin Cull and fifth in the OCAA scoring race.

Submitted to BayToday.ca