Simon Fraser University is again hardware heavy.
Volleyball libero Alison McKay was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight year, and was joined by teammates Tamara Nipp, Tessa May and Emma Jennings, who received all-conference team recognition.
The Clan senior helped lead SFU to its first-ever NCAA Division 2 championship post-season berth. McKay led the GNAC during the regular season and is fourth in Div. 2 with an average of 6.60 digs per set. She is also a member of Canada’s senior national team.
“It’s nice to be recognized for all the work I have put into this season, but it means a lot more to me that we qualified for playoffs,” said McKay, a Port Moody native. “This has been our goal since my first year, and to have improved so much and make it this year means a lot. Our focus will now be staying healthy and doing all that we can to prepare for our first opponent.”
Simon Fraser will make its first-ever appearance at the NCAA tournament on Dec. 1 against the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders, who they beat twice in 2016.
“Alison is having another stellar season and it is nice to see her recognized once again for her efforts,” said SFU head coach Gina Schmidt. “She is one of the hardest workers I know and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
Joining McKay from SFU on the All-Conference first team is setter Tamara Nipp and middle blocker Tessa May. Nipp was the GNAC regular season leader and is tied for 12th in Div. 2 with an 11.56 assists per set average. She also tied McKay for the team lead in aces with 27.
May, a GNAC honourable mention in 2015, averaged 2.77 kills and 1.15 blocks per set this year to be chosen by conference coaches to the first team. She leads SFU with a .277 hitting percentage.
Outside hitter Emma Jennings rounds out SFU’s all-conference selections as an Honourable Mention. She finished the regular season with a team-high 3.06 kills per set and had a season-high 20 kills in the first game of 2016 against UC San Diego.
