Wesmen Athletics
Nikolic, Scott , Sears Receive CIS Honours
Women's Volleyball Members Ozana Nikolic, Lauren Sears And Head Coach Diane Scott All Received CIS Women's Volleyball Awards Earlier This Evening In Hamilton..
The University of Winnipeg Wesmen along with the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Association are pleased to announce that three members of the women’s volleyball team have received CIS Women’s Volleyball awards. Ozana Nikolic has been named the Rookie of the Year, head coach Diane Scott was named the Coach of the Year and Lauren Sears was named a First Team All-Canadian. The announcements were made at the CIS Women’s Volleyball Championship banquet held this evening in Hamilton, Ontario.
Ozana Nikolic (Mark Tennant Award – CIS Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Year)
The 18-year-old biology student was nothing short of sensational in her university debut. The five-foot-11 left side 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). She also excelled on defence averaging 2.88 digs per set, good for second place on her team and ninth in the conference. She hit double digits in kills in 15 of 20 league matches, including a season-high 22 on Nov. 25 against Thompson Rivers. Her remarkable play helped Winnipeg improve from a 6-12 record a year ago to a 14-6 mark this season, and earned her a spot on Canada West’s second all-star team.
Nikolic is a product of U of W Collegiate, which she captained to a provincial AAA high school title in 2010-11. She was chosen league MVP and was named to the Provincial Graduation Team and the All-Manitoba Team.
“Outstanding! This is a wonderful achievement for Ozana, she totally has earned this honour. She played a significant role in our team success this year. Individually this is just the beginning for her, she has so much more upside, we are very proud of her”, said Wesmen head coach Diane Scott.
Nikolic is the second Winnipeg player in three years, and the fourth in program history, to be named CIS rookie of the year. Sonia Rossy (2010), Sandy Newsham (1992) and Tara Patrick (1991) previously received the honour for the Wesmen.
Diane Scott (Marilyn Pomfret Award – CIS Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year)In her 17th season at the helm, Scott guided the Wesmen to a 14-6 record and a third-place finish in the Canada West standings, one year after the team missed the playoffs with a 6-12 mark. The much-improved Wesmen were ranked in the national Top 10 the entire season, reaching No. 2 for one week in January.
Scott had previously been named Great Plains conference coach of the year in 1995-96 and led the Wesmen to a silver-medal finish at the 2003 CIS championship. Inducted into the Manitoba Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2008, she won three national titles with Winnipeg as a player including in 1992-93, when she was voted CIS player of the year and CIS championship MVP, and went on to claim the BLG Award as CIS female athlete of the year.
“I am very pleased that Diane has won the CIS coach of the year award,” said Winnipeg athletic director Doran Reid. “She has instilled a positive attitude in this group of young women. I believe it is her mentoring and coaching abilities that have resulted in the dramatic turn around of the program. She deserves all of the accolades that come her way.”
Scott became the third Winnipeg sideline boss to be named CIS coach of the year in women’s volleyball. Current UBC coach Doug Reimer was twice recognized for his work with the Wesmen (1993, 1994), while Mike Burchuk received the award four times in the 1980s.
Lauren Sears (First Team All-Canadian)Fifth year middle and team captain played a vital role in leading the Wesmen to a 14-6 regular season record this past season. She 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. During the regular season she set a Canada West Women’s Volleyball single season record for most service aces in a season with 41, breaking the old mark of 37. Sears was named the Canada West Female Athlete of the Week for the period ending January 15, 2012. She was also honoured as the University of Winnipeg’s Female Athlete of the month in November 2011 and February 2012.
"Lauren's effort has been rewarded. Her commitment sacrifice, trust and belief in our program have come full circle this year. She has had an outstanding career with the Wesmen, her 5th year being her strongest. So pleased for her to be acknowledged as a 1st Team All-Canadian”, stated Scott.
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Sheldon Appelle
Sports Information Coordinator
University of Winnipeg
