Volleyball Hands Out Team Awards
4/1/2010 9:46:59 PM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Orange celebrated its 2009 season by handing out five team awards at its end of the year banquet. Syracuse finished the season with a 21-10 overall record and finished fourth in the BIG EAST while making its third consecutive conference championship appearance.
Senior middle blocker Sarah Morton was named the teams Most Valuable Player for the second season. Morton led the team in kills (373) and service aces (37) while leading the nation in total blocks (182) and solo blocks (52) for the entirety of the season while ranking third in blocks per set (1.56). The Burnt Hills, N.Y. native capped off her spectacular collegiate career by becoming the SU career leading in all four blocking categories.
Senior defensive specialist Shanetha McLaurin garnered the Alexa Tsairis Memorial Award for the Most Valuable Defender. McLaurin led the team with 407 digs and 3.48 digs per set while firing off 21 service aces. Tsairis was one of 35 Syracuse students tragically lost in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988. The award is given in honor of her memory and to Syracuse's leading defensive player.
Senior co-captain Kacie MacTavish was named the Abby Bigelow Award winner for courage. MacTavish ranked third on the team in kills (221) and second in digs (341) despite seeing limited front row action due to a shoulder injury mid-season. The Toronto, Ontario native finished her career ranked on the SU career lists for kills, attacks, attacks per set, digs and digs per set.
The most improved award went to senior Annabelle Pellerin, who tripled her offensive production during her final season with the Orange. Pellerin ranked fourth on the team with 182 kills, averaging 2.12 kills per set while adding 32 assists and 56 blocks.
Sophomore Noemie Lefebvre rounded out the award winners, taking home the Verhulst Sportsmanship Award. Lefebvre was an all-around performer for the Orange, contributing at both outside hitter and libero during the season. She ranked fifth on the team with 148 kills and third with 325 digs while adding 23 blocks and 22 assists.
