Longueuil, Quebec, March 11, 2015 – The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association is pleased to announce that Samantha Zacharias of the Briercrest College and Seminary Clippers has been selected as the 2014-15 CCAA women’s volleyball Player of the Year. Zacharias was presented with the award at the CCAA All-Canadian Banquet at Cégep Édouard-Montpetit in Longueuil, QC. She was selected for this award based upon her performance during the ACAC regular season. Zacharias was selected as 2014-15 ACAC women’s volleyball Player of the Year as well as ACAC South 1^st Team All-Conference.

Samantha Zacharias a second-year BA Business Administration student-athlete from Waldheim, Saskatchewan. The outside hitter’s performance was a huge part in leading Briercrest to their best regular season since joining the ACAC (18-6 in league play, second place in the ACAC South and 5^th ranking in CCAA). This was the best regular season that the program has experienced since joining the ACAC in 1996-97. She had a great start to her year with a career high 24 kills against Red Deer in the second weekend of the season and then matched a 16-year ACAC record with 14 aces against Medicine Hat College, Friday, November 14. Not only did she lead the ACAC North and South divisions in kills with 304 (3.8/game) and aces with 88 (1.1/game), but also led the country in kills throughout the season.  Her prowess from the service line helped her obliterate a 23-year ACAC record with 88 service aces this season. She helped lead Briercrest to their second straight ACAC bronze medal game, where they ultimately fell to the host Olds in an exciting

“Sam has been a force for our team offensively this season with attacking and serving,” Briercrest head coach Nolan Weinmaster said. “She put in a lot of hard work in the off-season and took her game to a whole new level this year. She has helped lead our team to unprecedented success this season and has put up some great individual numbers! She has also been a leader for us on serve receive and defense and has worked very hard to develop those strengths this year. Sam is a tremendous and confident leader for our team who brings an awesome compete level to every practice and match. Most importantly, Sam is a person of high character who really embodies the culture and values of Briercrest Athletics. Her love for God and others is evident in the way she lives and it is awesome to see her living out her faith in Jesus every day!”

The Player of the Year recipients receive a CCAA customized ring provided by Jostens Canada.

Other nominees for the award were Kira Sutcliffe of the Capilano Blues (PACWEST), Thalia Hanniman of the Humber Hawks (OCAA), Maud Chapleau of the Élans de Garneau (RSEQ) and Meaghan MacDougall of the MSVU Mystics (ACAA).

Click here for the CCAA press release.

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The CCAA is a national sport organization enriching the academic experiences of student-athletes through intercollegiate sport.