The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference is pleased to announce that Samantha Zacharias of the Briercrest College and Seminary Clippers has been selected as the 2015-16 ACAC women’s volleyball Player of the Year. Zacharias was selected for this award based upon her performance during the ACAC regular season. Zacharias will now represent the ACAC in the CCAA Player of the Year selection process.

Samantha Zacharias is a third-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 (19-5 in league play, first place in the ACAC South and 4^th ranking in CCAA). She led the ACAC with 74 service aces and 389 points. She also ranked second in the ACAC and third in the CCAA with 305 kills.

“Sam has taken her leadership to another level this year with our program as she stepped into a role as one of our captains and has developed into such a great mentor for our younger players,” Briercrest head coach Nolan Weinmaster said. “It has been awesome to see her do what she has done this season after such a great year last year and having teams really key on her this season, and still be able to put up the outstanding numbers that she did attacking and serving again! Sam has also continued to become a more well-rounded player this season, as she has worked hard to further improve her already strong defense and serve receive passing skills this year, and it is a blessing to coach a player who has a continual desire to learn and grow to be the best she can be! Most importantly, it is fantastic to see how Sam strives to honor the Lord in the way she lives her life and every opportunity she gets as she really understands He is the one who deserves all the glory!”

“Having a player like Sam in our program has allowed for a foundation to be put in place not only for now but also for the future as well,” Briercrest Athletic Nigel Mullan said.  “She has competed hard to help put the women’s team in contention on both the ACAC stage but also nationally as well. We are proud of Sam and how she has represented the program at Briercrest and look forward to her continued contributions in the future.”

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