Dean, Simone named OUA Athletes of the Week
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week for the period ending February 8th, 2016.
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week for the period ending February 8th, 2016.
FEMALE: Shannon Dean (Whitby, Ont.) – 4th yr. – Windsor Lancers – Volleyball
Middle hitter Shannon Dean (Whitby, Ont.) saved the best for last as she stole the show in the final home games of her Windsor Lancers career.
Dean, a fourth-year developmental psychology student-athlete, had a game high 18.5 points, 16 kills, 6 digs, 2 aces and 1.5 blocks as the Lancers defeated the visiting Nipissing Lakers 3-1 on Saturday.
The Whitby, Ont. native followed that up on Sunday afternoon with an astonishing 32.0 points to go along with 28 kills, 6 digs, 3 blocks and an ace in a 3-2 Lancers victory over the York Lions. After dropping the first two sets 23-25 and 21-25, the 5-foot-11 middle hitter single-handedly led the Lancers comeback as they won the next three sets 25-22, 25-22 and 15-6.
She currently leads OUA in points with 237.5 and ranks in the top five in kills (178), hitting percentage (.379) and service aces (28).
Dean and the Lancers return to the court this weekend when they travel up to Thunder Bay, Ont. to take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
MALE: Aidan Simone (London, Ont.) – 3rd yr – Waterloo Warriors – Volleyball
With two big wins this past weekend, Aidan Simone (London, Ont.) and the Waterloo Warriors are quickly rocketing up the OUA standings with just two weeks remaining in the regular season.
On Friday night against RMC, the third-year biochemistry major had a game-high 17 digs to go along with 17 kills and 19.5 points as the Warriors won a five-set thriller 3-2 over the visiting Paladins. Simone also had three blocks and one service ace in the win.
Simone and the Warriors were back on the court Saturday taking on the rival No. 8 Queen’s Gaels. The 6-foot-4, 190 lbs outside hitter led the Warriors with a game high 24.5 points to go along with 22 kills as Waterloo upset Queen’s 3-1. After dropping the first set 23-25, the Warriors stormed back to take the next three 28-26, 25-21 and 25-17.
In 17 matches this season for the Warriors, the London, Ont. native ranks sixth in OUA in digs (128) and service aces (9) and seventh in points (227).
The Warriors have now won six straight games and are tied with the Toronto Varsity Blues and Western Mustangs for fourth in the conference. Waterloo will look to make it seven consecutive when they travel to the Robert J Surtees Student Athletics Centre in North Bay, Ont. on Saturday to take on the Nipissing Lakers.
