Co-MVPs Highlight Athletics Awards (5/2/06)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State University-Billings Athletics Department announced its annual student-athlete awards at its annual awards ceremony Sunday night.  For the first time in recent history the top male and female awards were shared.  Michelle Lieber and Ally Stroup were Co-Most Valuable Female Student-Athletes while Cameron Munoz and Buddy Windy Boy were Co-Most Valuable Male Student-Athletes.

Lieber is a junior basketball player from Gillette, Wyo.  She was the Heartland Conference Co-Player of the Year and a first team all-conference selection.  The 6-foot-0 forward led the Yellowjackets in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage en route to earning team MVP honors.

Stroup is a junior soccer player from Ojai, Calif.  She was named the soccer team’s Scholar Athlete.  She was also selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic District VII second team as well as the All-Heartland Conference first team this year.  Already the school record holder for career assists, Stroup also moved close to breaking the school record for goals and points this season.

Munoz is a senior basketball player from Chino, Calif.  He earned first team All-Heartland Conference honors this year after leading the league in scoring and 3-point shooting.  He also led the nation in 3-pointers made per game and broke the all-time NCAA Division II career record for 3-pointers with 451. 

Windy Boy is a senior basketball player from Lodge Grass, Mont.  He ranked second in the conference and thirteenth in the nation for 3-pointers made per game, earning all-conference honorable mention honors.  Windy Boy finished his MSUB career as the No. 3 all-time 3-point shooter at the school.

Below are the other individual team awards handed out Sunday night.  In addition, $7,650 in endowed scholarships were awarded to eight student-athletes.

Cross-Country
Men’s MVP – Sam Hartpence
Women’s MVP – Susan Kocab
Men’s Scholar Athlete – Jared Rensvold
Women’s Scholar Athlete – Tiffany Piplica

Volleyball
Most Outstanding Player – Alicia Cazemier
Most Outstanding Offensive Player – Alicia Cazemier
Most Outstanding Defensive Player – Nicole Kruse
Yellowjacket Leadership Award – Natalie Bills
Most Inspirational – Alexis Sandru
Newcomer of the Year – Ali Watson

Men’s Soccer
MVP – Jess Feldtman
Freshman of the Year – Brian Huskey

Women’s Soccer
MVP – Megan Plank
Quest for Excellence – Lacey Albrent
Newcomer of the Year – Mandy Ploskonka
Scholar Athlete – Ally Stroup

Men’s Basketball
Academic Excellence – Jonathan Wiley
Academic Achievement – Carl Johnson, Cameron Munoz, Kid Wilk

Women’s Basketball
MVP – Michelle Lieber
Offensive MVP – Tanya Petersen & Alira Carpenter
Defensive MVP – Jenny Langford & Jennifer Skrifvars
Most Improved – Jen Smith
Most Inspirational – Lisa Jellum
Yellowjacket Award – Angie Lessard

Tennis
Scholar Athletes – Brianne Roney, Nikki Byrnes, Heidi Lehman, Marta Borges, Paco Sanchez

2006-2007 Scholarships
Athletic Endowed Scholarship – Michael Wardell
Dick Edwards Memorial Endowed Scholarship – Abigail Bennett
Paul & Patti Gunville Athletic Scholarship Endowment – Rebekah Tsatsa, Colleen Dalimata, Nicole Salsbury, Allyson Stroup
Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship – Kid Wilk
PPL Montana Women’ Softball Endowment – Terina Stacks