GEORGETOWN, Texas - Southwestern University announced the 2012 Dr. Tex Kassen and Dr. Carla Lowry Athlete-of-the-Year awards which denote the top male and female athlete at Southwestern for that given school year. Senior volleyball setter Christina Nicholls and sophomore men’s track & field athlete Daniel Tuttle were chosen among numerous candidates as this year’s recipients of the esteemed award.
Nicholls, a setter from Austin, Texas, continued her outstanding play in her final season for the Pirates and firmly secured her spot in the record books in the process. Nicholls is the current record holder for most assists in a five-set match (66) and career assists (5462).
Nicholls ended the season ranked 16th in the nation in assists per set, averaging 10.64, and was less than one assist behind the nations leader. She was the leader on the court and led Southwestern statistically in assists, was second in service aces and fifth in total blocks.
Her sensational senior year was evidenced by the numerous awards she accumulated throughout the year, including Southwestern volleyball's first NCAA/AVCA First Team All-America selection. Nicholls was also selected as the SCAC Player-of-the-Year, First Team All-SCAC and AVCA First Team All-South Region. Additionally, on November 2nd, she was named as the Division III volleyball Player-of-the-Week.
"Christina has been the heart of our team this season," says Head Coach Hannah Long. "As a captain she, at times, willed our team to several important wins. She was truly dedicated to Southwestern Volleyball and never missed a match in 4 years of starting. She is truly deserving and will definitely be missed next season."
The Pirates ended the season with a 30-4 overall record and 14-0 record in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. After taking third place at the SCAC Conference Tournament, SU received their seventh consecutive bid to the NCAA National Tournament.
Tuttle, a hurdler, sprinter and jumper from Georgetown, Texas, stormed on the scene his first season at Southwestern as a dedicated student-athlete and team leader. Tuttle set a new SU record in the 110 hurdles and broke the 16-year-old record in the 400 hurdles. At the 2012 SCAC Championships Tuttle won the 110 hurdles, was second in the 400 hurdles and took third in the triple jump, earning All-SCAC honors in all three events. He also anchored Southwestern's 4x400 relay team, passing two athletes on his leg of the race to bring the Pirates home in third place and earning the team All-SCAC honors. Tuttle's 25.5 points was just half a point shy of the high point scorer at the Track & Field Championships.
Tuttle was named SCAC Male Track Athlete-of-the-Week for the Week of April 4th and was ranked as high as 14th in the nation in the 110 hurdles, leading the conference for the majority of the season. He is currently ranked 41st in the nation and was just .23 seconds shy of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships.
Drs. Kassen and Lowry are former Directors of Athletics who were advocates for all student-athletes. They expected excellence from all student-athletes who participated wearing the Southwestern uniform. They had great respect for those who worked hard, were exceptional performers and those that exemplified great sportsmanship.
The two student-athletes will be honored and receive their awards at a sporting event in the 2012-13 academic year.