University of Albany's Student-Athletes & Nineteen Sports Programs Honored at Ninth Great Dane Awards - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy presented Steward Ceus and Ashley Ross with ECAC Merit Medals at the ninth annual Great Dane Awards, held at SEFCU Arena on Monday, May 4. The event celebrates UAlbany Athletics in the 2008-09 academic year. Presidential Scholar-Athlete Awards were given to Vanessa Walter, Renee Levitin and Chris Ott. Each of the 19 intercollegiate men’s and women’s programs handed out their most valuable player awards.

ECAC Merit Medals are annually awarded to the school’s top senior male and female student-athletes who have shown excellence in the classroom and as competitive athletes during the current academic year. Presidential Scholar-Athlete Awards are presented to the Department of Athletics’ top students.

Ross, a senior goalkeeper on the women’s field hockey and lacrosse teams, has a 3.70 cumulative grade point average in communication. Ross, a three-time All-America East Conference selection, led field hockey to both its first-ever conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. She was named the championship’s most outstanding player. Ross posted a .741 save percentage and shut out five opponents in 22 starting assignments. She is field hockey’s all-time leader in saves (318) and shutouts (15).

Ceus, a senior goalkeeper on the men’s soccer team, has a 3.61 GPA in biology. He became UAlbany’s first soccer All-American since 1991 when he was named to the NSCAA third team. Ceus was voted America East Conference goalkeeper of the year after recording an .856 save percentage with seven shutouts. He was the first Great Dane to be drafted by an Major League Soccer franchise when he was taken by the Colorado Rapids in the third round. UAlbany equaled the program’s Division I win standard with a 12-4-2 campaign.

Walter has a 3.87 GPA in human biology with a minor in anthropology. A member of the field hockey squad, Walter started all 22 games for a defense that allowed 1.64 goals per game. She earned NFHCA national academic recognition and was a member of the conference all-academic team. Levitin owns a 3.88 GPA in political science with a dual minor in English and education. She played in all 16 games as a midfielder and defender in lacrosse. UAlbany registered its first winning campaign since 2000. Levitin was chosen to the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll.

Ott, a senior pitcher on the baseball team, is majoring in biology and has a 3.81 cumulative grade point average. He has made 42 career appearances as both a starter and reliever. The Great Danes are currently in second place in the America East standings. Ott has also earned a place on the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll.

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2008-09 University at Albany Team MVP Awards

Fall: Brian Yurkewecz (Men’s Cross Country), Laura Cummings & Emily Fung (Women’s Cross Country), Ashley Ross, Michele Polizois & Michelle Simpson (Field Hockey), David McCarty (Football), Claudio Dantas & Erik DiLorenzo (Men’s Soccer), Rebecca Lee (Women’s Soccer), Kamisha Kelliam (Women’s Volleyball).

Winter: Tim Ambrose (Men’s Basketball), Britney McGee (Women’s Basketball), Jean Juste, Mike McCadney & Luke Schoen (Men’s Indoor Track & Field), Jenn Gurrant & Kamilah McShine (Women’s Indoor Track & Field).

Spring: Corrin Conroy & Annemarie Kissane (Women’s Golf), TBD (Baseball), Brian Caufield & Mark Kelly (Men’s Lacrosse), Katie Neer & Mel Rorie (Women’s Lacrosse), Meagan Butsch & Leah McIntosh (Softball), Charlotte Tatler & Kim Weltman (Women’s Tennis), TBD (Men’s Track & Field), TBD (Women’s Track & Field).

Spirit Awards: Jackie Mahoney, Nickie Mineau (Cheerleading), Alex Cerasi (Dance).