5/10/2010 -

Riverdale, N.Y. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Department of Athletics held its annual Varsity

Senior Karen Laurent earned the Sister Magdalen Horsting Spirit Award for the fourth straight year on Monday.

Awards Banquet on Monday evening. At the event each program was recognized and handed out its team awards, while four individuals were honored with department wide awards. In addition three students were honored with awards for the Sports Medicine Department.

 

For the second straight year junior David Guerrero (East Meadow, N.Y.) was honored as the department’s men’s Scholar Athlete of the Year. He completed his third season as a member of the Dolphins’ Men’s Volleyball program and helped guide the Mount to its second straight undefeated Skyline Conference regular season and its third consecutive appearance in the Skyline Conference Championship match. He finished the season with 362 kills, 4.02 kills per set, 49 service aces and 215 defensive digs.

 

The women’s Scholar Athlete of the Year Award goes to freshman Kristine DeMasi (Bay Ridge, N.Y.) of the Women’s Volleyball team. In her first campaign with Mount Saint Vincent the rookie outside hitter/middle blocker posted 58 kills and 1.23 kills per set. She also totaled 27 service aces and 75 digs for the Dolphins this past fall.

 

The Chuck Mancuso Dedication Award is handed out each year to the student-athlete who bests shows dedication to his or her team and the department as whole. The recipient this season was junior Men’s Lacrosse player Cavan Valance (Glen Cove, N.Y.). Valance finished the 2010 lacrosse season with 24 goals and 34 points and also totaled 55 groundballs. Two of his markers proved to be game winners in 2010.

 

In addition to being a standout on the field, Valance also puts in time and dedication off of it while helping the department at other home events. Throughout the past year you could find him securing event staff, working events and being part of the table staff at both home basketball and volleyball contests. He also assisted the Sports Information staff with spotting at basketball and women’s lacrosse contests.

 

For the fourth straight year senior Karen Laurent (East Elmhurst, N.Y.) was honored with the Sister Magdalen Horsting Spirit Award. The Spirit Award is handed out each year to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit of the Dolphins both on and off the field. A two sport athlete herself, Laurent also finds time to support the other program’s at Mount Saint Vincent over the course of the year. You can find her at volleyball and soccer games and she also served as the head manager for the Men’s Basketball Program.

 

During the fall Laurent posted a pair of wins out of the second singles position and two more victories as a member of the first doubles team for the women’s tennis squad. After the basketball season wrapped up she moved right into the women’s lacrosse season where she saw action in 11 games at both defense and goalie. She rounded out the year with eight saves and 13 groundballs for the Dolphins.

 

The final three awards handed out on Monday night came from the Sports Medicine Department. Senior Ciara Clarke (Warwick, N.Y.) was recognized as the Student Athletic Trainer of the Year, while junior Erin Woerner (Kings Park, N.Y.) was named the Backbone Student Trainer of the Year. In addition James Labartino (Hobrook, N.Y.) was named the Hudson Valley Bone and Joint Surgeon Comeback Player of the Year.

 

After recovering from knee surgery Labartino came back to hit .346 for the baseball team. He led the team with 44 base hits and 21 steals and also totaled 10 outfield assists from centerfield. He also drove in 15 runs and drew 14 walks for the Dolphins.

 

Two other Dolphins were recognized Monday night for their accomplishments over the course of their careers. Senior women’s basketball player Lauren Percodani (Staten Island, N.Y.) became the third active player with 1,000 career points this past season and was named First Team All-League for the third straight season.

 

Senior women’s lacrosse player Kelly Martin (Stony Point, N.Y.) also reached a career milestone in 2010 when she became the first player in program history to record 250 career points. She will graduate as the program’s all-time leader in goals (182), assists (73) and points (255.) She was also named First Team All-Skyline Conference for the third straight season.

 

In addition to the department wide awards, each of Mount Saint Vincent’s athletic programs handed out three honors of their own. Each coaching staff picked a team Most Valuable Player, a Most Improved Player and also handed out a Dolphin Award. The Dolphin Award goes to the student-athlete who best represents the program.