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8 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Nyhof nets OCAA MVP By CHANELLE SEGUIN Special to the IFP During the awards banquet at this year's Ontario Colleges women's volleyball championships, Kelly Nyhof was awarded player of the year, only one of many accolades that probably sit on the shelf at the Nyhof home in Georgetown. Ironically, the second-year Childhood & Youth Work student at Guelph-Humber said that growing up, she never wanted to play volleyball because her older sister already did. "I never really wanted to follow in her footsteps and be compared to her because she was so good," said Nyhof. "But I was somewhat forced into by my mom. She made me try out for club teams and my high school team. This gave me the confidence to continue playing." It's hard to believe Nyhof has only been playing for five years. She has been awarded as a CCAA All-Canadian. Last year she received the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship, an award given to only four Humber athletes each year. She has been named to the West Division first team all-star squad more than once at the OCAA championships, and in her rookie season, she was a tournament all-star. She is a veteran on the team and has helped the Hawks win three consecutive OCAA gold medals. Coach Chris Wilkins has been with her every step of the way. He says Nyhof is a very talented athlete and first recognized her skills during a team trip to Europe last season. "We were playing against some of the top clubs in Europe and Kelly was scoring against SPORTS & LEISURE Raiders leading 3-1 in Burlington series Rookie netminder Michael Giugovaz stopped all shots directed his way for the shutout in a rare Monday matineé as the Georgetown Raiders skated to a a 2-0 victory over the host Burlington Cougars. The first-place Raiders now lead the best-of-7 Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division semifinal series 3-1. Game 5 of the series is set for the Alcott Arena Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. If game 6 is required, it would be played Friday in Burlington at 2:30 p.m. Nick Perruccio and Conor McLoughlin scored late in each of the first and second periods to supply all the offence the Raiders would need against the fourth-place Cougars, who have been a stubborn opponent thus far. The Raiders were missing Christ the King Secondary School graduate Kelly Nyhof is a relative veteran goalie Steven Racine newcomer to volleyball, but the 6-foot-2 middle was named the On- along with forwards Brendan tario Colleges player of the year last week. Photo by Jess Raymond Woods and Brock Labelle for Monday's contest. Georgetown took game one them and blocking against them, meant the most. "I was, and still am, so new to and I remember saying to my other coaches, `She fits in at this this sport, so I wasn't expecting any recognition for my efforts," level,'" Wilkins said. Nyhof ranks third in Ontario said Nyhof. "It opened up a with 4.3 points per set. In her whole new world for me because three years at Humber she has I realized `oh, wow, I can actually Playing for a non-playoff team positioned herself third all-time go far with this,' and it made me this season didn't seem to bother in Humber scoring. Even though want to work harder and become Georgetown's Chelsea Briscoe. scoring is evidently not a prob- better." The middle The women's varsity volleyball blocker lem for the 6-foot-2, middle, she and says her hitting is one aspect of team at Humber defeated Cam- arts program her game that she would like to brian 3-0 in the OCAA champion- student on ships last week in Barrie, which the improve on. Ryerson "I'd like to say I played a huge gives them the rare opportunity Rams earned role in helping Kelly become the for a fifth attempt at a national Rookie of the volleyball player she is today, medal. The team has won five Year honours but that's all her doing," said consecutive OCAA champion- in the 13-team CHELSEA Wilkins. "Her raw talent and su- ships but has yet to bring home Ontario UniBRISCOE perior work ethic is what got her a medal at nationals. Nyhof and versity Athlether team are ranked fifth in Can- ics' women's this far." Nyhof said winning the ada and head to B.C. on March 8 varsity volleyball league, chalkOCAA Rookie of the Year award in hopes of rising well above that ing up 33 blocks and 144 kills on for women's volleyball in 2010 to first place. the season. at home last Wednesday 3-0 on goals by Tyson Fawcett, Jake Emilio and Patrick Megannety, with Racine earning the shutout. Racine lost his first game in a Raider uniform after 16 straight victories as the Cougars rallied from a 3-1 deficit late in the third period to score a 4-3 double-overtime triumph Thursday in Burlington. Brendan Woods, Braden Kavaratzis and Emilio were the Georgetown scorers. In game three Saturday, the Raiders took charge early, building a 3-0 lead midway through the opening frame en route to a 4-1 win. Fawcett, Megannety, Emilio and Woods found net, with Racine making 24 saves. Forward Caleb Apperson returned to the lineup Saturday after injuring his knee on the final weekend of the season. In the other OJHL West Division semifinal, the Oakville Blades lead the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 3-1 with game five Wednesday in Oakville. Ryerson's Briscoe named OUA's top court rookie The 5-foot-9 Briscoe's 2.92 points per game average placed her in the league's top 20 on the season for the 6-12 Rams, who placed 11th in the standings. A Georgetown District High School grad, Briscoe also won a national championship last year with the Burlington Defensa club team. Two other Halton Hills residents played for Ryerson this year as outside hitters. Chelsea Jensen is in her third year of sociology studies after transferring from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., while Lauren Sokolowski is a second-year nutrition major. GEORGETOWN JUNIOR "A" GEORGETOWN JR. A RAIDERS vs BURLINGTON COUGARS GAME OF THE WEEK Wednesday February 29th, 2012 7:30 pm Mold-Masters SportsPlex (Alcott Arena) www.georgetownraidersjra.com