MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team swept nearly all of the yearly Sunshine State Conference award categories, earning three of those honors, while four players were designated All-SSC, in the announcement by the league office released on Wednesday.
 
In balloting of all of the league member head coaches, Shark junior forward Kayla Wright (Lauderhill, Fla.) was named the 2015-16 SSC Player of the Year; guard Monaye Merritt (R-Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.) was chosen SSC Defensive Player of the Year; and LeAnn Freeland earned SSC Co-Coach of the Year along with Florida Southern's Betsy Harris.
 
Additionally, Wright and Merritt each were selected All-SSC First Team, while teammate Taylor Buie (R-Jr., Puyallup, Wash.) garnered Second Team honors, the second such distinction of her career. After a successful first year with the squad, senior guard Ida Krogh (Aarhus, Denmark) was elected to the All-Newcomer team.
 
Wright is the second consecutive Shark to be named Player of the Year, and Merritt too, is the program's second straight Defensive Player of the Year. They follow Jasmine Wilkins, who earned both nods a year ago. Freeland also repeats as Coach of the Year following the team's successful defense of their regular season championship (the third in four years). The Sharks embark on the attempt to gain their third straight postseason titles on Wednesday night, hosting Lynn.
 
Here is the 2015-16 All-SSC list in its entirety:
 
Player of the Year - Kayla Wright, Nova Southeastern
Defensive Player of the Year - Monaye Merritt, Nova Southeastern
Newcomer of the Year - Chelsy Springs, Saint Leo                          
Freshman of the Year - Camille Giardina, Florida Southern                      
Co-Coaches of the Year - LeAnn Freeland, Nova Southeastern & Betsy Harris, Florida Southern       
 

First Team Pos. F G/F F G G   Second Team Pos. F G G G G   Newcomer Team Pos. F G C/F G G

Name Kayla Wright Amra Elezovic Mariah Harris Juliana Cavallaro Monaye Merritt     Name Chelsy Springs Taylor Buie Shequana Harris Jensen Blassage Ines Kerin     Name Chelsy Springs Elena De Alfredo Ashley Folsom Ida Krogh Camille Giardina

School Nova Southeastern Barry Florida Southern Tampa Nova Southeastern     School Saint Leo Nova Southeastern Florida Tech Florida Southern Barry     School Saint Leo Tampa Eckerd Nova Southeastern Florida Southern

Yr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.     Yr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr.     Yr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Fr.

Hometown Lauderhill, Fla. Manchester, N.H. Gainesville, Fla. Venice, Fla. Philadelphia, Pa.     Hometown Orlando, Fla. Puyallup, Wash. Bronx, N.Y. Cherry Valley, Ill. Trbovlje, Slovenia     Hometown Orlando, Fla. Madrid, Spain Deltona, Fla. Aarhus, Denmark Sarasota, Fla.