Sorensen Nominees Announced
Sorensen Nominees Announced
A panel of coaches, administrators, and media members have selected the nominees for the 2017-18 MA Sorensen Award.
MA Sorensen was a trailblazing prop in American college rugby and World Cup winner, and she lends her name to the award for the best women's D1 college player of the season.
This award, first given out in the 2015-16 season, is sponsored by the Washington Athletic Club of Seattle. Hope Rogers of Penn State won in 2016, and Ilona Maher of Quinnipiac won in 2017. Maher is nominated again this year.
Fans are asked to help narrow this down to four finalists. To vote, go to this link.
College programs can also participate in a special vote (one vote per college team) here.
After the finalists are selected, an elite panel will choose the winner. The 2017-18 Sorensen Award will be presented officially at a gala dinner in Seattle on June 9.
| 2017-18 Sorensen Award Nominees | |||
| Danielle Ordway | Center | Davenport | A brilliant breakaway runner who has led Davenport to multiple major titles. |
| McKenzie Hawkins | Center | Lindenwood | A repeat nominee, Hawkins has helped Lindenwood to a national 7s championship and made the Lions one of the best teams in the nation. |
| Kaitlyn Broughton | Center | Life | A strong defender and attacker, Broughton is part of a dangerous Life Running Eagles backline. |
| Tess Feury | Fullback | Penn State | Multi-skilled, Feury has been capped by the USA and can play fullback or flyhalf. |
| Ilona Maher | Center | Quinnipiac | Last year's Sorensen winner, the power-running center/No. 8 led Quinnipiac to another NIRA title this season. |
| Kat Ramage | Scrumhalf | Dartmouth | Voted in by fans as a nominee, Ramage is a sparkplug scrumhalf for an ever-improving Dartmouth team. |
| Sui A'au | Center | Central Washington | A hard-hitting sophomore for the Wildcats at center, A'au helped lead CWU to the NIRA semis. |
| Maya Learned | Prop | Harvard | The captain and heart of the pack for Harvard, Learned is a superb leader and a leading tight five player. |
| Grace Taito | Flanker | BYU | A two-time All-American and ferocious defender for the Cougars. |
| Azniv Nalbandian | Prop | Penn State | The MVP of the D1 Elite final as a freshman in 2016, Nalbandian is a powerful prop with an excellent work ethic. |
| Gio Ferguson-Lewis | No. 8 | Army | A multiple All-NIRA player, Ferguson-Lewis scored three tries against rival Navy this season. |
