Athletic Department 7/12/2021 1:00:00 PM

Female Athlete of the Year Nominees Announced

The finalists for the 2020-21 Canisius Female Athlete of the Year award are now online. Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite finalist through 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 15. The winner will be unveiled on Friday, July 16.

This year's finalists are:

Kelsey Childress – women's swimming and diving
• Childress competed in both meets during the pandemic-shortened season.

• A native of Lynchburg, Va., Childress registered a first-place finish in the 400 individual medley at the MAAC Spring Invite.

• Childress also recorded a second-place finish in the 200 IM at the MAAC Spring Invitational.

• She also finished first in the 100 IM versus Binghamton and Niagara on March 13 with a time of 1:01.19.

• Childress was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team for the third time in her collegiate career.

Ella Loussia – Volleyball
• Loussia appeared in all 13 matches and 49 sets for Canisius during the 2021 spring season.

• The West Bloomfield, Mich., product was named to the 2020-21 All-MAAC Volleyball Team after leading Canisius with 154 kills in the shortened season, averaging 3.14 kills per set. She also ranked second on the team with 15 service aces.

• Loussia posted a career-high 21 kills against Quinnipiac on March 21, one of 10 double-digit kill performances during the pandemic-shortened season.

• She collected MAAC All-Academic Team honors in her first season of eligibility for the award.

Riley Lucarelli – women's lacrosse
• Lucarelli was an All-MAAC First Team selection and a Preseason All-MAAC pick who started all 10 contests for the Blue and Gold during her final year of eligibility

• Serving as team captain for third season, Lucarelli ranked third on the Golden Griffins with 18 ground balls

• The Lancaster, N.Y., native tallied a career-best six draw controls versus rival Niagara on April 13

• Lucarelli was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team for the second time in her career.

Hannah Nelson – volleyball
• Nelson appeared in all 13 matches and 49 sets during the 2021 spring season.

• The Cary, N.C., native was named to the All-MAAC Volleyball Team after ranking second on Canisius with 148 kills, averaging 3.02 kills per set. She also posted 191 digs on the campaign with 3.90 digs per set and led the Griffs with 16 service aces

• Nelson registered double-digit kills in eight matches and recorded a double-double on seven occasions

• Nelson was selected to the MAAC All-Academic Team for the first time in her career.

Kara Paradowski - softball
• Paradowski was an All-MAAC First Team and a NFCA Great Lakes All-Region Third Team honoree after a senior season that saw her start all 36 games, posting career highs with a .374 batting average, 20 RBI and 40 stolen bases.

• The Lancaster, N.Y., native had 13 multi-hit games with nine two-hit outings and four three-hit performances. She reached base in 32 games, with a base hit in 29 contests

• Paradowski stole a career-high 40 bases in 41 attempts during the season, tying Lauren Hope (2008) for the program's single-season record.

• Paradowski finished her career with 110 stolen bases, becoming the second player in school history and fifth player in MAAC history to reach the milestone.

• A 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District I First Team selection, Paradowski was also named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Ella Loussia: OH; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#14 Hannah Nelson: OH; 6' 0"; Junior

#8 Riley Lucarelli: D; 5' 4"; Senior

Kelsey Childress: 5' 9"; Senior

#3 Kara Paradowski: OF/INF; 5' 6"; Senior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#2 Ella Loussia
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: OH

#14 Hannah Nelson
: 6' 0"; Junior
: OH

#8 Riley Lucarelli
: 5' 4"; Senior
: D

Kelsey Childress
: 5' 9"; Senior

#3 Kara Paradowski
: 5' 6"; Senior; L/R
: OF/INF