LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Sophie Merrifield, a senior defensive specialist from Fairfax, Calif., was selected the league’s Backrow Player-of-the-Year after leading her team with 672 digs.

A four-time all-tournament selection and a three-time SCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week selection, Merrifield ran the team’s defense and was a major reason the Tigers held opponents to a league-low .090 hitting percentage (seventh nationally). Additionally, her passing was a major factor as Colorado College led the conference with a .239 hitting percentage. She also had 31 services aces – good for third on the team and 11th in the SCAC. The team’s co-Captain the last two seasons, Merrifield is the first Colorado College player to earn SCAC Backrow Player-of-the-Year honors.

In a tightly contested vote, Merrifield received three votes from the coaches in earning the Backrow Player-of-the-Year award. Megan Dugie of Texas Lutheran University received two votes while Andie Alford of Southwestern, Rachel Fusselman of Austin College and Jessie Koster of the University of Dallas received one vote each.