Charles and Crotteau Named MSUB Male and Female Athlete of the Year

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BILLINGS, Mont. – For the first time in school history, two All-America selections have been named Montana State University Billings Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year.  Men’s soccer standout, Sam Charles, earned his third MSUB Male Student-Athlete of the Year, while volleyball standout, Devon Crotteau, earned her first.  The awards were announced at the annual MSUB Athletic Awards Banquet, Sunday.

A native of Chiswell, England, Charles finished one of the most storied careers in MSUB history as he broke the school and conference record with 24 goals in 2009.  He was named Daktronics West Region Player of the Year in 2009 and finished his career with 69 goals, 18 assists and 156 points.  He was named the Ron Lenz Daktronics Division II National Player of the Year in 2009, and is the first student-athlete in MSUB history to earn that honor in any sport.

Charles finished the 2009 season as a first team all-conference selection with a school and conference record 24 goals, seven assists and 55 points.  He was named GNAC Player of the Year for the second time (2007) and was a three-time first team all-conference selection.  Charles led the nation with 24 goals scored and finished second nationally in goals per game (1.33) and second nationally in points per game (3.06).  Charles helped lead the Yellowjackets to their school record third consecutive double-digit wins in a season and second-most wins in school history with an 11-5-2 record.

The senior forward virtually rewrote both the GNAC and school record books.  He set conference and school marks this season for consecutive games with a goal (9) and consecutive games with a point (15).  He set the conference record for points and goals in a career early this season.  The amazing part is that Charles broke the records in just over two years in the league.  MSUB was in the Heartland Conference Charles’ freshman year.  During his time in the GNAC, Charles tallied 62 goals, 16 assists and 140 points.

Crotteau earned third team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors to become the first player in MSUB history to earn All-America honors since the volleyball program was founded in 1981.
A native of Casper, WY, Crotteau ranked fifth in the nation in kills this season (4.47). She also led the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in kills and points and was in the top ten for service aces.

She became the fifth player in MSUB history to record 1,000 kills for her career and was the only player to ever record three-straight seasons with 400 kills and 300 digs. For her career, Crotteau finished with 1,351 kills, which ranks third in the MSUB record books, 3,436 attempts, 1,114 digs and 118 service aces.