Mercyhurst women’s volleyball standout Elyse Texido and Luis Leao of the men’s basketball team were named the Lakers’ Senior Female and Male Student-Athletes of the Year, respectively, at the university’s annual Senior Sports Banquet this past weekend.

Elyse Texido

Luis Leao

Texido, a defensive specialist/libero, racked up a school-record 666 digs and was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year and All-PSAC first team selection. She helped Mercyhurst go to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009. Texido finished third in program history in digs (1,627) and aces (126).

Leao, a 6-foot 5-inch forward, was the first Lakers’ player ever to be named to the NABC All-American Team. He averaged 18.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this past season. Leao also was named PSAC West Athlete of the Year to go along with numerous other accolades.

Leao  finished ninth in program history in scoring (1,221 points).

Kayla McBride

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team missed its goal of winning a national title during the 2012-13 season.

However, free-throw shooting couldn’t be blamed for the Fighting Irish’s falling short. ND’s four leading scorers each shot over 80 percent, and Villa Maria graduate Kayla McBride led the way.

McBride became the first Notre Dame women’s basketball player to shoot 90 percent from the foul line in a single season.

In today’s Erie Times-News On Campus notebook, read more about McBride’s three-throw school record and see where her career point total will stand going into her senior season.

Amanda Shields

Ashley Black

Also in today’s notes, read about the big doubleheader that Fort LeBoeuf graduates Ashley Black and Amanda Shields had while leading the Edinboro softball team to a sweep of Gannon last week.

In addition, check out notes on four PSAC Top Ten Award winners — Edinboro’s Tabitha Bemis, Mercyhurst’s Luis Leao, Gannon’s Jen Papich and Clarion’s Kayla Shull.

Read about all of that and more in the Times-News On Campus notebook.

Shake hands with Luis Leao, and it feels like a couple of bones are broken by his right-handed vise grip, so fist pumps would suffice when one greets the easy-going, first All-American in Mercyhurst men’s basketball history.

Leao, a strong 6-foot 5-inch forward from Brusque, Brazil, who did not have a strong supporting cast in his 2012-13 senior season, still led the Lakers to a 16-13 season and a berth in the PSAC playoffs with consistently solid performances throughout the season. Leao, who played three seasons with the Lakers, was selected to the 16-player National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)  Division II All-American team.

Leao averaged 18.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a senior on a team depleted by graduation and three top players who were dismissed from the team for violating school policies. He set a school record with 166 made free throws, connecting on 81.4 percent from the foul line. He shot 47.8 percent from the field. Leao scored 1,221 points and averaged 17.4 points per game in three seasons.

Leao played just 15 games in 2011-12, recovering from a major knee injury from the end of the previous season, then a shoulder injury during the season. It was that devastating injury at Indiana, Pa. in the final 2010-11 regular season game that likely cost Mercyhurst, a 20-game winner,  its first NCAA Division II tournament appearance.

“Without Luis, we have lost a lot of our firepower, and the Atlantic Region committee recognizes that,” Mercyhurst coach Gary Manchel said at the time.

Leao loves basketball, and said he loved his four years at Mercyhurst, where he was a tough competitor but always seemed to have a sincere smile and displayed sportsmanship on the court. But his priority is to be in the medical field, and as a biology major,  Leao has a 3.87 grade point average at Mercyhurst.

“I have contacts in Boston, and I hope to further my education and get a degree in medicine, which has always been my goal,” Leao said after the Lakers lost at Edinboro in the PSAC playoffs, his final game.

Manchel, finishing his 10th season at Mercyhurst, said replacing Leao will be a formidable task.

“He’s one of the best players I have ever coached, and one of the best young human beings that I’ve ever been associated with,” Manchel said. “Luis will be successful and people will be the better for it. He was a special player here, and a special person.”

– Bob Jarzomski

Luis Leao

Luis Leao has become the first Mercyhurst University men’s basketball player to be selected to National Association of Basketball Coaches All-America Team.

The 6-foot 5-inch forward from Brusque, Brazil, is one of 16 players honored. There is only one team.

He averaged 18.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a senior. Leao also shot 81.4 percent from the free-throw line, making a school-record 166 free throws.

During his three-year career, he scored 1,221 points, good for ninth in Mercyhurst history. A biology major, Leao has a 3.87 grade-point average at Mercyhurst.

Leao was the only player from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference to make the All-America squad.

The team is voted on by NABC member coaches.

John Reilly

Luis Leao

Mercyhurst University’s Luis Leao has been named PSAC West men’s basketball player of the year today and Gannon University’s John Reilly claimed PSAC West coach of the year.

Leao, a senior forward, was one of four players from area colleges to make all-PSAC West first team. He is joined by Gannon senior forward Darrell Blanton, Edinboro senior guard Isaiah Prince and Edinboro junior center Bryan Theriot.

Edinboro senior guard Jay Fletcher made the second team.

Read more about the PSAC selections, including the Eastern Division, and see the complete first two teams.

The PSAC women’s basketball all-star teams are scheduled for release Thursday.