Men's lacrosse and women's tennis take home NEC Team Sportsmanship Awards

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Upholding what it means to be a true Bulldog, both Bryant University men's lacrosse and women's tennis were named 2015-16 Northeast Conference Team Sportsmanship Award winners.

Bryant, alongside Wagner and Sacred Heart, topped the list this spring, taking home two awards. This season's honor marks the second-straight year that women's tennis was voted by its peers as showcasing the most sportsmanship.  

Instituted by league Presidents in 2008, the awards are designed to acknowledge the team in each conference sport that, in the opinion of its peers, most closely demonstrates good sportsmanship based on the NEC Principles of Sportsmanship and Standards of Conduct.  Voting is conducted at the conclusion of each season by each team and head coach, who rank teams within the conference based on a set of criteria.

Both Bryant teams experienced success on the field, while demonstrating what it means to win with honor and class. Men's lacrosse retuned to the NEC Tournament as the No. 2 seed after enjoying two wins over top-10 teams this season. Women's tennis made a repeat appearance in the NEC Championship after going a perfect 4-0 in league play to earn the No. 1 seed in the postseason.

"Congratulations to the seven NEC institutions that were recognized by their peers as the recipients of the spring sport NEC Sportsmanship Awards," said Noreen Morris, NEC Commissioner. "We are incredibly proud of our membership's dedication to competing with respect and dignity, and we celebrate that commitment throughout the year."