Ferris State Athletics Names Alexis Huntey Recipient Of Willie Bouyer Leadership Award

Note: This is the third of four major FSU Athletics Awards that will be presented between now and July 8 for the 2015-16 campaign.  The final award, the Bulldog of the Year Award, will be announced on Friday.

Big Rapids, Mich. - Standout local student-athlete Alexis Huntey (Stanwood/Morley-Stanwood) of the Ferris State University volleyball and women's basketball program has been chosen as this year's recipient of the FSU Athletics Department's Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for the 2015-16 campaign in an announcement made today.

The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious of the FSU Athletics Department's four annual major honors, is named in memory of Ferris State's first All-America football student-athlete Willie Bouyer. Bouyer was tragically killed in his hometown of Detroit in 1977. The recipient is chosen by a FSU Athletics Department committee.

Candidates for the award are judged on their strong inspirational leadership and dedication to fellow Ferris State student-athletes.  The nominees also should be involved outside of athletics in other college and community activities along with participating on a varsity athletics team for at least two years. The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award was reinstated upon the conclusion of the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence.

Huntey, who prepped nearby as a standout athlete at Morley-Stanwood High School, began her collegiate volleyball career on the NCAA Division I level at George Washington before playing her final three seasons at FSU, becoming a leader both on and off the court. She follows in the footsteps of her older sister, former Bulldog Volleyball All-American Ashley Huntey, as a winner of the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award.

"Lexi has been a leader in our volleyball program and our athletic department throughout her career and is very deserving of receiving the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "Her efforts have helped Bulldog Volleyball achieve championship success over the past three years, including back-to-back league titles the past two years. In addition, she further contributed to our program by joining the women's basketball team this past season. She's a great choice as the recipient of this leadership award that bears the name of Willie Bouyer."

A three-year starter and letterwinner for the Bulldog Volleyball squad, Huntey helped lead FSU to back-to-back Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships the past two seasons. The three-time all-conference choice earned all-tournament team accolades several times in her career, including this past season as the Bulldogs captured the prestigious Colorado Premier Invitational Championship. She was also a key player on FSU's 2013 squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

As a senior in 2015, Huntey claimed All-GLIAC Second Team accolades as FSU posted a nation-best 33-3 overall record and earned a number one national ranking for the first-time ever. This past season, the three-time all-conference choice finished among the conference leaders in several statistical categories. She totaled 10 kills or more 17 times while starting all 36 matches during FSU's memorable campaign. The four-year letterwinner ranked among the team leaders with 339 kills, 378 digs, 58 blocks and 58 service aces as a senior. FSU won its second-straight GLIAC Regular-Season Championship and claimed the school's second consecutive GLIAC Tournament title while earning the right to host the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament where FSU finished as the regional runner-up.

Following the volleyball campaign, she joined an injury-depleted Bulldog women's basketball squad this winter, quickly ranking among the team leaders in both scoring and rebounding. In her only season of collegiate hoops, she tallied 11.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest in 20 games. She posted 22 rebounds in a victory over Lake Superior State late in the season, which were the most in nearly 20 years by a Bulldog player. Huntey claimed GLIAC Player of the Week honors in both volleyball and basketball during the 2015-16 campaign.

Huntey was also active off the court as one of the Ferris State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives, one of the squad's top performers in the classroom and active in various team charitable and community service initiatives. She also worked previously in marketing for FSU Athletics during the summer months along with other important campus and community involvements. In her senior campaign, she claimed 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District IV First Team volleyball accolades and was recognized as a GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient for the second-straight year.

The standout student-athlete participated in such charitable events as reading to elementary students, assisting in special education classrooms, coaching youth volleyball along with being active in Habit for Humanity, campus move-in and other important civic causes. She also traveled on several mission trips during her collegiate career.

"Work ethic and incredible devotion to her team led to an array of athletic accomplishments, but even more outstanding was Lexi's leadership and devotion to being a positive force for others," said FSU Volleyball head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm. "Her focus was always to do her best for her team and to help others achieve success. Her leadership was the reason the volleyball team had such an incredible record-setting year.

"Lexi is what every coach and team desires in a leader," Brandel-Wilhelm added. "She Was a leader by example, a servant to her team and community, a driving competitor, a compassionate listener and, most importantly, Lexi always placed the needs of her team above her own needs." 

Huntey is the fifth volleyball student-athlete in school history to receive the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, following in the footsteps of previous honorees including two-time recipient Brittny Godlewski (2004-06), Danielle Baucher (2006-07), her sister Ashley Huntey (2011-12) along with Samantha Fordyce (2012-13). She's also only the third former women's basketball player to ever claim the award, joining a list that includes Katy Kelley (1984-85) and Erica Thomas (1991-92).

The other 2015-16 finalists for the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award included previous winner Simon Denis (Hockey), Josh Fleming (Men's Basketball), Logan Hammer (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field), Jared Stolicker (Men's Basketball) and Justin Zimmer (Football).

Willie Bouyer Leadership Award Recipients 
2015-16 - Alexis Huntey (Volleyball/Women's Basketball)
2014-15 - Drew Lehman (Men's Basketball)
2013-14 – Simon Denis (Men's Ice Hockey)
2012-13 – Samantha Fordyce (Volleyball)
2011-12 – Ashley Huntey (Volleyball)
2010-11 – Matt DeHart (Men's Basketball)
2009-10 – Casey Haines (Men's Ice Hockey) and Kurt Valley (Men's Golf)
2008-09 – Holly Bruntjens (Softball)
2007-08 – Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf) and Katie Kraai (Softball)
2006-07 – Danielle Baucher (Women's Volleyball) and Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf)
2005-06 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Jeffrey Shanahan (Men's Basketball)
2004-05 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Navreet Gill (Softball)
2003-04 – Melissa Worsley (Softball) and Derrick McIver (Men's Ice Hockey)
2002-03 – Steve Picucci (Mens' Cross Country and Men's Track & Field)
1995-96 – Benny Roe (Football)
1994-95 – Tim Christian (Men's Ice Hockey)
1993-94 – Jere Getzinger (Wrestling and Football)
1992-93 – Dave Morin (Baseball)
1991-92 – Erica Thomas (Women's Basketball)
1990-91 – Mark Kamppinen (Baseball)
1989-90 – Doug Mooney (Wrestling) and Jody Johnson (Softball)
1988-89 – Jim Beson (Football and Wrestling)
1987-88 – Sam Sweet (Men's Track and Field)
1986-87 – Paul Surmont (Cheerleading – Bulldog Mascot)
1985-86 – Kurt Stevens (Men's Basketball)
1984-85 – Steve Piotraczk (Football), Katy Kelley (Women's Basketball)
1980-81 – Fred Kirkland (Football and Men's Track & Field)