Orange Coast College

Assily, Winkler named OCC's Athletes of the Year

Thursday, May 10, 2007

COSTA MESA - Football standout Chris Assily and women's volleyball star Kiwi Winkler have been selected as this year's Orange Coast College Athletes of the Year, as voted on by the school's coaches.

Assily, a sophomore cornerback from Kaiser HS in Hawaii, racked up 56 tackles (35 solo) as he helped the Pirates to allowing the fewest points per game in the entire conference (16.5 ppg). He also had three tackles for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble, four defensive breakups and was tied for the team lead with four interceptions.

Not just a threat defensively, Assily was also the Pirates' primary punt returner, averaging 9.9 yards per return on 28 attempts. He also carried six kickoffs back for a total of 158 yards, a 26.3 yard-per-carry average.

The OCC football team finished 13-9 during Assily's two seasons at Coast and helped the Pirates to back-to-back bowl appearances. His eight career interceptions are fifth-best in school history.

Winkler, a sophomore outside hitter from Germany, helped lead the Pirates to the best two-year stretch on OCC women's volleyball history, including back-to-back state championships.
Along the way, Winkler shattered the Pirates' single-season record with 487, topping her own school-best 408 from last season. Her career total of 895 is 233 more than the second-best all-time total of 662 (Melissa Zapiain in 2002 & 2004).

This season, Winkler also had 42 aces (11th-best for one season), 446 digs (second-best in one season) and a .339 hitting percentage (12th best for one season). She leaves OCC in the top-10 in career kills (895, first), aces (78, fourth), digs (783, second) and hitting percentage (.359, fourth).

This year, Winkler earned first-team, All-Orange Empire Conference, All-Southern California Regional, an All-American and MVP of the State Volleyball Tournament -- the same honors she garnered as a freshman last year. She was the OEC MVP in 2005.

OCC compiled a 51-2 record during Winkler's tenure, including back-to-back state titles.