University Champions Cup (U.C.C) Sports Challenge

The American University of Kuwait has emerged as the winner of the University Champions Cup in 2006!

On Sunday May 7, AUK hosted the third and final event of the First Annual University Champions Cup, sponsored by Wataniya Telecom. The Australian College of Kuwait and Gulf University of Science and Technology, along with AUK, squared off in both men's and women's volleyball to decide who would claim the Cup in 2006.

The purpose of the UCC is to promote intercollegiate competition which is essential in creating well-rounded students with strong bodies and sound minds. AUK, with the highest cumulative score tallied from all the events, was honored with a presentation of the University Champions Cup and will hold it for one year until it will have to defend its title in the 2007 UCC Tournament. All the schools look forward to continued competition with fellow established institutions of higher education and welcome developing institutions to join in the upcoming years.

In the men's competition the team from AUK led by coach Shareefa Al-Adwani fought off a tough GUST team in their first match-up, with a final score of 25-20, 25-23. GUST regrouped and took out ACK in the first set 25-10. ACK coach, Oliver Werka, tried to answer back in the second set, but fell just shy with GUST winning 25-23. AUK and ACK then dug in for the final match, with AUK pulling ahead, 25-20, 25-13. ACK took second place and GUST took third.

The women's competition went on between ACK, coached by Sharon Werka and AUK, with GUST unfortunately unable to field a team and taking third by default. The first match was a real battle between the two competing schools. AUK, led by coach Tracy Ann Scholl, struck first with a score of 25-16, but couldn't knock the ACK ladies out and dropped the second set 24-26. A 15-point tie-breaker was played to decide the split, and ACK pulled through 15-11. The second match between ACK and AUK went to ACK with a score of 25-12, 25-23.

Individual recognition was given to the Most Valuable Player and Best Defender in the both men's and women's volleyball. Bashar Al-Awadh from GUST was named the male MVP and Jassim Al-Hasawi from AUK was named the Best Defender for the men's. Michelle Venter from AUK was recognized as the female MVP and the women's Best Defender award went to Alia Al-Nasrallah of ACK.

The schools entered the AUK tournament with a close tally from events hosted by the other schools earlier this year.

In November 2005, GUST hosted men's basketball and women's football tournaments. Both GUST teams came out on top in those tournaments, with both AUK teams claiming second and both ACK teams taking third.

ACK hosted men's football and women's volleyball tournaments in March. Both teams from AUK were fortunate and took home gold medals from those competitions, while the GUST teams grabbed second and both ACK teams won the bronze.

The final point tally after a year of competition is AUK 24, GUST 16, and ACK 14. The handsome University Champions Cup was presented to all of the AUK teams that competed to win the UCC title.
 

AUK's team captains of all sports, soccer, basketball, and volleyball after winning the University Champions Cup, In the Center (Left to right) Shaikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Chair of AUK's Board of Trustees, Dr. Marina Tolmacheva, acting president of AUK and Dean, College of Arts & Sciences and last Mr. Hamad Al Mattar from Al Wataniya.

AUK's mens Volleyball team
First front row (from left to right) Mohammed Dagher, Yousef al Mutairi, Abdulatif Al Eisa(Captain), Nasser al Qallaf(captain), Najeeb Al Awadi. Middle row (from lift to right) Suhail Altaye, Jassim Al Hassawee, Abrahim Alnassrallah, Nawaf Najia, Shereefa Al Adwani (coach). Back row Mr. Hamad Al Matter from Al Wataniya, Dr. Marina Tolmacheva and Mr. Amer El-Assaad (Assistant coach to the AUK's mens volleyball team).

AUK's womens volleyball team
Front row from left to right Shareefa Al Adwani (coach) Dr. Tracey Ann Scholl (coach) , Fay al Homoud (captain), Dua'a Hussain (captain), Reem Al Ra.shi. Back row from left to right Jayda Al farooqui, Sara Farhan, Fatima Buhaimed, Munira Al Anjari, Moneera Al Sabah, Michelle venter, Bushra Zaher.

Najeeb Al Awadhi, an AUK volleyball player during the University Champions Cup.