OUA announces 2016-17 East Division Women's Volleyball Major Awards and All-Stars

BURLINGTON, Ont. – Alina Dormann (Ottawa, Ont.), a second-year right side from the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, was named the East Division Player of the Year, presented by Peel Regional Police, in in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women's volleyball on Thursday afternoon.

Other OUA major award recipients were also announced, including Nipissing Lakers freshman phenom Stephanie Armstrong (Pickering, Ont.) who was named Rookie of the Year; Varsity Blues setter Madelyn Mandryk (Lockport, Man.) has earned the Award of Merit for outstanding achievements in volleyball, academics and community involvement; and Blues bench boss Kristine Drakich, who is the OUA Coach of the Year for a second straight season.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Alina Dormann, Toronto

For the second time in as many seasons, Dormann has been named the OUA East Division Player of the Year and a first-team all-star after she led the conference and finished second in the country in both kills (4.39) and points (5.3) per set.

Appearing in 19 matches this season for the Blues, Dormann, who is studying Life Science at the University of Toronto, recorded double-digit points in every game.  The Ottawa, Ont. native established a new career high with 31.5 points in a 3-2 win over the crosstown rival Rams back on Nov. 25.

Dormann, who was also named OUA Rookie of the Year a season ago, led Toronto with 36 blocks and 30 service aces this season, further establishing herself as one of the most dangerous players in the entire country.

This is the third straight season a member of the Varsity Blues has been named OUA East Division Player of the Year after Dormann was recognized last year and former University of Toronto standout Charlotte Sider in 2014-15.

Dormann will also receive a customized OUA Player of the Year ring courtesy of Baron Championship Rings.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Stephanie Armstrong, Nipissing

Following a debut season in which she finished eighth in the conference averaging 7.81 assists per set, Nipissing's Armstrong has been named the OUA East Division Rookie of the Year for 2016-17.

The 5-foot-6 setter had a team high 453 assists in 18 matches during her freshman campaign, while her 2.17 digs per set was fourth-highest amongst her Lakers teammates.

The Pickering, Ont. native becomes the first Lakers player to earn Rookie of the Year honours since the program was established back in 2013-14. 

AWARD OF MERIT (volleyball, academics & community service): Madelyn Mandryk, Toronto

For her contributions not only on the court, but off the court, in the classroom and community, Mandryk has been recognized for her involvements with the OUA East Division Award of Merit.

Following a course on ecological worldviews and the importance of connecting children to nature at a young age, Mandryk has volunteered over the course of the past two years with the High Park Nature Centre.  In addition, she's an active member of the Knee High Naturalists Club, the Nature Babies Club and several other school groups who visit the Centre each year.

Now in her fifth and final season with the Blues, Mandryk, a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian in the classroom, led the conference in assists per set (9.76) for the third consecutive season, while her 3.19 digs per set placed her inside the top 10.

In addition to being the Award of Merit winner, Mandryk is an OUA first-team all-star for the second consecutive season after being named to the second-team in 2014-15.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Kristine Drakich, Toronto

For a fourth consecutive year, University of Toronto Varsity Blues head coach Kristine Drakich has been named OUA East Division Coach of the Year.

Under the guidance of Drakich, the Blues dropped just nine sets all season long, the fewest by any team in not only OUA but U SPORTS as well, on their way to a second consecutive perfect 19-0 regular season record.

In her 28^th year as head coach of the Blues, this is the second time in her career that she's directed the Blues to back-to-back perfect regular season records (1995-97).  Between Nov. 27 and Feb 10, Toronto swept seven of their eight opponents and dropped just two sets to the West powerhouse McMaster Marauders.

There was no denying the Blues dominance this season as for the first time in program history the team earned sole possession of the U SPORTS No. 1 national ranking.

This is the 11^th time in her career that Drakich has been recognized as the OUA East Division Coach of the Year.

OUA ALL-STAR AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAMS

Both the OUA East Division first- and second-team all-stars, as well as the OUA all-rookies were also announced on Thursday afternoon.

Joining the Blues right side Alina Dormann and setter Madelyn Mandryk as OUA first-team all-stars are Ryerson outside hitter Veronica Livingston (Kelowna, B.C.), middle blocker Theanna Vernon (Scarborough, Ont.) and libero Julie Longman (Newmarket, Ont.), York Lions outside hitter Celeste Witzell (Kitchener, Ont.) and from the Queen's Gaels, Caroline Livingston (Kelowna, B.C.)

The second-team all-star squad for 2016-17 is comprised of Blues left side Anna Feore (Stratford, Ont.), libero Asli Ersozoglu (Toronto, Ont.) and middle Anna Licht (Toronto, Ont.), from the Nipissing Lakers outside hitters Tracy Hammerton (Beachville, Ont.) and Erika Lapierre (Petawawa, Ont.), Lions setter Kirsten Dillon (Surrey, B.C), and outside hitter Isabelle Korchinski (Anmore, B.C.) of the Queen's Gaels.

In addition to Nipissing's Stephanie Armstrong, the OUA East Division all-rookie features Ryerson outside hitter Cailin Wark (Georgetown, Ont.) and middle blocker Lauren Veltman (Brampton, Ont.), Blues left side Emma Armstrong (Brooklin, Ont.), York middle Rachel Adams (Orangeville, Ont.), from Queen's outside hitter Danielle Corrigan (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Lakers outside hitter Shayla Kessler (Winnipeg, Man.).       

OUA Major Award Winners

Player of the Year: Alina Dormann – Toronto Varsity Blues
Rookie of the Year: Stephanie Armstrong – Nipissing Lakers
Award of Merit: Madelyn Mandryk – Toronto Varsity Blues
Coach of the Year: Kristine Drakich – Toronto Varsity Blues

OUA First-Team All-Stars

Alina Dormann – Toronto Varsity Blues
Madelyn Mandryk – Toronto Varsity Blues
Veronica Livingston – Ryerson Rams
Theanna Vernon – Ryerson Rams
Julie Longman – Ryerson Rams
Celeste Witzell – York Lions
Caroline Livingston – Queen's Gaels

OUA Second-Team All-Stars

Anna Feore – Toronto Varsity Blues
Asli Ersozoglu – Toronto Varsity Blues
Anna Licht – Toronto Varsity Blues
Tracy Hammerton – Nipissing Lakers
Erika Lapierre – Nipissing Lakers
Kirsten Dillon – York Lions
Isabelle Korchinski – Queen's Gaels

OUA All-Rookie Team

Stephanie Armstrong – Nipissing Lakers
Shayla Kessler – Nipissing Lakers
Lauren Veltman – Ryerson Rams
Cailin Wark – Ryerson Rams
Emma Armstrong – Toronto Varsity Blues
Rachel Adams – York Lions
Danielle Corrigan – Queen's Gaels