February 22, 2012

OUA ANNOUNCES MEN'S VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS AND MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

HAMILTON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs and McMaster Marauders, the two teams at the top of the standings, lead the way as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce the 2011-2012 men’s volleyball all-stars and major award winners, sponsored by Mikasa Sports.

This year’s Player of the Year is Joren Zeeman (Cambridge, Ont.) of the Queen’s Gaels. The fifth-year senior finished the season tops in kills (226), points (256.5), and a points per game average of 4.50 which ranks him seventh in the country. Zeeman put up impressive numbers in the midst of a long season, having represented Canada at the FISU Summer Universiade Games this summer in China. He is the second Queen’s player to earn this award and has also been named a First-Team All-Star.

Outside attacker Alex Elliott (Cobourg, Ont.) of the McMaster Marauders takes home this year’s Rookie of the Year honour. Elliott had a solid season on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, registering 59 kills while committing just 15 errors all season. He was also in on 32 blocks to help the Marauders wrap up second place in the standings and earn a national ranking for much of the season. Elliott has also been named to the OUA All-Rookie team.

Fourth-year player Niko Rukavina (Mississauga, Ont.) has been selected this year’s Libero of the Year. The Gaels’ libero collected a league high 181 digs on the season in 59 games played. He also led the league with a 3.07 dig per game average which was good for seventh in the country. Rukavina has also been named a Second-Team All-Star.

Karim Khalil (Mississauga, Ont.) of the York Lions is this year’s Dale Iwanoczko Award winner, given for academics, athletics and community service. The fourth-year captain was an Academic All-Canadian last year and currently serves as the team’s academic mentor, assisting his teammates with time management and study skills. In the community, Khalil is a coach with the Pakmen Volleyball Club in the “Champions League” program where he coaches newly immigrant children to develop their volleyball and life skills.

Rounding out the major award winners is this year’s Coach of the Year, Jim Sage, of the Western Mustangs. This is the second consecutive year Sage has been recognized as Coach of the Year and his fourth overall. The Mustangs finished first in the standings for the second straight year, posting a 16-2 record and earning a national ranking as high as fifth. Four of Sage’s players will be recognized as all-stars this year and his squad will host the OUA Final Four championship for the second straight year.

Joining Zeeman on the First-Team All-Star squad are three returning all-stars from a year ago. Last year’s player of the year, Kyle Williamson (Essex, Ont.) of the Windsor Lancers, earns his second straight appearance on the First-Team. Williamson ended the season fourth in kills with 200 and fourth in total points with 230.5 to lead the Lancers to a fourth place finish. Guelph’s Winston Rosser (Whitby, Ont.) racked up 202 kills, 22 service aces, and the second most total points with 250 to earn his second First-Team All-Star nod. Western’s emotional leader, Matt Poulin (Winnipeg, Man.), has been voted a First-Team All-Star for the second consecutive year. He accumulated 155 kills and finished sixth in the league with 3.62 points per game.

Rounding out the First-Team All-Stars include two of Poulin’s teammates. Garrett May (Scarborough, Ont.) dismissed the notion of a sophomore slump, leading the Mustangs with 179 kills, good for ninth in OUA. Phil James (Ottawa) posted an impressive 0.473 kill percentage on the season on his way to 146 kills, earning his spot on the First-Team. Waterloo’s Fiodar Kazhamiaka (Waterloo, Ont.) is the first Warrior to earn First-Team All-Star status in eight years. This season he racked up 186 kills while also showing his defensive skills, tallying 112 digs.

The McMaster Marauders dominate the Second-Team of All-Stars with three athletes earning recognition. A former three-time First-Team All-Star, Jeremy Groenveld (Welland, Ont.) lands on this year’s Second-Team. The fifth-year senior helped a relatively young team to a second place finish and scored 138 points for the Marauders. Kevin Stevens (Winnipeg, Man.) earns his first all-star appearance on the strength of 124 kills this year while teammate Jori Mantha (Vanier, Ont.) led the team with 176 points.

Western’s Matt Waite (St. Thomas, Ont.) has been named a Second-Team All-Star after finishing fifth in league blocking with 54. Waterloo’s Cameron Wheelan (Barrie, Ont.) had a successful final year of eligibility, finishing tenth with 176 kills and 203.5 points. Queen’s middle Michael Amoroso (Toronto) was a force at the net for the Gaels, picking up 47 blocks on the year along with 166 total points to round out the Second-Team All-Stars.

Joining Alex Elliott on the OUA All-Rookie team is McMaster teammate Daniel Groenveld (Welland, Ont.). The first-year outside hitter tallied 84 kills and 98 points in 37 games for the Marauders.

The Toronto Varsity Blues boasted a young team this season and rookies Trevor Grant (Port Perry, Ont.) and Steven Khuu (Lethbridge, Alta.) stood out, earning OUA All-Rookie team honours. From the middle position, Grant tallied 23 solo blocks plus 18 more assisted blocks and finished the season with 83 total points. Khuu took control of the Blues offence and finished the year sixth in OUA with 434 assists.

York’s Marko Dakic (Mississauga, Ont.) was productive in his playing time as a rookie, earning 40 kills to help his cause in being named to the OUA All-Rookie team. Alex Dawson (Scarborough, Ont.) of the Ryerson Rams recorded an impressive 140 kills in his rookie campaign to put him in the top twenty in the league. Rounding out the OUA All-Rookie team is Waterloo’s Erich Woolley (New Dundee, Ont.) who established himself as one of the elite defensive players, posting 130 digs to finish fifth in his freshman season.

2011-2012 OUA MEN’S VOLLEYBALL MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Player of the Year: Joren Zeeman – Queen’s
Rookie of the Year: Alex Elliott – McMaster
Libero of the Year: Niko Rukavina – Queen’s
Dale Iwanoczko Award: Karim Khalil – York
Coach of the Year: Jim Sage – Western