OUA announces 2017-18 West Division men’s volleyball major awards and all-stars
BURLINGTON, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce the men’s volleyball major award winners and all-stars from the West Division.
Player of the Year: Andrew Richards, McMaster Marauders
The West Division’s Player of the Year award will stay in familiar territory, as for the fifth consecutive season, it is a McMaster Marauder earning top honours.
Andrew Richards (London, Ont.) had a remarkable season for the top-ranked Marauders, proving to be a decisive factor in several facets of the game. Not only did the fourth year player crack the top ten in points per set this season (3.9), but he also led the OUA with 0.52 service aces per set and ranked fifth in hitting percentage at 0.294.
Beyond his leading elements, the outside hitter was also a reliable presence at the net, notching just under three kills per set (2.98) and 0.57 blocks per set, while also chipping in with an average of 1.65 digs per set to round out his Player of the Year season.
Rookie of the Year: Logan House, Brock Badgers
For the second consecutive season – and second time in school history – the young Brock Badgers boast the OUA’s Rookie of the Year, as Logan House (Barrie, Ont.), scored a tremendous freshman campaign for the St. Catharines squad.
The young outside hitter was a force to be reckoned with at the net, as evidenced by his four points per set; placing him inside the top ten in the OUA. Helping him find such strong scoring success was his hitting ability, which saw him rank 8th in the OUA in kills per set (3.43) as well.
Not to be outdone, however, House also made his presence felt from the service line, notching 0.36 aces per set (8th in OUA), while recording a solid 1.68 digs per set for the Badgers as well.
Dale Iwanoczko Award: Peter Khodkevych, McMaster Marauders
When it comes to combining on-court skills, academic excellence, and community service, a true standout in the OUA is this year’s Dale Iwanoczko Award recipient. Peter Khodkevych (Woodbridge, Ont.) has been a tremendous example of what it truly means to be a student-athlete, and has championed his Marauders squad both on and off the court.
The Marauder middle, who has started all four years at the school, also boasts the highest GPA of all McMaster student athletes to earn him the Jack Kennedy Award. He has turned his in-class success into similar success in the field, meanwhile, running a biomedical discovery lab at McMaster University Hospital.
In the community, meanwhile, Khodkevych volunteers with MAC Athletes Care at the Hamilton Boys and Girls Club and the Eva Rothwell Centre, while also volunteering on the trading floor in the DeGroote School of Business.
Khodkevych’s all-around efforts make him just the third Marauder to ever win the sportsman award, and the first to do so in over a decade.
Coach of the Year: Dave Preston, McMaster Marauders
Having earned the same honour in four previous seasons, Dave Preston is no stranger to the award, and after guiding his McMaster Marauders to another nationally-ranked season, Preston will once again take home the West Division’s Coach of the Year award.
Preston led the Marauders to a number of top marks in the conference, making them one of the most potent teams not only in Ontario, but in all of Canada. The maroon and white led the OUA in kills per set (12.53) and hitting percentage (.284), while also earning top marks in assists per set with 11.72. But Mac can excel in several other ways at various times in the point, as the Marauders were also one of the top serving teams, passing teams, and blocking teams; showcasing their well-rounded ability across the board.
OUA All-Star and All-Rookie Teams
While the Marauders have their name across several of the major awards this season, they also boast a number of other key pieces in their 2017-18 run to highlight this year’s All-Star and All-Rookie Teams.
Joining Richards as OUA First-Team All-Stars are fellow outside hitters Brandon Koppers (Georgetown, Ont.) and Matt Passalent (Hamilton, Ont.), who also don the maroon and white of the McMaster squad. Waterloo Warriors’ middle Jordan McConkey (Stratford, Ont.) makes a repeat appearance as a First-Team All-Star this season, while middle Chris Newcombe (Tavistock, Ont.) will make transition from Second-Team to First-Team this season, representing the Western Mustangs. Rounding out the First-Team All-Stars is a pair of Lancers, as John Moate (Oakville, Ont.) also moves up from his Second-Team nod last year and Pierce Johnson (Chatham-Kent, Ont.) makes his All-Star debut for Windsor.
Representatives from five schools make up the OUA Second-Team All-Stars, meanwhile, headlined by both a pair of Badgers and Gryphons. Representing Brock is repeat All-Star setter Marcelo Correa (Indaiatuba, Brazil), along with rookie middle Peter Schnabel (Freiburg, Germany), while middle Kendrick Kerr (Georgetown, Ont.) and outside hitter Zachary Newman (Kitchener, Ont.) earn Second-Team nods for Guelph. The Warriors earn their second all-star nod, with the likes of right side Braden Cok (Waterloo, Ont.) securing Second-Team honours, while Western second all-star – setter Matt Hooker (Winnipeg, Man.) – and Windsor third nod – Brad Gyemi (St. Anne’s, Ont.) – round out the Second-Team All-Stars.
While several of the above all-stars have OUA experience under their belts, several newcomers have also left their mark this year. Along with top rookie House and Second-Team All-Star Schnabel, McMaster freshman middle Bennett Swan (Oakville, Ont.) has also earned All-Rookie honours. Guelph’s left side Zarko Ubiparip (Kitchener, Ont.) will join his fellow freshmen on the squad, as will Windsor setter Anthony DeGirolamo (Newmarket, Ont.). Waterloo setter Colm Guyn (Lethbridge, Alta.) and left side Deman Dulat (Mississauga, Ont.), meanwhile, complete to the All-Rookie squad after their impressive first year efforts.
The complete list of the West Division major award winners and all-stars can be found below:
OUA Major Award Winners
Player of the Year (West) – Andrew Richards, McMaster
Rookie of the Year (West) – Logan House, Brock
Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit (West) – Peter Khodkevych, McMaster
Coach of the Year (West) – Dave Preston, McMaster
OUA First-Team All-Stars
Brandon Koppers, McMaster
Andrew Richards, McMaster
Matt Passalent, McMaster
Jordan McConkey, Waterloo
Chris Newcombe, Western
John Moate, Windsor
Pierce Johnson, Windsor
OUA Second-Team All-Stars
Marcelo Correa, Brock
Peter Schnabel, Brock
Kendrick Kerr, Guelph
Zachary Newman, Guelph
Braden Cok, Waterloo
Matt Hooker, Western
Brad Gyemi, Windsor
OUA All-Rookie Team
Logan House, Brock
Peter Schnabel, Brock
Zarko Ubiparip, Guelph
Bennett Swan, McMaster
Colm Guyn, Waterloo
Deman Dulat, Waterloo
Anthony DeGirolamo, Windsor