Gaels’ Duchesneau takes home back-to-back player of the year honours
Burlington, Ont. – It was a star-studded season on and off the court and Queen’s Gaels standout Hannah Duchesneau once again finds herself atop the conference class with her second straight player of the year nod. The veteran hitter led her team to another outstanding regular season to headline the 2024-25 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women’s volleyball award winners and all-stars.
Player of the Year - Hannah Duchesneau, Queen’s Gaels
Hannah Duchesneau had a powerful season for the Tricolour to once again take home the OUA player of the year honour.
The fifth-year outside hitter’s impact was felt all over the court for their Gaels in their impressive 17-3 campaign, which found them at the top of the league standings at the end of the season. Not only did she help her team stand above the rest and capture national recognition as well, but her individual performance was also among the top in the league.
Duchesneau, from Sharon, Ont. had a formidable 221 kills, and 265.5 points to put her eighth in the OUA in both categories. She was also seventh in the league with four points per set and 3.30 kills per set. The arts and science student finished the season with the third best hitting percentage (.297), while also making her presence felt on the defensive side with 108 digs and 52 total blocks.
Her best game of the season came against the York Lions, wherein she put up 20 points and 18 kills.
Rookie of the Year - Emma Buntic, Western Mustangs
On the heels of an incredible first season with the Western Mustangs, Emma Buntic has been named the OUA rookie of the year for the 2024-25 campaign.
In her foray onto the varsity stage, Buntic helped the London squad return to the fight for top spot in the OUA. The management and organizational studies student started and played in all but one of the Mustangs games this season and was a key contributor therein. The outside hitter from Mississauga, Ont. collected 231.5 points, 201 kills, and 523 total attacks. She also had 15 service aces this season.
Her best game of the year came in North Bay, Ont. against the Lakers where Buntic had 22.5 points, 47 total attacks and 20 kills.
Champion of EDI Award – Cayleigh Fossum, Lakehead Thunderwolves
Cayleigh Fossum is an Indigenous athlete who has been a dedicated advocate for educating others about the importance of Indigenous culture, and celebrating culture through sport, so it no surprise she has been honoured with the 2024-25 Champion of EDI Award.
The Thunderwolves' libero is a leader off the court and played a pivotal role in the Lakehead Indigenous Cultural Celebration Night. Fossum went above and beyond to connect with Indigenous youth on game day to share her passion for the game while also encouraging post-secondary pathways.
The nursing student from Gorham, Ont. was also a strong advocate for the importance of sharing Indigenous culture with the visiting team through a meaningful smudging ceremony with an elder. Her commitment to fostering cultural understanding and connection has had a lasting impact.
Along with her most recent award, she has been honoured with the Corrine Kollman Award, presented to the Lakehead women’s volleyball player who shows leadership, is passionate about the game, and demands a wholehearted effort from her teammates.
Award of Merit - Alex Sinik, Waterloo Warriors
Alex Sinik is a one-of-a-kind leader and student-athlete who exemplifies excellence in academics, athletics, and community leadership, the perfect combination to receive the 2024-25 Award of Merit.
As the starting libero and co-captain for the Warriors, SInik has been a key contributor on the court, ranking 12th in the OUA in digs per set. Off the court, she has maintained a 3.93 GPA, earning U SPORTS Academic all-Canadian honors four times.
She graduated with distinction in her bachelor of science and is now completing an accelerated masters in biology – all while recently earning an offer to attend dentistry school upon graduation.
Her leadership extends well beyond the team, as she founded “WWOW,” the Warrior Women of Waterloo initiative, to create mentorship and networking opportunities for women student-athletes. She has organized on-campus events with up to 200 attendees, launched a bi-weekly newsletter, and built an alumni mentorship program.
She also plays a key role in the Warriors Rise-Up program, guiding first-year student-athletes through the challenges of balancing varsity athletics and academics. Her impact in the community is just as impressive. Through the Warriors Team-Up Program, she has delivered over 40 presentations to local schools on leadership, resilience, and success, earning the Team-Up Speaker of the Year Award in 2024. She is also an executive for Waterloo motionball, leading fundraising efforts in support of Special Olympics athletes, and serves as a Faculty of Science Ambassador, mentoring prospective students and assisting in recruitment events.
Beyond athletics and volunteerism, the Calgary, Alta. product is deeply involved in academic mentorship and research. As an assistant lab technician, she supports graduate-level projects through data analysis and experimental design.
Additionally, Sinik works with the Centre for Community, Clinical and Applied Research Excellence (CCCARE), helping individuals with dementia and stroke complete rehabilitation exercise programs.
Few student-athletes manage to excel at this level across so many areas.
Coach of the Year - Melissa Bartlett, Western Mustangs
The Western Mustangs bench boss led her team to a 15-5 record this season, a regular season well worthy of Melissa Bartlett being tabbed as the OUA coach of the year.
Her team found ways to win both on home court and away from Alumni Hall, boasting an almost identical record regardless of the venue.
With Bartlett at the helm, the Mustangs opened their season with a six-game win streak, before falling to the tough Nipissing Lakers squad in North Bay. They would reel off another seven-game winning streak in the middle of the year as well.
The Mustangs’ wins came from a powerful offence that averaged 15.9 points per set, fourth best in the province with a .204 team hitting percentage. They rounded out their stat-line, ranking among the top two in assists per set (1st in OUA, 11.46), total assists (2nd in OUA, 848), and total blocks (2nd in OUA, 173), showcasing how Bartlett’s squad thrived in all aspects of the game. They were also ranked seventh in the province with 867 kills per contest.
Along with Bartlett’s honours, she also has Mustangs rookie sensation Buntic take home a major award and all-star Rachel Gray.
The complete list of 2024-25 OUA women’s volleyball award winners and all-stars are as follows:
Player of the Year - Hannah Duchesneau, Queen’s Gaels
Rookie of the Year - Emma Buntic, Western Mustangs
Champion of EDI Award - Cayleigh Fossum, Lakehead Thunderwolves
Award of Merit - Alex Sinik, Waterloo Warriors
Coach of the Year - Melissa Bartlett, Western Mustangs
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Hannah Duchesneau, Queen’s Gaels
Aliah Admans, Windsor Lancers
Sadie Dick, Brock Badgers
Julia Murmann, Toronto Varsity Blues
Rachael Meilikhan, Waterloo Warriors
Olivia Julien, McMaster Marauders
Audrey Odigie, Ottawa Gee-Gees
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Amanda Siksna, Queen’s Gaels
Oceane Raymond-Leduc, Nipissing Lakers
Rachel Gray, Western Mustangs
Amarai Endes, York Lions
Mackenna Knox, Brock Badgers
Ava Ebert, Western Mustangs
Avery Kelly, Waterloo Warriors
THIRD TEAM ALL-STARS
Danika Scharff, Windsor Lancers
Delaney Watson, Toronto Varsity Blues
Paige Owen, Nipissing Lakers
Emma McKinnon, McMaster Marauders
Scarlett Gingera, TMU Bold
Claire Carter, Queen’s Gaels
Emily Foest, Brock Badgers
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Emma Buntic, Western Mustangs
Charlotte Ross, Brock Badgers
Julia Liu, Toronto Varsity Blues
Quinn McTavish, York Lions
Stella McKenna, Waterloo Warriors
Sloane Fortin, Guelph Gryphons
Ashley Lawrence, Lakehead Thunderwolves
