Our Annual Awards & Hall of Fame Banquet, a celebration of outstanding teams, athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials, was scheduled for June 7 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the club volleyball season was cut short in mid-March, the Volleyball Manitoba Awards & Recognition Committee decided that the Age Category Players of the Year (15U-18U) would not be presented this year, neither would the Coaches of the Year (Mary-Jean England Awards), Volunteer of the Year and Referee of the Year (Wezer Bridle Golden Whistle Award). The Volleyball Manitoba Hall of Fame inductions would be deferred for the year as well.
However, annual awards that are still being presented (although not in person) are the Junior (20U) Players of the Year and the Beach Team of the Year.
First, we’d like to recognize this years Cheryl Cable Memorial (Female) and Mark Tennant (Male) Awards for top Junior (20U) Players of the Year. These awards are presented annually to the top 20U athletes, who competed and developed within the Volleyball Manitoba system, based on accomplishments at the post-secondary levels of volleyball or national program involvement the past season.
This years Cheryl Cable Memorial Award as the top 20U Female Player of Year goes to Light Uchechukwu! A member of University of Manitoba Bisons, Light had an exceptional rookie season playing the left side position in all 24 conference matches where she averaged 2.11 kills per set, recording 533 total attacks over the season, while also tallying 156 digs and 36 total blocks. Light was recognized for her excellent season by being named to both the Canada West and U SPORTS All-Rookie teams.
Next, the Mark Tennant Award for the top 20U Male Player of the Year goes to Darian Koskie! Also a rookie with the University of Manitoba Bisons, Darian was asked to step in as a starter playing middle in all 22 regular season matches. Over the season he finished second on the team in total blocks with 55, averaged 1.20 kills per on 194 total attacks, hitting a team high .361 percentage. For his efforts, Darian was named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team, while also being named the Bison Sports Male Rookie Athlete of the Year.
Finally, our Beach Team of the Year is presented based on results throughout the previous seasons beach league, tournaments, Provincial Championships, National Championships or other major competitions. This year we have two teams that are sharing the award – our 2019 Western Canada Games Gold Medalist winning teams, Erika Vermette / Val Gonzalez and Isaiah Olfert / Justin Cross. Both teams ended up on the top of the Beach Volleyball podium on August 13 last summer at the Western Canada Games in Swift Current, SK. Vermette & Gonzalez went through the tournament with a 6-1 record ending off with their win in the Gold Medal Match against fellow Manitobans Olfert & Herrod, while Isaiah & Justin also finished with a 6-1 record overall, defeating Alberta Grey in the final match.
Congratulations to Light, Darian, Erika, Val, Isaiah & Justin!
