An MBA student from Donetsk, Ukraine, Pakhomenko became the first TRU player to claim the prestigious Mary Lyons Award since the WolfPack joined CIS in 2005-06. She is also the seventh straight recipient from the Canada West conference.
Other CIS award winners announced during the All-Canadian Awards Breakfast held at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre were Toronto opposite Aline Dormann, who captured the Mark Tennant Award as rookie of the year, as well as UBC Okanagan bench boss Steve Manuel, who became a two-time winner of the Marilyn Pomfret Award as TIMEX coach of the year.
The CIS championship, hosted for the first time by Brandon University, kicks off Friday and culminates Sunday with the gold-medal final at 6 p.m. Central Time. All 11 matches from the eight-team competition will be televised locally on WCGtv and webcast live on www.CIS-SIC.tv.
THÉRÈSE QUIGLEY AWARD (volleyball, academics & community service): Sarah Ross, Acadia
Ross is the second Acadia student-athlete to receive the Thérèse Quigley Award since it was first presented in 1994. Lori-Beth MacEwan was a back-to-back winner in 2003 and 2004.
On the court, the third-year outside hitter finished third in the AUS conference this season in total kills (201) and kills per set (3.09), as well as total points (235) and points per set (3.6).
In the classroom, the Toronto native is already a two-time CIS academic all-Canadian in environmental and sustainability studies, and she is on pace to earn the honour again this season.
Ross is heavily involved in her community, volunteering her time as a coach as well as with several charities and causes. She was a coach for the Axe Academy last fall, completing sessions with athletes ages 8 to 14, and is also a support coach with the under-14 girls Axe Volleyball Program. She is also the senior leader and co-president of the Acadia Players' Association and serves as an event coordinator for Relay for Life, which fundraising, volunteering at the event and acting as a team leader.
"Sarah is an integral part of our program excelling in the three pillars, accomplishing academic and athletic success as well as community outreach," said head coach Michelle Wood. "Sarah exudes passion, constantly extending beyond herself to impact those around her. She is a leader for our program and is a tremendous ambassador for our institution."
The other nominees were libero Joanie Whittom of Sherbrooke, middle Rebecca Steckle of McMaster and libero Jessie Niles of Alberta.
ALL-CANADIAN TEAMS
The all-Canadian teams were also announced on Thursday, including an impressive five selections from the reigning national champion Trinity Western Spartans.
Joining CIS player of the year Iuliia Pakhomenko on the first unit were conference MVPs Meg Casault of Alberta and Kelsey Veltman of Western, as well as UBC Okanagan middle Katie Wuttunee, Trinity Western setter Nikki Cornwall, Trinity Western opposite Elly Wendel and Alberta libero Jessie Niles.
Casault became a three-time CIS all-star, including a second straight first-team nod. Pakhomenko made the second unit a year ago.
In addition to CIS rookie of the year Alina Dormann, the second dream team for 2015-16 is comprised of RSEQ MVP Marie-Alex Bélanger of Montreal, Trinity Western left side Sophie Carpentier, McGill middle Myriam Robitaille, Trinity Western middle Katelyn Devaney, McGill setter Yasmeen Dawoodjee and Acadia libero Hillary Monette.
Bélanger was also a second-team selection last season, while Carpentier was a first-team all-star in 2014.
Joining Dormann on the CIS all-rookie were right side Kierstin Fey of Memorial, setter/right side Courtney Baker of Dalhousie, setter Michelle Chelladurai of McMaster, outside Carolina Alongi of Mount Royal, left side Rowyn Neufeld of Trinity Western and outside Sarah-Jeanne Meunier-Bédard of Sherbrooke.
2015-2016 CIS WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS
*Atlantic conference recipients in bold
Mary Lyons Award (player of the year): Iuliia Pakhomenko, Thompson Rivers
Mark Tennant Award (rookie of the year): Alina Dormann, Toronto
Marilyn Pomfret Award (TIMEX coach of the year): Steve Manuel, UBC Okanagan
Thérèse Quigley Award (volleyball, academics & community service): Sarah Ross, Acadia
First Team
Pos. - Athlete - University - Year - Hometown - Academic Program
LS - Iuliia Pakhomenko - Thompson Rivers - 4 - Donetsk, Ukraine - MBA
LS - Meg Casault - Alberta - 4 - Edmonton, Alta. - Physical Education & Recreation
M - Kelsey Veltman - Western - 2 - Brampton, Ont. - King's College
M - Katie Wuttunee - UBC Okanagan - 5 - North Vancouver, B.C. - Arts
S - Nikki Cornwall - Trinity Western - 3 - Coquitlam, B.C. - Psychology
OPP - Elly Wendel - Trinity Western - 4 - Caronport, Sask. - Biblical Studies
L - Jessie Niles - Alberta - 5 - Turner Valley, Alta. - Science
Second Team
LS - Marie-Alex Bélanger - Montreal - 3 - Joliette, Que. - Advertising
LS - Sophie Carpentier - Trinity Western - 4 - Ottawa, Ont. - Undecided
M - Myriam Robitaille - McGill - 2 - Terrebonne, Que. - Biology
M - Katelyn Devaney - Trinity Western - 3 - Port Coquitlam, B.C. - Biology
S - Yasmeen Dawoodjee - McGill - 5 - Ottawa, Ont. - Nutritional Science
OPP - Alina Dormann - Toronto - 1 - Ottawa, Ont. - Life Science
L - Hillary Monette - Acadia - 5 - New Minas, N.S. - Education
All-Rookie Team
OPP - Alina Dormann - Toronto - 1 - Ottawa, Ont. - Life Science
RS - Kierstin Fey - Memorial - 1 - Selkirk, Man. - Physical Education
S/RS - Courtney Baker - Dalhousie - 1 - Bridgewater, N.S. - Kinesiology
S - Michelle Chelladurai - McMaster - 1 - London, Ont. - Kinesiology
OH - Carolina Alongi - Mount Royal - 1 - Calgary, Alta. - Health & Physical Education
LS/OH - Rowyn Neufeld - Trinity Western - 1 - Richmond, B.C. - Religious Studies
OH - Sarah-Jeanne Meunier-Bédard Sherbrooke - 1 - St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. - Education
Source: CIS Communications