EDMONTON – UBC Thunderbirds outside hitter
Kiera Van Ryk has been named the recipient of the Mary Lyons Award as the U SPORTS women's volleyball Player of the Year.
A native of Surrey, B.C., Van Ryk becomes the 11th Thunderbird to have her named etched on the prestigious award, and the first second-year athlete to win since 2003.
Having received the national Rookie of the Year award in 2018, Van Ryk was also named a U SPORTS first team all-star for the second consecutive season at the 2019 All-Canadian Gala Thursday night at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
"For her to accomplish what she has as a second-year player is so impressive," said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. "Her high-end is incredible and I've been impressed with her development over the season in terms of her consistency of play. Beyond her velocity and skill in attacking and serving, she works so hard and contributes so much defensively and in her passing as well. I'm very happy for Kiera, without question she's a very impressive player and has carried a heavy load for us this season."
The Canadian national team member was dominant yet again for UBC in 2018-19, topping the conference in kills with 398, and points with 489, while also ranking eighth in hitting percentage at .263. Her 68 service aces stands as the second highest single-season total in Canada West history.
The Kinesiology student was named the Canada West Female Athlete of the Month twice this season, taking home the honour in both November and January.
Van Ryk and the Thunderbirds begin play at the 2019 U SPORTS national championship Friday afternoon with a quarter-final matchup against the Trinity Western Spartans.
This year marks 12 consecutive appearances at the national championship tournament for UBC. The three-day event is being hosted by the University of Alberta at the Saville Community Sports Centre. First serve for Friday's quarter-final is set for 12:00 p.m. PT.
MARY LYONS AWARD (Player of the Year): Kiera Van Ryk, UBC
Nominees
OUA: Theanna Vernon, Ryerson
RSEQ: Claire Vercheval, McGill
AUS: Courtney Baker, Dalhousie
MARK TENNANT AWARD (Rookie of the Year): Sarah Glynn, Waterloo
Nominees
CW: Savannah Purdy, Trinity Western
RSEQ: Sabrina Mayer, UQAM
AUS: Olivia Bell, Saint Mary's
THÉRÈSE QUIGLEY AWARD (Student-Athlete Community Service): Hannah Stienburg, Saint Mary's
Nominees
CW: Ashlee Sandiford, Regina
RSEQ: Rowan Fletcher, McGill
OUA: Caroline Livingston, Queen's
MARILYN POMFRET AWARD (Fox 40 Coach of the Year): Richard Eddy, Waterloo
Nominees
CW: Melanie Sanford, Regina
RSEQ: Rachele Beliveau, McGill
AUS: Christine Biggs, UNB
2019 U SPORTS WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ALL-CANADIANS
First Team
| Pos. |
First Name |
Last Name |
School |
Elig. |
Hometown |
Program |
| OH |
Kiera |
Van Ryk |
UBC |
2 |
Surrey, B.C. |
Kinesiology |
| MB |
Theanna |
Vernon |
Ryerson |
5 |
Scarborough, Ont. |
Social Work |
| S |
Courtney |
Baker |
Dalhousie |
4 |
Bridgewater, N.S. |
Kinesiology |
| OH |
Kate |
Pexman |
Calgary |
4 |
Calgary, Alta. |
Engineering |
| OH |
Kory |
White |
Alberta |
3 |
Edmonton, Alta |
Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences |
| OH |
Claire |
Vercheval |
McGill |
3 |
Ste. Julie, Que. |
Physical & Health Education |
| OH |
Siobhan |
Fitzpatrick |
UNB |
5 |
Kelowna, B.C. |
Clinical Psychology |
Second Team
| Pos. |
First Name |
Last Name |
School |
Elig. |
Hometown |
Program |
| OH |
Maud |
Chapleau |
Laval |
3 |
St-Thomas, Que. |
Social Service |
| OH |
Laura |
Condotta |
Brock |
4 |
Etobicoke, Ont. |
Sport Management |
| OH |
Alina |
Dormann |
Toronto |
4 |
Ottawa, Ont. |
Life Sciences |
| S |
Satomi |
Togawa |
Regina |
3 |
Uji, Japan |
Kinesiology &
Health Studies |
| MB |
Beth |
Vinnell |
Calgary |
4 |
Cochrane, Alta. |
Kinesiology / Education |
| OH |
Julie |
Moore |
Dalhousie |
2 |
Halifax, N.S. |
Commerce |
| MB |
Kelsey |
Veltman |
Western |
2 |
Brampton, Ont. |
King's College |
All-Rookie Team
| Pos. |
First Name |
Last Name |
School |
Hometown |
Program |
| OH |
Sarah |
Glynn |
Waterloo |
Fredericton, N.B. |
Kinesiology |
| OH |
Sabrina |
Mayer |
UQAM |
Longueuil, Que. |
Psychology |
| OH |
Savannah |
Purdy |
Trinity Western |
Victoria, B.C. |
Science |
| MB |
Olivia |
Bell |
Saint Mary's |
La Have, N.S. |
Science |
| S |
Lauren |
Wong |
Ryerson |
Scarborough, Ont. |
Nutrition & Food |
| MB |
Nyadholi |
Thokbuom |
Mount Royal |
Calgary Alta. |
Open Studies |
| MB |
Charlene |
Robitaille |
McGill |
St. Jean, Que. |
Dietetics |
