Four Brock women’s volleyball players earn OUA honours

The Brock Badgers women’s volleyball program continues to be recognized as a provincial powerhouse. 

Four Badgers were celebrated for their accomplishments during the regular season as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced their major award winners and all-stars on Monday, March 3. 

The Badgers led all schools with the four combined all-star and all-rookie team selections while Queen’s, who finished first in the regular season, finished second with three. 

Sadie Dick was named an OUA First Team All-Star while Mackenna Knox was selected to the OUA Second Team and Emily Foest nabbed a Third Team All-Star nod. Rounding out the Badgers’ selections was Charlotte Ross who was recognized as an OUA All-Rookie Team member. 

“We’re super proud of the athletes who were selected for awards this year,” said head coach Steve Delaney. “It hasn’t been an easy year, and it’s been a grind, but a lot of good things were done by all of our athletes. We recognize and appreciate all the hard work they have been putting in.” 

Dick, a fourth-year right side, earned the second OUA First Team All-Star selection of her career and fourth all-star selection total after a sensational regular season. 

The local St. Catharines product finished the regular season ninth in the province in total points with 255.5 and tenth in points per set with 3.5 and total kills with 210. Her hitting percentage of .268 also put her eighth in the OUA amongst eligible hitters while her 65 total blocks placed her seventh in the province and 13th in the country. 

“Sadie is one of the main reasons we are successful – her offence and block have been paramount,” Delaney said. “We’re delighted for her to get a First Team All-Star as she leads on the court but leads off the court as well as a captain on this team.”

In her first year as the starter at the important setter position, Knox has made an impact that is felt nationally, finishing second in the country in assists per set with 10.10 and sixth in total assists with 626.  

Those numbers placed her first in the province as she guided the Badgers to a provincial-high .238 hitting percentage and a second-best 12.44 kills per set. 

“Stepping into the starting setter spot, Mackenna has done a great job, as being one of the top assist leaders in the country is no easy feat,” Delaney said. “The pressures of having to perform have been immense, but she has handled it great.”

Foest was another key piece for the Badgers’ offence at the outside hitter position during the regular season, finishing ninth in the OUA in total kills (216) and tenth in points per set (3.5) and kills per set (3.09). 

The Fonthill product finished second on the team with 142 digs and 2.03 digs per set providing stability for the Badgers’ defence. 

“Emily has been a steady part of our team for reception and offence and someone we count on from the service line every season,” Delaney said. “So, it’s not surprising she is doing that for us again this year.”

In her first year as a Badger and a starter, Ross has filled in admirably as a starting middle, starting in every match and delivering 74 total blocks which places her third in the province and 1.00 blocks per set which is good fourth amongst all OUA blockers. 

The 6-2 middle has also been deadly from the service line, leading the team in service aces with 31 and finishing seventh in the province amongst all athletes and second within her position group. 

“We’re really happy for Charlotte. She got more time than she probably expected when we had a couple of injuries,” Delaney said. “She’s always eager to learn and has been a big piece for us stabilizing our middle.”

The complete list of 2024-25 OUA women’s volleyball award winners and all-stars is 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