Abrams to represent Canada at World University Beach Championships

Steven Abrams of the Windsor Lancers and Jonathan Pickett of the Guelph Gryphons are set to represent Canada at the 2024 World University Beach Sports Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 2nd – 8th.
 
Abrams, from Georgetown, Ont., was a first-team OUA all-star during the 2022 indoor volleyball season and was named an OUA first-team rookie with the Lancers. Abrams participated in the 2021 U21 Indoor World Championships in Bulgaria, finishing 10th. In 2023, he earned a bronze at the NORCECA Beach Tour.
 
Pickett of Wiarton, Ont. was named a second-team U SPORTS men’s volleyball all-Canadian in 2024. The six-foot-six power hitter was named OUA west rookie of the year in 2020. He also played alongside Abrams in the U21 World Championships in 2021.
 
Both Abrams and Pickett competed at the 2022 FISU World University Championships in Maceio, Brazil.
 
Most recently, the duo is coming off a silver-medal performance at the 2024 Beach Pro Tour Futures event in Halifax, N.S. The tandem will look to stay in the win column against international competition in Brazil.
 
On the women’s side, Emma Kunaus and Maya McNabney of Coastal Carolina (NCAA) will don the Maple Leaf.
 
Kunaus, of Toronto, was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference first team as a sophomore in 2024, accumulating a 26-11 record.
 
McNabney, an Ancaster, Ont. native, recently transferred to Costal Carolina University after her freshman year at Pepperdine. At Pepperdine, McNabney was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team in 2024.
 
Full roster
 
Men’s                                      School                        Hometown
 
Steven Abrams                       Windsor                       Georgetown, ON
 
Jonathan Pickett                     Guelph                        Wiarton, ON
 
Women’s                                School                        Hometown
 
Emma Kunaus                        Coastal Carolina         Toronto, ON
 
Maya McNabney                     Coastal Carolina         Mississauga, ON
 
Staff
Mark Gatto
Srdjan Veckov