Aussie standout Riley Donovan commits to Rams men’s volleyball team

TORONTO – The Rams are pleased to announce that Riley Donovan has committed to the men’s volleyball team for the upcoming 2022-23 season. Donovan is the first player in this season’s recruiting class. 

Donovan, a native of Sydney, Australia, is a graduate of Scots College. He comes to the Rams after stints with the Australian Volleyball Academy and the New South Wales Beach Volleyball State Team U18s. He also played with the Phoenix Program during the 2021 season.  

“We are very excited to welcome Riley and his family into our program,” said Rams head coach, Matt Harris. “He will be a great addition to our young squad, with a promising future ahead of him. Riley’s ability to perform on the beach and indoors will be a big asset for us.”

A soon-to-be student at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM), Donovan describes himself as inquisitive, resilient, resourceful, and loyal, and says that his favourite professional athletes are Aussie volleyball legend Paul Carroll and NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

“Riley is ready to fit in on our young and up-and-coming team right away,” associate coach and recruiting coordinator, Niko Rukavina, said. “He can attack from both sides of the court and has the ball control to back it up. We’re hoping he is ready to compete for a role right away.”

A left side and hitter, Donovan will join a hungry young core that hopes to compete for an OUA Forsyth Cup championship next season. 

“It’s always exciting bringing in an international recruit to our program,” Rukavina noted. “Athletes that play in other countries have had different types of coaching and play different styles of volleyball that provide our program some different looks.”

Added Rukavina: “Riley had a couple of options in Canada and [the] USA and, after meeting him and his family on multiple Zoom calls, we are very excited that he chose to be a Ram.” 

Stay tuned to ryersonrams.ca for more recruit announcements as they become available.

2022-23 Rams Men’s Volleyball Recruiting Class
Riley Donovan