Story courtesy of the CCAA
For the second consecutive season, Yevgeniya (Jane) Lytvynenko of the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners is the 2023 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year.
In addition, Lytvynenko is one of 14 players who has been named 2023 CCAA Women’s Volleyball All-Canadians.
The student-athletes were honoured at the 2023 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship, hosted by Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo.
An inspirational story and an inspirational person, Lytvynenko – who spent the bulk of the offseason arranging to get family members from her native Ukraine to safety in Canada – has built upon her 2022 CCAA Player of the Year season with another outstanding campaign.
“Jane proved to be a force for VIU last year and continued to show dominance and leadership this season,” said Beth Clark, CCAA Women’s Volleyball Convenor.
“She’s really impressive on the court but also a formidable student-athlete and young mother, carrying herself with grace and using volleyball as a healthy outlet from the chaos happening in her home country of Ukraine.”
Lytvynenko led the Mariners to the top of the PACWEST standings once again with a 19-1 record.
The fourth-year outside hitter led the PACWEST with 3.97 kills per set and 4.66 points per set. She is one of the tallest and strongest student-athletes in the CCAA, an outside hitter who can elevate above opposition blockers and threaten defenders with power or a well-placed tip to free space on the opposite court.
Lytvynenko also placed in the top 20 in blocks, aces and digs, solidifying her ability to be a difference maker on offense and defence.
A quiet leader who lets her play do the talking, Lytvynenko has taken on a mentor role and has proven to be very popular with her teammates at VIU, which featured seven first-year players on its roster this season.
Lytvynenko is an instructor/group leader with VIU fall youth volleyball camps and also provided instruction at summer beach volleyball camps.
“Jane is one of the most respected student-athletes in the conference, an ‘A’ student, and someone who has given endless thanks and gratitude to her volleyball teammates, coaches, and community for helping her rise above an unconscionably difficult year,” said Matt Carter, Communications & Sports Information Coordinator at VIU. “She has repaid them and then some with another dominating season on the court and mentorship and friendship off it.”
The CCAA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year receives a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of the CCAA.
