KINGSTON, Ont. (March 5, 2024) – Queen’s Men’s Volleyball were awarded two major awards for the 2023-24 season by the OUA on Tuesday, with Erik Siksna named the OUA Player of the Year and Lhexen Rabit awarded the Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit and Champion of EDI award.
Siksna (Markham, Ont.), who was also named an OUA First Team All-Star on Tuesday, led the Gaels in several offensive statistical categories this past season from the outside hitter position. The outside hitter finished the season third in the OUA in hitting percentage at .339, sixth in kills/set at 3.50, and ninth in total kills at 217.
The former OUA and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year, East Division Player of the Year in 2021-22, and now four-time OUA All-Star, Siksna also finished first in the conference in service aces at 52, and service aces per set at 0.84. Siksna also recorded 16 assists, 87 digs, and 24 total blocks in the 2023-24 season.
“I can’t think of a more appropriate way for Erik to end his OUA career,” said Queen’s Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Gabriel deGroot. “He is a pro in every aspect of his life and his performance on court day in and day out this season has been spectacular. Undoubtedly one of the best to ever wear the tri-colour jersey for men’s volleyball. Congratulations Erik!”
Siksna helped Queen’s Men’s Volleyball to another strong season, finishing the regular season with a 15-5 record and the No. 2 seed for the OUA Forsyth Cup Playoffs.
Rabit (Hamilton, Ont.) was awarded the Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit, which recognizes an athlete that exhibits a combination of excellence in academics, athletics, and community service, and the Champion of EDI award.
A graduate transfer from TMU, Rabit participated in the OUA Apprentice Program, which aims to help grow BIPOC student leaders. Rabit also collaborated with Canada Basketball as a volunteer lead for the inaugural Global Jam, and assisted with developing new initiatives for media, marketing, and EDI programs. Rabit successfully executed the first OUA Hockey Pride Games initiative by providing ideas and resources for the event.
“Over Lhexen’s five-year OUA career, both at TMU and now at Queen’s, he has been an impactful student-athlete on and off the court,” Head Coach Gabriel deGroot said. “This season, Lhexen embraced new challenges of a master’s program, joining a new team, and was able to thrive in a new environment, all while contributing to a positive student-athlete experience for himself, his teammates, and the broader varsity community at Queen’s and across the OUA.”
Lhexen has had an impact on the OUA at large as he has worked to support BIPOC athletes, female athletes, and many other equity-seeking groups. Lhexen has truly impacted positive change over his career.