GUELPH, Ont. – A trio of Gryphon men’s volleyball players were recognized on Wednesday afternoon (March 16) as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced the major award winners and all-stars for the 2021-22 men’s volleyball season.
Jonathan Pickett has quickly established himself as one of the top attacking players in Canadian university men’s volleyball. The 20-year-old native of Wiarton, Ontario earned OUA West First Team All-Star status after an outstanding 2021-22 season. The 6-foot-6 outside hitter, who is currently in his third year of studies at the University of Guelph but just his second year of eligibility, led the OUA with 181 kills this season. Pickett, a sport and event management major, recently represented Canada at the U21 level during the summer of 2021, and has now earned the first OUA All-Star status of his Gryphon career. Two years ago as a Gryphon rookie, Pickett was named the OUA West Rookie of the Year and a member of the OUA West All-Rookie Team.
Ben Kissack, a fourth-year libero with the Gryphons, earns a spot on the list of OUA West Second Team All-Stars. For Kissack, who majors in human health and nutritional sciences, it marks his second OUA All-Star nod during his time at U of G. The Aurora, Ontario native had a phenomenal senior season, leading the conference in total digs (94) while also ranking 2nd in the OUA in digs-per-set (2.35). Rounding out the Gryphon representation is first-year middle blocker, Josh Glasbergen. The 6-foot-5 Burlington native was recognized for an impressive debut season by earning a spot on the OUA West’s All-Rookie Team. The environmental sciences major racked up a team-best 18 block stuffs in 9 games, while also ranking 2nd on the team with 8 service aces. The Gryphons men’s volleyball team fell just shy of reaching the OUA playoffs this season, finishing the 2021-22 season with a 3-10 record.
For more information on the rest of the 2021-22 OUA men’s volleyball all-stars and award winners, visit oua.ca.
OUA West Division – Major Award Winners
Most Valuable Player –
Logan House, Brock
Rookie of the Year – Maxime Gratton, McMaster
Coach of the Year – Dave Preston, McMaster
Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit – Amit Sayal, Western
OUA West Division First Team All-Stars
Logan House, Brock
Sam Cooper, McMaster
Jonathan Pickett, Guelph
Jackson Bere, Western
Jordan Pereira, McMaster
Liam MacArthur, Waterloo
Steven Abrams, Windsor
OUA West Division Second Team All-Stars
Mateusz Wlodarski, McMaster
Grant Reddon, Brock
Colm Guyn, Waterloo
Dami Alalade, Windsor
Wojtek Kraj, McMaster
Josiah Esau, Western
Ben Kissack, Guelph
OUA West Division All-Rookie Team
Maxime Gratton, McMaster
Liam MacArthur, Waterloo
Robbie Fujisawa, McMaster
Jonah Millard, Western
Gustavo Siqueira, Windsor
Jacob Ferland, Brock
Joshua Glasbergen, Guelph
OUA East Division – Major Award Winners
Most Valuable Player – Erik Siksna, Queen’s
Rookie of the Year – Jacob Walker, Rams
Coach of the Year – Steve Leknois, RMC
Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit – Dan Everton, York
OUA East Division First Team All-Stars
Erik Siksna, Queen’s
Jackson Young, Nipissing
Zane Grossinger, Toronto
Evan Falardeau, Toronto
Andrew Tauhid, York
Lachlan McBride, Queen’s
Lhexen Rabit, Rams
OUA East Division Second Team All-Stars
Mitchell Neuert, Toronto
Lukas Kaufman, Queen’s
Michael Rowsell, RMC
Tyrus Cuculick, Nipissing
Saad Shaikh, Rams
Cole Duncanson, Queen’s
Daniel Tudor, Toronto
OUA East Division All-Rookie Team
Jacob Walker, Rams
Cole Duncanson, Queen’s
Jasraj Nijjar, York
Hunter Arulpragasam, Toronto
Thomas Wrigley, Nipissing
Lucas Yang, Rams
Adam Reid, RMC