OUA Award of Merit: Making a Difference on Campus

As announced by Ontario University Athletics (OUA) on Monday afternoon, Waterloo Warriors women’s volleyball players Avery Kelly (Calgary/) & Madison Seo (Ancaster/) were recognized as OUA All-stars for the 2023-2024 seaosn. 

An all-star on the court and a standout off of it, Waterloo’s Avery Kelly (Calgary/) did just about everything for her team this season and is honored with the 2023-24 award of merit as a result.

Statistically, Kelly topped the charts for the black and gold with 179 kills – good for 2.42 per set – and contributed 215 points. Additionally, she led the team in digs with her 175 total and 2.36 per set.

If that’s not impressive another, the arts and business (legal studies) student is just as active on campus. She is the president of the Interuniversity Council, representing fellow student-athletes, serving as a voice for her peers, and working toward making the university a better place. Kelly also serves as the Team-Up student coordinator, leading the program that organizes and schedules sessions with local schools to bring varsity athletes to present and engage with the community. Over the years, she has led over 20 team-ups and has played a vital role in growing the program by creating connections with various stakeholders. 

The Calgary, AB native is also the Rise-Up coordinator, overseeing a peer mentorship program that connects incoming first-year student-athletes with an upper year mentor. As the program leader, Kelly recruits and coordinators mentors and pairs them with first-year athlete groups, while also organizing monthly events and interactive activities with the athletes to help them build relationships and skills.

Kelly’s all-around efforts have made her the first Waterloo player to win the award of merit. 

As for first year setter Madison Seo (Ancaster/) she was annouced as OUA all-rookie, making an impact in her debut season with the Warriors. The Kinesiology student played in 16 matches in the regular season, registering 310 assists (5.54 asissts per set). 
 

The complete list of 2023-24 OUA women’s volleyball award winners and all-stars is as follows:

Most Valuable Player – Hannah Duchesneau, Queen’s; Sara Rohr, Brock
Rookie of the Year – Olivia Julien, McMaster
Coach of the Year – Ryan Ratushniak, Queen’s
Award of Merit – Avery Kelly (Calgary/), Waterloo

First Team All-Stars

Hannah Duchesneau, Queen’s
Sara Rohr, Brock
Jenna Woock, McMaster
Julia Murmann, Toronto
Amanda Siksna, Queen’s
Paige Owen, Nipissing
Sullie Sundara, McMaster
Devin Gerth, Western
Ashley Ditchfield, TMU
Gigi Markotic, Brock
Lauren Veltman, TMU
Olivia Zhu, Toronto
Emily Foest, Brock
Alexa Shields, Guelph

Second Team All-Stars

Shea Baker, Queen’s
Claire Stewart, Western
Avery Kelly (Calgary/), Waterloo
Olivia Julien, McMaster
Sadie Dick, Brock
Aliah Admans, Windsor
Sarah Zonneveld, TMU
Oceane Raymond-Leduc, Nipissing
Briar Crerar, Guelph
Yaila Sealy, Windsor
Delaney Watson, Toronto
Ellie Hatashita, McMaster
Ava Ebert, Western
Jessica Reynolds, York

All-Rookie Team

Olivia Julien, McMaster
Delaney Watson, Toronto
Lael Harrison, Western
Madison Seo (Ancaster/), Waterloo
Emma Baruchelli, Brock
Kathryn Beresford, Trent
Victoria Herrington, York