TRIO OF BLUES RECEIVE OUA HONOURS

As announced by Ontario University Athletics (OUA) on Tuesday afternoon, a trio of Varsity Blues men’s volleyball players in Hunter Arulpragasam, Jayden Talsma, and Joshua Chapman were recognized with OUA honours.

Leading off the pack, Arulpragasam was named an OUA first team all-star, receiving OUA all-star honours for the first time following his third season with the Blues. Appearing in 18 matches, the Human Biology major led the OUA in both total kills (284) and kills per set (4.37), while also finishing second in the country in the latter. He tallied 20 or more points in six matches this year, including a new single game career-high 27 points in the Blues late-January win over RMC. Not just an offensive threat though, he also ranked Top 5 in the OUA in both total digs (146) and digs per set (2.25), showcasing an all-around game that helped lift the Blues into the OUA postseason. Arulpragasam was previously named an OUA all-rookie in 2022.

Also receiving OUA all-star recognition for the first time, Talsma was selected as an OUA second team all-star. A second-year Geography student from Grimsby, Ont., Talsma provided the Blues with a dynamic 1-2 punch. In 19 matches played this season, he ranked second on the Blues in total points (244.6), kills (212), and digs (121), while also leading the team in service aces (14). Getting stronger as the season progressed, Talsma recorded 20 or more points in four of the Blues last five wins ahead of their OUA quarter-final appearance. He also notched new single game career-high’s in both kills (24) and points (27) in a crucial late season win at TMU in mid-February.

Rounding out the honours for the Blues, first-year outside hitter Chapman was recognized as an OUA all-rookie. The Social Sciences student appeared in 14 matches in his debut season, averaging 1.81 kills per set and 2.0 points per set. Proving to be efficient with his attack, he registered a hitting percentage of .300 or more in six games. Also finding his form as the season went on, Chapman recorded a single game best 11 kills and 12 points in the Blues regular season finale straight sets victory over the Windsor Lancers on Feb. 17 at Goldring Centre.

The complete list of 2024 OUA men’s volleyball award winners and all-stars is as follows:

Most Valuable Player – Erik Siksna, Queen’s
Rookie of the Year – Brady Paterson, McMaster
Coach of the Year – Cal Wigston, Guelph
Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit – Lhexen Rabit, Queen’s
Champion of EDI – Lhexen Rabit, Queen’s

First Team All-Stars
Erik Siksna, Queen’s
Maxime Gratton, McMaster
Jonathan Pickett, Guelph
Darian Koskie, Windsor
Brendan Mills, McMaster
Grant Reddon, Brock
Hunter Arulpragasam, Toronto
Blake Fenwick, Western
Zig Licis, Queen’s
Alex King, TMU
Trent O’Brien, Nipissing
William McIntyre, Waterloo
Jacob Ferland, Brock
Robbie Fujisawa, McMaster

Second Team All-Stars
Joshua Glasbergen, Guelph
Markus Law-Heese, Windsor
Dennis Cota, York
Owen Kelly, Western
Tyler Pavelic, McMaster
Devin Cooney, Brock
Liam MacArthur, Waterloo
Jayden Talsma, Toronto
Nicolas Badalato, Trent
Jasraj Nijjar, York
Lhexen Rabit, Queen’s
Tyrus Cuculick, Nipissing
Andrew Gallant, RMC
Ben Kerkhoff, McMaster

All-Rookie Team
Brady Paterson, McMaster
Jack Svendsen, Nipissing
Quintin Greenidge, Windsor
Josh Chapman, Toronto
Justice Smith, Nipissing
Jared Kuiken, McMaster
Alex Brdarevic, Queen’s