KAMLOOPS, B.C. (CIS) – Eric Simonwas one of seven Canadian university men's volleyball players to earn first-team All-Canadian honours as the CIS announced its major award winners and All-Canadians in Kamloops, B.C., March 10. His teammate Phil James was named to the CIS all-rookie team.
Simon, an outside hitter from London, Ont., led the OUA and was second in the nation with 32 serving aces, and also had an impressive 23.5% attack percentage.
He finished the season with 166 kills, 103 digs, nine solo blocks, 21 assisted blocks and 217.5 points. He fought through injury to help Western in a five-set showdown with eventual OUA champion Queen's in the OUA semifinal, playing on a partially sprained ankle.
A student in engineering science, he was the Mustangs team captain and has been a four-time CIS Academic All-Canadian.
"Eric displayed consistent leadership and ability throughout an outstanding OUA season," said head coach Jim Sage. "Eric is our leader on and off the court, and sets an example all players can look up to."
Fourth-year Brandon left side hitter Paul Sanderson was named the CIS player of the year in men’s volleyball, Wednesday night. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Sanderson became the first CIS major award winner in the short history of the Bobcats, who joined the league in 2005-06. He is also the 12th consecutive MVP from a team currently competing in the Canada West conference.
Simon, Dalhousie outside hitter Sander Ratsep of London, Ont., Laval outside Karl De Granpré of Pierreville, Que, were the other nominees for CIS MVP.
Meanwhile James (Ottawa) was named to the CIS all-rookie team after an outstanding freshman campaign. Nominated for CIS rookie of the year, James lost out to Matt Busse of the Saskatchewan Huskies for the honour.
The first-year arts student was dominant for Western through the middle and is one of the nation's top blockers.
He finished ninth in the CIS with a 33.1% kill percentage and was 12th in the nation in aces with 23. He also had 23 solo blocks and 32 assisted blocks on the season along with 33 digs.
James was a U-18 National champion and MVP in 2008-09. He started every match for Western this year at the middle position and made an immediate impact.
“Phil is an outstanding athlete whose enthusiasm and passion for the game sets an example to others,” Sage said.
Other award winners announced at the All-Canadian Banquet in Kamloops, B.C. were Thompson Rivers’ Kevin Tillie of Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, who was chosen rookie of the year, UBC’s Blair Bann of Edmonton, named the nation’s top libero for the second time in three years, Laval’s Pascal Clément, who earned coach-of-the-year honours for the third time, as well as Montreal’s Emmanuel André-Morin of Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, Que., who received the Dale Iwanoczko award recognizing his excellence in volleyball, academics and community involvement.
The 2010 CIS championship gets underway Friday at Thompson Rivers University with the quarter-final match-ups, and concludes Sunday at 6 p.m. Pacific Time with the gold-medal final. SSN Canada will have live webcasts of all main-bracket duels. Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball
2009-2010 CIS MEN'S VOLLEYBALL AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS
Player of the year: Paul Sanderson, Brandon
Rookie of the year: Kevin Tillie, Thompson Rivers
Libero of the year: Blair Bann, UBC
Coach of the year, presented by Coaches of Canada: Pascal Clément, Laval
Dale Iwanoczko Award (outstanding student-athlete – community service): Emmanuel André-Morin, Montreal
First Team
Position Athlete University Year Hometown Faculty
Outside Karl De Granpré Laval 3 Pierreville, Que. Statistics
Outside Frédéric Desbiens Laval 4 La Malbaie, Que. Physical Education
Middle Justin Duff Winnipeg 4 Winnipeg, Man. Education
Left Side Gord Perrin Thompson Rivers 3 Creston, B.C. Arts
Outside Sander Ratsep Dalhousie 4 London, Ont. Economics
Left Side Paul Sanderson Brandon 4 Melbourne, Australia BPES
Left Side Eric Simon Western 5 London, Ont. Engineering
Second Team
Outside Emmanuel André-Morin Montreal 4 Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, Que. Accounting
Middle Max Burt Dalbousie 4 Gander, Nfld. Kinesiology
Left Side Thomas Jarmoc Alberta 5 Calgary, Alta. Physical Education & Recreation
Left Side Steven Kung Toronto 5 Toronto, Ont. OISE
Outside Jeremy Groenveld McMaster 4 Welland, Ont. Geography
Middle Oleg Podporin Calgary 5 Almaty, KZ Social Sciences
Outside Joren Zeeman Queen’s 3 Cambridge, Ont. Physical and Health Education
All-Rookie Team
Right Side Matt Busse Saskatchewan 1 Outlook, Sask. Kinesiology
Middle Phil James Western 1 Ottawa, Ont. Arts
Outside Frédéric Mondou Laval 1 Verchères, Que. Open Studies
Outside Alexander Poldma Waterloo 1 Toronto, Ont. Mechanical Engineering
Opposite Matthew Schriemer Winnipeg 1 Winnipeg, Man. Arts
Middle Nathan Tilley Memorial 1 St. John’s, Nfld. Engineering
Left Side Kevin Tillie Thompson Rivers 1 Cagnes-sur-Mer, France Arts
