2009-10 OUA West major awards and all-stars announced

HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce its West major award winners and all-stars for women's volleyball.

First-year player Claire Morrow (London, Ont.) of the Western Mustangs is the West libero of the year. Morrow made the most of a difficult task replacing two-time OUA and reigning Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) libero of the year Andrea Ruste, leading OUA in digs per game with an average of 4.62. Her 291 digs also led OUA. The Mustangs finished second in the OUA West with a 14-5 record, losing only 20 sets all season, best in the division. Morrow is also named to the OUA all-rookie team.

Julie Gordon (Barrie, Ont.) of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks is the West rookie of the year. The first-year middle led her team with 227.5 points, 157 kills, 45 blocks and 34 service aces. She also contributed 70 digs. Gordon's 34 service aces were good for second in all of OUA. Gordon is also an OUA second-team all-star as well as a member of the OUA all-rookie team.

Tim Louks of the McMaster Marauders is the West coach of the year. Louks led the Marauders to an OUA-best 16-3 record, and home court advantage throughout the OUA playoffs. They have finished first in the OUA West three straight seasons. Louks is a multiple recipient of the award, including four of the past seven seasons.

Louks coached two OUA West first-team all-stars this season, including setter Jenn Holt (Hamilton, Ont.) and left side Larissa Puhach (Burlington, Ont.). The Waterloo Warriors also have a couple of representatives on the OUA West first-team including left side Kate Flanagan (Burlington, Ont.) and right side Bojana Josipovic (Kitchener, Ont.). Setter Jenna Thomson (St. Marys, Ont.) of the Mustangs and Kylen Van Osch (Exeter, Ont.) of the Guelph Gryphons round out the first-team all-stars. All six players will be in playoff action this weekend.

Joining Gordon on the OUA West all-star second team is right side Sarah Lowry (Calgary) and left side Caleigh Whitaker (Sharon, Ont.) of Western; right side Kaila Janssen (Oshawa, Ont.) of McMaster; right side Erin Mercer (Rockwood, Ont.) of the Brock Badgers; and right side Claire Sandor (Waterloo, Ont.) of Guelph. OUA all-stars are presented by Mikasa.

Left side Kaila Sequin (Windsor, Ont.) of the Windsor Lancers joins Morrow and Gordon on the OUA all-rookie team. Other members of the all-rookie team were announced on Thursday, and include Ottawa Gee-Gees left side/right side Karina Krueger-Schwanke (Blumenau, Brazil), right side Norah Collins (Cedar Valley, Ont.) of the RMC Paladins and left side Rebecca Crosier (Ottawa) of the Toronto Varsity Blues.

The OUA quarter-finals will begin on Friday on three courts; Ottawa visits Toronto, Queen's hosts York and the Guelph Gryphons battle the host Western Mustangs. On Saturday, the McMaster Marauders entertain the Waterloo Warriors. Women's volleyball award winners and all-stars will be honoured at the OUA Final Four championship on Friday, Feb. 26.

2010 OUA WEST WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Libero of the Year: Claire Morrow (Western)
Rookie of the Year: Julie Gordon (Laurier)
Coach of the Year: Tim Louks (McMaster)

FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Kate Flanagan (Burlington, Ont.) - Waterloo
Jenn Holt (Hamilton, Ont.) - McMaster
Bojana Josipovic (Kitchener, Ont.) - Waterloo
Larissa Puhach (Burlington, Ont.) - McMaster
Jenna Thomson (St. Marys, Ont.) - Western
Kylen Van Osch (Exeter, Ont.) - Guelph

SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Julie Gordon (Barrie, Ont.) - Laurier
Kaila Janssen (Oshawa, Ont.) - McMaster
Sarah Lowry (Calgary) - Western
Erin Mercer (Rockwood, Ont.) - Brock
Claire Sandor (Waterloo, Ont.) - Guelph
Caleigh Whitaker (Sharon, Ont.) - Western

OUA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Julie Gordon (Barrie, Ont.) - Laurier
Claire Morrow (London, Ont.) - Western
Kaila Sequin (Windsor, Ont.) - Windsor

- OUA -