Lords women’s volleyball receives numerous honours
The Durham College women’s volleyball team have parlayed their undefeated 2018-19 regular season campaign into several awards.
The team received five all-star awards, two all-rookie nods, and one major award as Tony Clarke was honoured as Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) East Coach of the year.
Clarke receives the honour for the third time in his five years leading the women’s volleyball program. This season marked the second time in three years the Lords have achieved a perfect 18-0 regular season record under the helm of Clarke.
“It’s always an honour to receive this award because this is something that comes from our peers,” said Clarke, following the awards banquet opening the OCAA championship in Sudbury. “It reflects the hard work and dedication from the rest of my staff and our players, and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved with our program.”
Durham also saw three players recognized as OCAA East Division first team all-stars.
Leading the Lords in kills (170), service aces (55) and digs (155) this season, Althea Boncheff has proven to be a dominant force on the left side. The first team all-star more than doubled her production from a season ago and finished the year fourth in the province in points per set with a 4.0 average.
Joining her on the first team is fellow outside hitter and Durham Lords captain Jessica Joensen. The third-year veteran finished second in team scoring with a career-high 207 points from 157 kills, 34 service aces and 16 blocks. Joensen was previously named an OCAA all-rookie in 2016-17.
Rounding out the Lords first team representatives is second-year libero Devyn Fraser. The dynamic defensive player ranked only behind Boncheff on the team in digs per set, with a 2.46 average. This included a run which saw Fraser average 3.89 defensive saves during a five-match run in the month of November, where the Lords never conceded a set.
Making her first appearance as an all-star on the second team, Cassidy Nicholson-Clarke was a spark for the Lords in the middle. The second-year law clerk student led Durham with 30 blocks in 19 matches this season, ranking fourth in the province with a 0.63 blocks per set average.
She was named Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association athlete of the week earlier this season following a career-high eight block night in a Lords straight set win over Loyalist on Nov. 1.
Also being named to the second team, along with being named an OCAA all-rookie, was first-year setter Georgi Williams. The rookie setter totalled 327 assists this year, averaging 6.96 assists per set, placing her sixth in the OCAA. In addition to her work guiding the Lords offence, she contributed 26 service aces and 26 kills to provide additional offence of her own from the setter position.
Concluding the Lords honours at the OCAA championship banquet was first-year middle Pasha Ormerod, who was named an OCAA all-rookie. A 5’11 middle, Ormerod delivered on an impressive rookie campaign, recording 22 blocks, 58 kills and 25 service aces for 105 total points. Her 2.1 points per set average saw her fifth in team scoring, adding another effective offensive piece to an already stacked attack.