OCAA serves up awards for Falcons

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: COURTESY OF FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
Stephanie Bignell and Darian Gropp of the woman's volleyball were honoured at the OCAA 2015 league awards.

Five Fanshawe Falcons volleyball team members were honoured at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association volleyball championships on February 27 as the OCAA handed out their 2015 league awards.

Men’s volleyball coach Patrick Johnston was named OCAA men’s volleyball West Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. Last year, he also won the OCAA Coach of the Year award.

“It’s an honour,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all this year with some of the great seasons other teams had.”

The men’s volleyball team under Johnston finished with a record of 12-6, placing third in its division. The team lost OCAA championships quarterfinals on March 1, placing fourth.

“Our staff of four worked really hard,” he said. “It’s definitely an all-staff award … and obviously the guys in the court [that] do all the work.”

Johnston says the goal for next year is to improve on this year’s fourth place finished at the OCAA provincial championships.

“It’s just an award, but hopefully it helps recruit some more players and we can continue being one of the best teams in the OCAA.”

Jack Daley, a starting setter in his first season with team, was awarded OCAA West Rookie of the Year, and he was named to the All-Rookie Team. He finished the season with 481 assists and nine service aces.

Stephanie Bignell and Darian Gropp were named to the women’s OCAA Second Team All-Star.

Bignell, who played her last season with the Falcons this year, broke the OCAA career block record this season with a total of 239. She had the women’s team’s most points per set with 2.6.

“It’s an awesome way to finish off my career,” Bignell said in a Facebook message. “There’s a lot of talented athletes in the league, so to be able to be a part of that is a real honour. It’s sad to be done volleyball, but I’m really grateful for my time here and to all of the people who have supported me for the past five years.”

Gropp led the women’s team in assists, service aces and digs with 238, 25 and 184 respectively.

Fourth-year middle blocker Derek Braun was named to the men’s OCAA Second Team All-Star, leading the men’s team in kills and blocks with 131 and 45 respectively.