Veteran powerhouse takes center stage as Gratton takes home MVP honours

The outside hitter from Ottawa, Ont., led the conference in points (340) and points per set (4.5), adding to his already impressive career totals. Gratton recorded 20 or more points in eight of his 19 matches played. He also finished the year ranked fourth in kills (277) and second in kills per set (3.64). 

A force from the service line as well, Gratton tallied 37 aces, finishing second in the conference with 0.49 aces per set. He registered at least one service ace in all but two matches this season.  

The fifth-year developmental psychology and education student shone brightest this year when he recorded a season-high 24 kills and 26 points in the Varsity Blues’ 3–2 season finale victory over Western. 

Prior to joining Toronto, Gratton was a highly decorated student-athlete during his four years at McMaster, earning multiple all-star nods and the OUA Rookie of the Year Award, while winning three conference banners and a national bronze medal. 

Rookie of the Year – Mekhi Fitzgerald, McMaster Marauders 

Fitzgerald quickly left his mark when stepping onto the OUA scene, emerging as one of the league’s most dynamic newcomers.  

The rookie out of Milton, Ont., suited up for 19 of McMaster’s contests this year – with starts in 16 of them – while helping them to a 7–13 record. The outside hitter averaged 3.2 points per set and posted 227.5 total points, placing him among the league’s top-20 point producers for the year. 

Rounding out his must-see debut campaign, Fitzgerald recorded 2.61 kills per set and a solid .237 hitting percentage. Studying math and statistics at McMaster, the first-year student also served up some noteworthy numbers from the line, finishing with 19 aces. 

Coach of the Year – James Gravelle, Windsor Lancers 

Gravelle solidifies his third OUA Coach of the Year Award, and second consecutive, after leading the Windsor Lancers to an 18–2 regular season and a first-place finish in the OUA for the second straight year and just the second time in program history. 

Under Gravelle’s guidance, the Lancers averaged the most points per set with 16.1 and posted an impressive .314 hitting percentage. Consistency and confidence were the hallmarks of Windsor’s play, with the fewest hitting errors, as well as the second fewest service and reception errors in the conference.  

The Lancers’ offence, which saw a trio of student-athletes earn all-star recognition with Gravelle at the helm, also led the league with 12.39 kills per set, dominating at the net with 2.20 blocks per set.  

OUA Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit – Fehin Awobodu, Waterloo Warriors  

A leader in every sense of the word, Awobodu has made a lasting impact both on the court and beyond the sidelines.  

The fifth-year honours student in Science and Business has played an active role in his community. Through UW Blueprint, he designed a fleet management dashboard to improve route efficiency and operational coordination for food delivery, while also working with the non-profit Food4Kids Waterloo, which delivers food to over 1,400 kids and operates in 130 schools. 

As the graphic design lead for the University of Waterloo’s Black Association for Student Expression (BASE), he supported Black History Month festivities and the Unity in Motion basketball games. He also used his design skills to organize and support the execution of multiple BASE events centered on culture and representation. 

Always looking for ways to give back, Awobodu organized and promoted events to grow the design community at Waterloo, creating spaces aimed at aspiring UX designers and providing opportunities for them to develop their skills. 

Awobodu has delivered numerous presentations on navigating STEM pathways as a Black student, sharing his experiences and mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds. 

A well-rounded student-athlete and team captain, the middle blocker also put together a strong season for the gold and black. He played in all 20 matches, posting an impressive .366 hitting percentage, good for top-two in the province. A force on both offence and defence, he recorded 126 kills and 60 total blocks, placing him third in the conference in the latter.  

Champion of EDI Award – Chris Zimmerman, Queen’s Gaels  

Zimmerman has continued to be a leader in the equity, diversity, and inclusion space within the OUA and beyond, recognized this year with his second consecutive OUA Champion of EDI Award. 

The fourth-year setter served as the lead organizer for the inaugural Queen’s Volleyball Pride Games, working alongside Trellis HIV Community Care and the Yellow House Student Centre for Equity and Inclusion as partners for the event. 

He is the current Queen’s Varsity Leadership Council Co-President, where he has led initiatives including the Movember campaign and organized lunch-and-learns focused on Truth and Reconciliation, mental health, and life after sport. 

The Prince George, B.C., product serves as the lead of the Queer and Gender Diverse Student-Athlete Association and is actively involved with the Queen’s SHIFT Project and the AMS Social Issues Commission. 

Zimmerman is a member of the Culture Day committee, where he helped organize a 500-person event for student-athletes to showcase cultural diversity through a talent show and food catered from multiple Kingston restaurants. He also works with local 2SLGBTQ+ groups in Kingston to help ensure there is an accessible community for Queen’s student-athletes. 

A true contributor on and off the court, Zimmerman averaged 8.92 assists per game this season, sixth among his conference counterparts, and became Queen’s men’s volleyball all-time leader in assists this year. 

MAJOR AWARDS 

Player of the Year – Maxime Gratton, Toronto Varsity Blues   
Rookie of the Year – Mekhi Fitzgerald, McMaster Marauders 
Coach of the Year – James Gravelle, Windsor Lancers 
OUA Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit – Fehin Awobodu, Waterloo Warriors  
Champion of EDI Award – Chris Zimmerman, Queen’s Gaels  

FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS 

SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS 

THIRD TEAM ALL-STARS 

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM