For a third consecutive year, a McMaster Marauder took home the OUA's top honour after leading his team to a home Final Four, as fourth-year outside hitter Stephen Maar was named as the conference's Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Maar follows in the footsteps of teammate Danny Demyanenko, who won the award in 2015, and 2014 winner Jori Mantha, and becomes the fourth McMaster player to win conference MVP honours since the OUA introduced the award in 2004.
The left side was hardly alone among those honoured on Tuesday, however, as six members of the CIS no. 2-ranked Marauders were included in the conference all-star and all-rookie teams. Demyanenko and setter Andrew Kocur joined Maar as First Team All-Stars, while libero Pawel Jedrzejewski was named to the second team.
Pointing to the promising future of the Marauder program, two Mac rookies, outside hitters Matt Passalent and Craig Ireland, were included among the OUA All-Rookie Team.
Despite sitting out five of McMaster's 20 conference matches in 2015-16, Maar cemented himself as the most dominant hitter in the OUA, leading the conference handily in kills per set (4.29), hitting percentage (39.5) and points per set (5). His hitting percentage is tops in the country among eligible outside hitters, while his kills per set rate ranks fourth.
Maar's contributions go far beyond his offensive output, however, as he stands as a leading passer and defender on a stacked McMaster roster and challenges opponents with a spin serve that has netted him the 11th-most aces per set in the country.
His fellow honourees are no slouches either. Demyanenko ranks third in the OUA with an average of 1.10 blocks per set, despite playing just 14 matches, while Kocur has excelled at the controls of the Marauder offence, running the fast, intricate system that has propelled McMaster above the rest of the field in the OUA.
While most of his fellow starters spent significant time on the shelf this season through injury or designated rest, Jedrzejewski was a constant presence on court, playing 19 of the team's 20 matches and providing veteran stability for a rotating cast of young players in the second half.
Two of those young players, Matt Passalent and Craig Ireland, separated themselves from the fresh faces of the OUA's rookie class, making the most of significant playing time this season. Passalent saw time in 14 Marauder matches, averaging 2.8 points per set and reaching the top 10 in the OUA in aces per set (0.33), while Ireland reached 2.9 points per set while rebounding from an injury that held him out of the first half.
The Marauders will now look for some team hardware to accompany the individual honours, as they play host to the OUA Final Four on Thursday and Friday, before hosting the CIS Championships a week later.
OUA MAJOR AWARDS
Most Valuable Player – Stephen Maar – McMaster Marauders
Rookie of the Year – Chris Brunet – Queen's Gaels
Coach of the Year – John Barrett – Toronto Varsity Blues
Dale Iwanoczko Sportsman Award – Mike Tomlinson – Queen's Gaels
FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS
Stephen Maar – McMaster Marauders – LeftDanny Demyanenko – McMaster Marauders – MiddleAndrew Kocur – McMaster Marauders – SetterErich Woolley – Waterloo Warriors – Libero
Braden Cok – Waterloo Warriors – Right
Marko Dakic – Queen's Gaels – Left
Arthur Szwarc – York Lions – Middle
SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS
Stefan Ristic – Toronto Varsity Blues – Left
Aleksa Miladinovic – Toronto Varsity Blues – Setter
Lucas Coleman – Ryerson Rams – Left
Pawel Jedrzejewski – McMaster Marauders – LiberoMike Choja – Western Mustangs – Middle
Josh Edwards – Windsor Lancers – Middle
Mike Tomlinson – Queen's Gaels – Right
ALL-ROOKIE SELECTIONS
Craig Ireland – McMaster Marauders
Matthew Passalent – McMaster MaraudersBrad Gyemi – Windsor Lancers
John Moate – Windsor Lancers
Chris Brunet – Queen's Gaels
Dale Towe – RMC Paladins
Andrew Kos – Toronto Varsity Blues
