Standout second-year Thunderbird Kiera Van Ryk has been named the Canada West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year.

Van Ryk took home the top conference honour Tuesday as announced by the league in the lead up to the U SPORTS national championship, hosted by the University of Alberta starting March 15.

The national team player was selected as the conference’s best by the 13 Canada West women’s volleyball head coaches who picked last week’s all-stars and all-rookies in addition to the major awards.

Last week, Van Ryk was named a first team Canada West all-star for the second straight year. The reigning 2018 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year will now be up for a national award once again as the conference’s nominee for national Player of the Year.

The Canadian national team member was dominant yet again for UBC, topping the conference in kills with 398, and points with 489, while also ranking eighth in hitting percentage at .263. Her 68 service aces stands as the second highest single-season total in Canada West history.

The second-year Surrey, B.C. product was named the Canada West Female Athlete of the Month twice this season, taking home the honour in both November and January.

“I’m very happy for Kiera, without question she’s a very impressive player and has carried a heavy load for us this season,” said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. “For her to accomplish what she has as a second-year player is so impressive. Her high-end is incredible and I’ve been impressed with her development over the season in terms of her consistency of play. Beyond her velocity and skill in attacking and serving, she works so hard and contributes so much defensively and in her passing as well.”

Joining Van Ryk as award winners were Trinity Western’s Savannah Purdy (Rookie of the Year), along with Ashlee Sandiford (Student-Athlete Community Service) and Melanie Sanford (Coach of the Year) from Regina.

Click here for more information on all Canada West award winners.

[Source: UBC Thunderbirds]