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Langley, B.C – University of Calgary Dinos women’s volleyball rookie Leni Blanke has been named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, announced Wednesday night at the All-Canadian Gala.

Blanke made an early impression in her first collegiate season, paving the way for a spot in the team’s starting lineup. One of just eight players to appear in all 23 regular-season and playoff matches, the six-foot-one outside hitter finished second on the Dinos in both kills (137) and kills-per-set (2.01) while posting a .195 hitting percentage. She also recorded 101 digs, 37 total blocks and 13 service aces during the regular season.

It marks the second straight season a Dinos player has been named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, following Sophia Hansen last year. Blanke becomes the 10th player in program history to earn national all-rookie honours.

At the All-Canadian Gala, Alberta Pandas outside hitter Abby Guezen was named the Mary Lyons Award winner as U SPORTS women’s volleyball Player of the Year. Montreal outside hitter Eva Génier earned the Mark Tennant Award as Rookie of the Year, while McMaster outside hitter Abby Delamere received the Thérèse Quigley Award for Student-Athlete Community Service. UNB head coach Lauren Hale-Miller was named Fox 40 Coach of the Year, receiving the Marilyn Pomfret Award.

2026 U SPORTS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL AWARD WINNERS & ALL-CANADIANS

 

MARY LYONS AWARD (Player of the Year): Abby Guezen, Alberta

MARK TENNANT AWARD (Rookie of the Year): Eva Génier, Montreal

THÉRÈSE QUIGLEY AWARD (Student-Athlete Community Service): Abby Delamere, McMaster

MARILYN POMFRET AWARD (Fox 40 Coach of the Year): Lauren Hale-Miller, UNB

First Team All-Canadians

 




Pos.
First Name
Last Name
University
Year
Hometown
Program


OH
Abby
Guezen
Alberta
3
Sherwood Park, Alta.
Kinesiology,

Sport & Rec


LS
Raya
Surinx
Manitoba
4
Winnipeg, Man.
Science


OH
Lucy
Borowski
UBC
5
Vancouver, B.C.
Kinesiology


OH
Oceane
Raymond-Leduc
Nipissing
4
Ottawa, Ont.
Education


OH
Béatrice
Dubreuil
Sherbrooke
2
Candiac, Que.
Law


OH
Justine
Raymond
Laval
5
Victoriaville, Que.
Psychopedagogy (Masters)


LS
Emilia
Mikanovich
Saint Mary’s
4
Minsk, Belarus
Biology

Second Team All-Canadians
 



Pos.
First Name
Last Name
University
Year
Hometown
Program


OH
Maryn
Boldon
Trinity Western
4
Okotoks, Alta.
Human Kinetics


MB
Kaylee
Plouffe
Trinity Western
5
Sherwood Park, Alta.
Human Kinetics


S
Justine
Kolody
Alberta
5
Winnipeg, Man.
Education


OH
Olivia
Julien
McMaster
3
Toronto, Ont.
Life Sciences


OH
Audrey
Odigie
Ottawa
4
Brampton, Ont.
Finance


OH
Lydia
Green
UNB
5
Bedford, N.S.
Science


S
Talia
Nixon
UNB
3
Fredericton, N.B.
Arts

All-Rookie Team
 



Pos.
First Name
Last Name
University
Hometown
Program


MB
Naomie
McWhinney
Memorial
Chelsea, Que.
Humanities &

Social Sciences


OH
Eva
Génier
Montreal
Ottawa, Ont.
Preparatory Year


S
Marina
Gustke
Toronto
Montreal, Que.
Psychology


OH
Toni
Wilson
Western
Oakville, Ont.
Information & Media Studies


S
Julia
Martens
Manitoba
Winnipeg, Man.
Science


MB/OH
Leni
Blanke
Calgary
Calgary, Alta.
Arts


MB
Ali
Rathlef
UBC Okanagan
Vancouver, B.C.
Sustainability