Two first year members of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's volleyball team have been chosen as Canada West all-stars for the 2018-19 season.
Outside hitter Olga Savenchuk (Donetsk, Ukraine) and middle Hayley McNaught (Woking, AB)  were named as part of the all-star squads.

Savenchuk was chosen to the Canada West first all-star team. Due to her age (30), she wasn't eligibile for the Canada West rookie team.  McNaught was chosen to that rookie all-star squad.
"if you look at the offensive numbers Olga definitely deserves to be there," says WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm.  " If you look at defending, blocking and all those other essential things she brings to the team, they are very positive."

Grimm made Savenchuk one of the captains of the 'Pack this year to augment the leadership skills of Kendra Finch (4^th year, outside hitter, North Vancouver, BC).  " Kendra is definitely more on the social side with the girls and organizing things for the team and takes care of that. Olga leads by example. She brings a professionalism to the team and the way she approaches the games.  She is big in critical situations. She helps settle the team down.  I think some of our success in five set matches is due to what Olga brings on the court who are calm in those situations."
Savenchuk was fourth in Canada West in both kills (340) and kills per set (3.78).  She played in all 24 league matches and appeared in 90 sets.  She had 271 digs (second most on the WolfPack), had 10 solo blocks and 56 block assists and had 23 assists.  She is enrolled in the Masters in Business Administration program at Thompson Rivers.

McNaught  is a 6'0" Arts student.  In her first year, she dressed for 18 matches appearing in 46 sets.  She had two solo blocks and 34 block assists while notching 39 kills and four service aces.
"I think you could look at those first year girls—especially Hayley, Lizzy (Reimer, 1^st year, middle, Edmonton, AB) and Erin (Mutch, 1^st year, outside hitter, Victoria, BC) that played a lot as first years who played a lot and could have all been on that team," Grimm explains. "Through the middle chunk of the year, Hayley was out there a lot for us and provided some much needed punch for us in the middle. She had solid serves. She is deserving of the award. I was happy with how all the first years performed for us this year."

Grimm says McNaught turned many heads in her rookie season. "That is the thing. I have a little bit of a soft spot in my heart for those girls from small towns (Grimm himself is from the small town of Kersley in the North Cariboo).  Knowing that sometimes it takes a little longer to develop. You don't have the same opportunities. You look at both Hayley and Macey Hogg (from Terrace, BC).  Not super high exposure to volleyball. Hayley did get some opportunities playing for Team Alberta.  She has some experience there. I think she came in here and works hard. She does what is asked of her and she has progressed very well this year."

The WolfPack have had at least one player on the Canada West rookie all-star team for the last three seasons.  McNaught follows Ansastasiia Muzyka (Potlawa, Ukraine) last year.  Mikayla Funk (South Surrey, BC) and Abby Spratt (Calgary,AB) were rookie all-stars in 2016-17.
Here are the rest of the all-star selections as announced by Canada West Athletics sports information:
 
 
 
 
2018-19 Canada West Women's Volleyball Awards Winners
 
1^st Team All-Stars
 

Name	School	Year	Position
Kiera Van Ryk	UBC	2	Outside Hitter
Kate Pexman	Calgary	4	Outside Hitter
Kory White	Alberta	3	Outside Hitter
Satomi Togawa	Regina	3	Setter
Beth Vinnell	Calgary	4	Middle
Hillary Howe	TWU	3	Outside
Olga Savenchuk	TRU	1	Outside Hitter

 
2^nd Team All-Stars
 

Name	School	Year	Position
Mikaelyn Sych	TWU	4	Middle
Mariah Walsh	Alberta	5	Setter
Nikki Majewski	Brandon	5	Outside Hitter
Hannah Tanasichuk	Calgary	3	Outside Hitter
Brie King	TWU	4	Setter
Cassie Bujan	Manitoba	5	Libero
Olivia Furlan	UBC	3	Setter

 
 
 
All-Rookie Team

 

Name	School	Year	Position
Savannah Purdy	TWU	1	Outside Hitter
Nyadholi Thokbuom	MRU	1	Middle
Sydney Grills	UBCO	1	Outside Hitter
Mandi Fraser	Saskatchewan	1	Middle
Hayley McNaught	TRU	1	Middle
Jade Bussard	UBCO	1	Outside Hitter
Kayla Oxland	UBC	1	Setter