Sweet Karoline Encore

The PACWEST is pleased to announce Karoline Tormena of the VIU Mariners as the Female Athlete of the Year across all sports for the second straight season.

She simply dominated during the regular season helping the Mariners to an undefeated record on route to the CCAA national championship tournament. Despite playing in just 63 sets during the regular campaign she finished with 229 kills leading the Mariners and was fifth across the PACWEST. She also tallied 224 digs as the opposing team tried to get her out of rhythm along with 15 aces and 16 blocks.

“Karol is a pleasure to coach,” says head coach Shane Hyde. “She has a very competitive edge to her and hates it when she is not perfect. I love that in a player. She has the ability to score points in so many ways, tips, rolls and pure bombs! She is such a steady player both offensively as well as defensively and will rarely make a mistake twice in a row.”

Following the regular season she was named the Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight time. She then continued her dominating play into the PACWEST championship tournament where she accumulated 36 kills and 18 digs in their two matches. An incredible 22 of those kills came in the gold medal match and she went onto be named the Most Valuable Player.

With the Mariners back in the CCAA national championship tournament Tormena again stepped up her game finishing their three matches with 35 kills, 43 digs and eight block assists winning another national gold medal. She was named the tournament Most Valuable Player and an All-Canadian after her tremendous individual effort.

“This season her game improved from last year,” continues Hyde. “She is more comfortable with the North American style and her English has improved so that has allowed her to feel more confident on the court. Last season there were lots of drawings and pictures to describe what she needed to do. This year she understands everything including humour from her teammates and I think her confidence and enjoyment this year has made her stronger than last season.”

She becomes the first athlete to win this award in consecutive seasons since Kayla Bruce of the UFV Cascades was honoured in 2012 and 2013. Incredibly this is the fifth straight season a player from the Mariners women’s volleyball program has been named the Athlete of the Year across all-sports. Tormena won last year and follows in the footsteps of Mikayla Wagner (2018), Megan Rosenlund (2017) and Tyler Turnball (2016).