McGill University Athletics

Born in Montreal on May 6, 1986, Jennifer Thomson was raised in Rosemere, Que., and attended John Abbott College in Montreal's West Island region. Recruited to McGill, she earned an undergraduate degree in physical and health education (2009), followed by a master's in physical education and pedagogy (2011).

A 5-foot-7 power-hitter, she earned Team MVP honours in each of her five seasons with the McGill Martlets volleyball program, from 2005 to 2010.

The recipient of a Murray Hayes entrance scholarship, she made an immediate impact on the court, was voted as the CIS national rookie of the year, culminated by competing for Canada at the 2006 world junior beach volleyball championship.

Thomson was named a tournament all-star in nine of 13 tourneys during her McGill career. A five-time Quebec all-star in the QSSF conference, Thomson became just the sixth athlete in McGill history to earn All-Canadian status five times in the same sport, meriting first-team honours twice. Others in that elite group include basketball's Vicky Tessier, distance runners Linda Thyer and Sarah Ai-Khan, in addition to hockey players Charline Labonte and Ann-Sophie Bettez.

Thomson, who was team captain of the Martlets for two seasons, also served two years on the Varsity Council. She is among a handful of McGill volleyball players to merit a tryout with the Canadian national team, receiving the invitation to their training camp in 2009.

She was the Martlets leading scorer in four of her five seasons and was named as the team's most outstanding defensive player each year. Selected seven times as McGill athlete of the week, she was picked for the RSEQ and CIS weekly honours on Jan. 22, 2006.

A four-time Academic All-Canadian and member of the Principal's Student-athlete Honour Roll, Thomson was also the Quebec conference representative for the CIS national Top Eight Academic All-Canadian program.