MONTREAL – Élyssa Lajmi was a double trophy winner to highlight the McGill University women's volleyball awards gala on April 7.
 
The event, held at Ye Olde Orchard Pub, was the last official function for retiring head coach Rachèle Béliveau, who has stepped down after 34 years (33 seasons) with a 734-679-2 record overall since taking over behind the bench in 1991. Her successor will be newly-appointed head coach Marie-Christine Lapointe, who officially takes over the program on May 15.
 
Lajmi, a native of Thionville, in northeastern France, was named as the team's most valuable player and also received the Martlet Award, presented in memory of the late Amy Graham, which goes to the person who best exemplifies team values and had the largest impact through performances on and off the court.
 
Other major award recipients included Justine Veillette (most improved player), Emma Waskiewicz (rookie of the year), Romane Daigle (most sportsmanlike player), Rosalie Beaudin (most outstanding teammate), Charlotte Chouinard-Laliberté (silent leader award) and Sandrine Méthot (most passionate player).
 
The Martlets have three graduating seniors, namely co-captains Charlotte Chouinard-Laliberté, Erin Keating and Rachel Leduc.
 
2024-25 McGILL VOLLEYBALL AWARD RECIPIENT PLAYER PROFILES
 
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
and
AMY GRAHAM MARTLET AWARD
 
Elyssa Lajmi had an impactful debut season with the Martlets. The 22-year-old merited conference first-team all-star honours in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec. She is in the first year of a certificate of proficiency in English for professional communication. The six-foot power-hitter led the league with 237 kills and ranked second in kills-per-set (3.25). She accounted for 29 per cent of the team's 822 kills and was fifth among RSEQ leaders in scoring (3.77 points per set). Lajmi also ranked eighth in digs (2.59 per set) and 15th in hitting efficiency (.221). She added 14 service aces, 22 assists, 11 stuff blocks and 26 assisted blocks. In 21 regular season games, she saw action in 73 of the team's 77 sets played.
 
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER:
Justine Veillette, a 19-year-old management freshman, hails from Quebec City. The 6-foot-2 middle blocker was a midseason call-up from the development team and saw limited duty in seven sets over five regular season contests. She registered two stuff blocks, three kills and one assist.
 
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
Emma Waskiewicz, 21, is a management freshman majoring in accounting. The 5-foot-8 libero from Laval, Que., was the recipient of a $10,000 recruitment bursary from the Aléo Foundation and had a solid debut season, dressing for all 21 regular season games, including six starts. She played primarily at the libero position but also saw some duty on the forward line as a power-hitter.  Waskiewicz led the Martlets defensively with 240 digs for an average of 3.12 per set. She also led the Martlets in serving efficiency with a .986 success rate (69 serves, 1 error; 10 aces), while ranking third in assists (33 in 77 sets) and sixth in kills (49).
 
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER:
Romane Daigle, 22, is a science junior, majoring in anatomy and cellular biology. The Montrealer is a 5-foot-9 setter was in her first year of eligibility after playing for the previous two seasons on the team's development squad. She dressed for all 21 regular season games and saw duty in 56 of the team's 77 sets. Diagle was credited with four aces, a pair of kills and one stuff block. She added 35 digs and 24 assists.
 
MOST OUTSTANDING TEAMMATE AWARD:
Rosalie Beaudin is a 21-year-old bioengineering freshman from Montreal who measures 5-foot-6 and plays at the libero position. She dressed for 20 of the 21 regular season matches and saw action in 55 of the team's 77 sets played. Beaudoin was credited with 50 digs, one kill, one service ace and 17 assists.
 
SILENT LEADER AWARD:
Charlotte Chouinard-Laliberté, 25, is an Arts senior majoring in psychology. The six-foot setter from Montreal over came an upper-body injury and had 15 starts in 18 games played. In 51 sets, she produced 61 kills, seven aces, four stuff blocks and 12 assisted blocks for a total of 78 points. She added 86 assists and 99 digs.
 
MOST PASSIONATE PLAYER (BOONER AWARD):
Sandrine Méthot is a 20-year-old physical and health education freshman from Montreal. The 5-foot-10 middle blocker started in all 21 games and played in 72 of 77 sets. She led the team with 14 solo stuff blocks and assisted on 27 others. Méthot was also credited with 92 digs, 89 kills, 19 aces and 13 assists.
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (cell.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca