Men’s volleyball Tigers add two more players to the 2013‑14 roster

Dalhousie University men’s volleyball head coach Dan Ota is pleased to announce the commitment of Adam Sandeson and Matthew Donovan to the 2013-14 men’s volleyball team.

A member of the Tigers Volleyball Club, Adam Sandeson has helped lead his team to two consecutive undefeated provincial championships, earning recognition as the top libero of the tournament (2012) and MVP of the tournament (2013). He was also selected as the Tigers top libero and MVP in 2011 and 2012. He led his high school team (CEC) to three provincial championship tournaments, winning the title in 2013. Playing in the right side, left side and libero positions, Sandeson claimed rookie of the year honours in grade 10 and MVP in grade 12 as their team captain. Last summer he was a 17 year old starter on Nova Scotia’s U21 team and was named to the tournament all-star team at the East Coast Elite Championships. Sandeson is headed to the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke this summer as a member of Nova Scotia’s men’s volleyball team.

An honour roll student, Sandeson is a three-time recipient of the CEC Achievement Award for excellence in academics and involvement in extracurricular activities. The Truro, N.S. native will be enrolled in Dalhousie’s science program next fall.

“I am both excited and anxious to come and play for Dal this fall, but I’m sure most people are,” says Sandeson. “Being a varsity athlete will definitely help me ease into university life and I’m looking forward to helping my team to the best of my abilities. I plan on committing to excellence.”

“Adam is a very talented player who has experience at the libero, setting and outside hitter positions,” says head coach Dan Ota. “He has shown the most promise at the libero position, but I know that he can step in and help us at the other positions if needed. I really like the poise and confidence that he has shown on the court and I think that will mix well with the guys that we currently have on our roster.”

Also joining the Tigers this fall is London, O.N. native Matthew Donovan. As a member of the London Volleyball Club, Donovan helped guide his team to a provincial title this past season and a fifth-place finish at the national championship. He led his high school (A.B. Lucas Secondary School) team to a second-place finish in the Southwestern Ontario championship was the team’s MVP this year. Donovan was recently selected to the Ontario Provincial team competing at the NTCC in Gatineau this summer.

Like Sandeson, Donovan is an honour roll student and has been accepted to Dalhousie’s Science program.

“Both of my parents attended Dalhousie,” says Donovan. “My dad played on the basketball team for a couple of years and was an AUAA all-star. I’m very excited to follow in my parents’ footsteps as a Dalhousie Tiger!”

“Matt has the potential to be very good at the CIS level,” says Ota. “He is a right side player who is making the transition from middle, and in my opinion is handling that transition much better than most do in that situation. He is a very smooth player and handles himself at the net well. This latest addition to our roster continues to address the need for depth at the outside hitter positions. We're delighted that Matt will be joining us.”