Adam Chaplin of the University of the Fraser Valley men’s volleyball team has been named a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian.
The fifth-year left side from Mission becomes the second player in the history of the Cascades men’s volleyball program to earn the prestigious recognition. Derek Fletcher is the other – he was voted to the All-Canadian team twice, in 2008 and 2009.
Chaplin, a graduate of Hatzic Secondary, had a fantastic senior season, finishing seventh in the PacWest conference in total offence (3.89 points/set), seventh in kills (3.03/set) and second in aces (0.68/set). He was named a PacWest first team all-star on Feb. 24.
“It’s a testament to his hard work,” Cascades head coach Kyle Donen said of Chaplin.
“It’s been a long five-year career for him, and he’s worked harder every year to get where he’s at. This year was no exception. He came in stronger than we’d ever seen him, and I think because of that and the way he performed this year, he really earned the respect of the players and coaches around the league. This award is proof of that, and I think it’s very well-deserved.”
Chaplin was a key member of the Cascades team for five years, leading UFV to the playoffs in four of his five seasons.
He was named to the Pacwest all-rookie team in 2011-12, and named a Pacwest second team all-star in 2012-13 and a first team all-star in 2015-16.
The Cascades put together a record of 14 wins and 10 losses this season, the highest number of wins that Chaplin has seen wearing the green and white.
The Cascades bowed out of the first round of the Pacwest provincial playoffs on Feb. 25 in Abbotsford, after suffering a 3-1 loss to Cranbrook’s College of the Rockies Avalanche.
Chaplin accepted his All-Canadian award on March 9 at the CCAA men’s volleyball national awards banquet in New Westminster. Douglas College hosted the CCAA national championship last week.
Chaplin termed his All-Canadian nod “a surprise.” During his youth volleyball days, he often had coaches and talent evaluators question whether he was tall enough to play the game at a high level. He’s listed at 5’10”, but what he lacks in height he makes up for with a 46-inch vertical.
“I don’t know if I’ll believe it until I’m at the banquet and they announce it,” he said earlier this week, reflecting on the All-Canadian award.
“I wouldn’t say I proved people wrong, but I proved to myself that I could do it after people told me that I couldn’t.
“It’s kind of a surreal moment. It’s a good way to end my varsity career, that’s for sure.”
Chaplin’s future plans are still to be determined, but playing the sport professionally in Europe is something he might pursue.