The Nipissing Lakers men's volleyball team has a key piece to build around as they look to get back near the top of the OUA standings.

Lakers setter and first-year player, Jack Svendsen, was named a USports All-Rookie thanks to a terrific campaign that saw him sit near the top of both the OUA and the country in positional stats.

The awards were announced and handed out Wednesday night in Kingston, as the Queen's Gaels are set to host the national tournament, beginning Friday afternoon.

 
Jack Svendsen
The first-year setter had an outstanding season, pacing the Lakers offence.

He ranked third in the OUA with 669 assists and assists per set, averaging 9.42.

Those rankings translated to ninth in the country in assists per set and 11th in the nation in total assists, all while playing up to four matches and 15-20 sets fewer than the players ahead of him.

Throughout the season, only once did Svendsen not record at least 10 assists and it was a match where he was subbed out early.

His season-high came against Western where he recorded 51 assists and totalled 93 that weekend in London.

Suiting up in all 20 matches and playing 71 sets, Svendsen also added 30 points on the season.