Josh Isaac
Who could ask for a better start to their college career?
Certainly not Josh Isaac, outside hitter for the Thunder men’s volleyball team, who had quite the ending to the 2014/15 season. He was awarded OCAA Rookie of the Year, East Division Rookie of the Year and placed on the All-Rookie Team.
“I was completely shocked,” said Isaac, a general arts and sciences student. “I didn’t know anything was going to happen.”
Isaac was actually notified by his team about the honours.
“I didn’t find out from the OCAA or anything,” said Isaac. “And for the all-star (honours) my coach just emailed me and said ‘Do you want to go to the all-star game?’ It was an honour and I just was very shocked.”
The numerous awards may have been a surprise to Isaac, but to spectators of his magnificent rookie season, it was bound to happen.
The Ottawa native finished top 10 in the league for kills per set and points per set, making him an easy pick for most outstanding rookie.
Now with his impressive season all wrapped up, Isaac is looking to expand next year into a bigger role on the team. The opportunity is definitely there.
“I think I’ll have more of a leadership role because I don’t think all the guys are coming back,” said Isaac. “There’s going to be a different coach as well because Jay (Mooney) is apparently retiring, which sucks because he’s been my only coach that I’ve had, so that’s going to be rough.”
With a new coach and a younger team, Isaac will certainly be a player the team looks up to come the fall.
Hopes are also high for a comeback season. Two years ago, the Thunder finished with an amazing record of 17-1, but faltered this season, barely making their crossover game with a record of 8-10.
Isaac says he sees a bounce-back year in the team’s future.
“At the start (of the season) we took everyone by surprise,” said Isaac. “I think that if we stick to what we were doing early on in the season, we can definitely place top-three and we’ll do well at provincials.”
But even with next season approaching, there’s still time to reminisce.
“The start of the year was really fun and a great experience,” said Isaac. “Going into college, I didn’t know what to expect.”
But though the Thunder failed to make provincials, Isaac sure made the most of his rookie year.