Emilia Mikanovich, Women's Volleyball
2025-26 HUSKIES FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Emilia Mikanovich, women's volleyball
Women's volleyball left side Emilia Mikanovich, a fourth year science student from Minsk, Belarus, has been named the 2025-26 Huskies Female Athlete of the Year.
For the second straight season, Mikanovich was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. She was also named AUS Most Valuable Player, AUS Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player, and an AUS First Team All-Star, and led the Huskies to their second straight AUS Championship.
Mikanovich started all 20 regular season matches for the Huskies, leading the AUS in points (355.0), points per set (4.7), kills (309) and kills per set (3.39), and ranking among AUS leaders in digs (246 - third), digs per set (3.24 - fifth) and service aces (25 - fifth). This earned her AUS MVP honours, as well as her fourth career AUS All-Star selection.
Her career-high 355.0 points ranks as the fourth highest single season total in AUS history (third all-time for a Saint Mary's player) and her 309 kills also ranks as the fourth highest single season total in AUS history (second all-time for a Saint Mary's player). And as great players do, she was even better at the AUS Playoffs, leading the team to a perfect 4-0 record and back-to-back AUS Championships, winning playoffs MVP, and being named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian.
"Since arriving in Canada 4 years ago, Em has made an immediate impact on our volleyball program and in all our lives," said Huskies volleyball head coach Darren Russell. "Watching her grow as a player, student and person has been a real honor. Game after game, she set the tone and led the way - she were dominant, dependable and driven to be one of the best to play the game at Saint Mary's and in Canada - an undeniable MVP! Congrats and very well deserved."
2025-26 Huskies Female Athlete of the Year Nominees: Cara Freeman, Women's Soccer; Abigail MacKenzie, Women's Hockey; Emilia Mikanovich, Women's Volleyball
2025-26 Huskies Athletes of the Week, sponsored by Freeman's Little New York Halifax:
Week 1: Aug. 18-24: Malik Williams, Football
Week 2: Aug. 25-31: Justin Shibley, Football & Cara Freeman, Women's Soccer
Week 3: Sept. 1-7: Jahmari Brown, Football & Cara Freeman, Women's Soccer
Week 4: Sept. 8-14: Tomas Mello, Men's Soccer & Katherine Fairbrother, Women's Rugby
Week 5: Sept. 15-21: Ryan Butler, Football & Frances MacLeod, Cross Country
Week 6: Sept. 21-28: Liam Legge, Football & Cara Freeman, Women's Soccer
Week 7: Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Ryan Butler, Football & Avery Cant, Women's Hockey
Week 8: Oct. 6-12: Reid Valade, Men's Hockey & Katherine Fairbrother, Women's Rugby
Week 9: Oct. 13-19: Ben Allison, Men's Hockey & Keyara Nelson, Women's Hockey
Week 10: Oct. 20-27: Isaiah Okoli, Football & Frances MacLeod, Cross Country
Week 11: Oct. 28-Nov. 2: Malik Williams, Football & Emilia Mikanovich, Volleyball
Week 12: Nov. 3-9: Keyshawn Beswick, Football & Abigail MacKenzie, Women's Hockey
Week 13: Nov. 10-16: Cherooke Robinson, Football & Taylor Lougheed, Volleyball
Week 14: Nov. 17-23: Jasha'jaun Downey, Men's Basketball & Mia Faseruk, Women's Hockey
Week 15: Nov. 24-30: Reid Valade, Men's Hockey & Emily Dikdan, Women's Basketball
Week 16: Jan. 3-11: Ben Allison, Men's Hockey & Angong Jacob, Women's Basketball
Week 17: Jan. 12-18: Chandler Zinck-Marier, Men's Track & Field & Sophie Scully, Women's Hockey
Week 18: Jan. 19-25: Jayrell Diggs, Men's Basketball & Angong Jacob, Women's Basketball
Week 19: Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Marcus Vandenberg, Men's Hockey & Jillian Duggan, Women's Hockey
Week 20: Feb. 2-8: Mason Dunlop, Men's Track & Field & Kara MacLean, Women's Hockey
Week 21: Feb. 9-15: Ben Allison, Men's Hockey & Syree Tucker, Women's Volleyball
Week 22: Feb. 16-22: Ciaran MacDonald, Men's Track & Field & Emilia Mikanovich, Women's Volleyball
U SPORTS Nationals: Feb. 23-March 22: Ben Allison, Men's Hockey & Emilia Mikanovich, Women's Volleyball