University of Toronto Varsity Blues volleyball players Alina Dormann, Chris Towe, Anna Licht and Evan Falardeau have been named members of the 2020 national beach teams as announced by Volleyball Canada on Friday morning.
 
A fifth-year right side hitter from Ottawa, Dormann adds to her extensive volleyball resume with a spot on the national B team. The four-time OUA all-star and U SPORTS all-Canadian has represented Canada at two FISU Games (2017, 2019) and was a member of the Canadian senior national indoor team in 2017.
 
Most recently, Dormann competed on the 2019 NORCECA beach volleyball continental tour, placing fourth in Bonaire, Netherlands this past September. She currently leads the Blues and ranks fifth in the OUA, averaging 3.22 kills and 3.9 points per set. Last winter, Dormann made history, passing 2016 Olympian Heather Bansley to become the Blues all-time kills and points leader.
 
Towe, a 6-foot-6 left side hitter from Caledon, Ont., has also been named a member of the national B team. He came to the Blues last season after three years at the University of Alberta, where helped the Golden Bears to the Canada West and U SPORTS national titles in 2014-15.
 
The mechanical engineering major made an immediate impact on the Blues roster, earning OUA East first team all-star honours last year and helping U of T to their first OUA Final Four appearance since 2004. He most recently represented Canada on the NORCECA continental tour, placing seventh in the Dominican Republic in November.
 
Falardeau and Licht have been named members of the men's and women's summer program, respectively.
 
Licht, a veteran middle from Toronto, has been instrumental in the Blues success over the last five seasons. Like Dormann, the two-time OUA all-star has been a member of two OUA championship teams, as well as the Blues 2015-16 U SPORTS national championship-winning squad.
 
She currently ranks third on the team with 2.5 points per game and second with 17 aces and 22 blocks.
 
Falardeau, who was named a member of both the OUA and U SPORTS all-rookie teams last season, is having another standout year for the Blues. The Stratford, Ont., native currently ranks third in the province, averaging 3.72 kills and 4.3 points per set.
 
He was also a huge factor in Toronto's first playoff victory and OUA Final Four appearance since 2004 last season.
 
Of note, Varsity Blues alumna Heather Bansley has been named a member of Canada's A team. She and partner Brandie Wilkerson won two bronze medals on the World Tour in 2019 after winning back-to-back gold medals to end 2018. For their performance, they sit sixth on the FIVB Olympic ranking. They currently hold a spot that would qualify them for the 2020 Olympic Games if they can maintain their rankings until the cut off of June 14, 2020.  
 
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