KINGSTON, Ont. (June 7, 2023) - Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation Linda Melnick was inducted into the Ontario Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2023, last week.

Melnick was inducted as the Furlani Legend Inductee as part of the OVAtion Awards Banquet on Saturday.

"I'd like to thank the Ontario Volleyball Association and all those who have participated in this recognition," Melnick said. "The Anton Furlani Achievement Award, celebrating volunteers in Ontario volleyball, is a prestigious list of individuals that I'm very honoured to be a part of.

"Upon receiving this award, I spent some time reflecting over the last 35 years of my involvement in volleyball, and would like to share that it's the people that have been so meaningful in my experience. The connections, the levels of engagement, the resiliency, the ability to strive for excellence has made volunteering time and dedicating a long career, both professionally and personally, so meaningful and worthwhile."

Melnick's career in volleyball spanned more than 30 years.

As a player, Melnick won a provincial title with her club team, and three OFSAA provincial high school championships in Stratford, Ont., and also played for Team Ontario.

And at the university level, Melnick won five consecutive OUA Championships and two national bronze medals at York University. 

As a coach, Melnick led the Guelph Gryphons Women's Volleyball team to two OUA silver medals and two OUA bronze medals. The two silver medals remain the Gryphons' Women's Volleyball Team's best finishes in program history. Melnick was twice awarded the OUA Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year (1994 and 2004) and OUA Fox 40 Coach of the Year in 2004.

Melnick also coached at the provincial level and was named Team Ontario Coach for the Canada Games in 2005.

Melnick also held administrative roles at the collegiate and provincial governing bodies, including stints as OUA Women's Volleyball convener (2012-16) and CIS (now U SPORTS) Technical Chair (2023-15).

Melnick had previously been recognized by the Ontario Volleyball Association on two occasions, being awarded the OVA Recognition Award in 2002 and Achievement Award in 2016.

Melnick has been with Queen's Athletics & Recreation since 2016, and was named Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation in 2022.