After another standout season, Hannah Duchesneau, ArtSci ’25, has once again proven she’s among the nation’s best women’s volleyball players.
The fifth-year outside hitter was named to the U SPORTS All-Canadian team and earned OUA Player of the Year honours for the second straight season—further cementing her legacy as one of the most decorated athletes in Queen’s Volleyball history.
Duchesneau joined the team in the 2020-21 season. After being named to the OUA All-Rookie Team in 2021-22, she thrived in the program, amassing 766 kills throughout her five-year tenure with the Gaels. This season, she drove the Gaels’ offensive strategy, ranking eighth in the OUA in total kills with 221, and ranked third in the league for hitting percentage at .297.
Throughout her career, Duchesneau also represented Team Canada on multiple occasions—an experience that elevated both her performance and profile on the national stage. Despite the accolades, Duchesneau said she never focused on personal recognition. Her sights were always set on team success.
“I was just focused on my contributions to my team and trying to be 100 per cent in what I can control with them and what needed to be done to win a championship. That was the ultimate focus,” Duchesneau said in an interview with The Journal.
In making her the standout player that she is, Duchesneau made sure to credit her past coaches and family for helping push her to be better on the court while also working behind the scenes to help propel her career forward.
“There are two things with volleyball: the physicality, but a lot of volleyball also has to do with mentals. Mike Jones [her former coach] helped me a lot throughout my career and also gave me exposure to other coaches who helped me out. Then my dad, he’s a huge support system for me,” Duchesneau said.
Even for athletes like Duchesneau, who seem naturally composed and focused, the transition to post-secondary athletics and balancing academic didn’t come naturally. Fortunately, the support she found within the Gaels program made all the difference.
“Coming to Queen’s, you have to figure out your support system,” she said. “Honestly, I’ve been blessed here. Our coaches had recruited amazing individuals, and we all foster a sense of support and sisterhood.”
During her as a Gael, Duchesneau played under two head coaches: Ryan Ratushniak, who recruited her, and Shanice Marcelle, who just wrapped up her first season as head coach of the Women’s Volleyball team.
Duchesneau praised each coach’s impact on her development over the past five years, with Ratushniak helping cement the student-athlete mindset and Marcelle bringing her well of experience as a winner.
“Ryan was really, a very knowledgeable coach for volleyball, whether playing or coaching, males or females. I think his way of seeing the game really drew me to Queen’s, and he always mentioned how you’re a student before athlete,” she said.
“Shanice is actually someone I’ve always looked up to, whether that was in the court aspect or her beach volleyball career.”
While no contracts have been signed yet, Duchesneau plans to play overseas in Europe next year. As she’s ready to leave her university career behind, Duchesneau’s excited about what’s next to come.
“I’m ready to be done with exams,” she said, laughing, “but I definitely know that in the first couple months going to play pro, I’m going to get bored of not really using my brain too much. I’m excited to see what more I can grow and learn not only about myself, but about being in a different area or the connections I can create,” she said.
Duchesneau closes an important chapter of her life. With her dedication to the sport, joined with her strong morals, and desire to keep on learning, there’s little doubt she’ll find success at the professional level.
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