Kevin Tillie has made TRU WolfPack history.

Tillie, a left side from Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, was named CIS rookie of the year at the All-Canadian banquet at TRU’s Grand Hall on Wednesday. He is the first WolfPack player in any sport to garner a major CIS award.

“It means a lot,” said Tillie, a 6-foot-5 19-year-old. “It’s great to be recognized in another country — it’s really great.”

The banquet officially kicked off the CIS men’s volleyball championship, with opening matches scheduled for Friday. The host WolfPack will take on the Alberta Golden Bears on Friday, 6 p.m., at the Tournament Capital Centre.

Tillie was a big surprise for the WolfPack this season — he joined the team in August after playing for the French junior national team.

He made an immediate impact in providing an alternative offensive threat to WolfPack star left side Gord Perrin. Tillie ended the season third in Canada West and seventh in the CIS in kills (3.73) and points (4.4) per set, and was tied for the Canada West lead in service aces (30).

“I didn’t expect to do that well — I didn’t know how it was going to be in Canada,” Tillie said. “I just wanted to play and study — that’s all I really wanted . . . finishing rookie of the year in Canada, that’s pretty amazing.”

Tillie was named to the CIS all-rookie team, the fourth straight season TRU has had a player on the team, following Robin Schoebel (2006-07), Perrin (2007-08) and Josh Boruck (2008-09).

Perrin, meanwhile, was named to the all-Canadian team. The 6-foot-6 left side from Creston had another stellar season for the WolfPack, finishing second in the CIS in kills per set (4.68).

Paul Sanderson of Brandon was named player of the year after helping the Bobcats to a 12-6 record. The 6-foot-5 Australian also was an all-Canadian.

Blair Bann of the UBC Thunderbirds was named libero of the year for the second time in three years. Bann averaged 3.76 digs per set, 1.04 more than the next best libero.

Pascal Clément, head coach of the No. 1-ranked Laval Rouge et Or, was named coach of the year. The Rouge et Or was 18-0 in the regular season and won the Quebec championship in a two-match sweep of the Montreal Carabins.

Carabins outside hitter Emmanuel André-Morin won the Dale Iwanoczko Award, which is given to an outstanding student-athlete who gives back through community service. André-Morin, who was a second-team all-Canadian, is working on a masters in public accounting, and also worked with two community organizations in Montreal.

For a list of all-Canadians, please see Scoreboard.

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca