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Tsawwassen beach volleyball twins Megan and Nicole McNamara have been named Sport BC’s Team of the Year following a dominant 2018 campaign.

The 21-year-olds were recognized on Wednesday as part of 53rd Annual Sport BC Awards Ceremony and Gala dinner at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. The Minto Cup junior lacrosse champion Coquitlam Adanacs and the rowing pair of Hillary Janssens and Caileigh Filmer were the other finalists. 

The McNamaras enjoyed an outstanding season around the globe, including leading the UCLA Bruins to their first-ever NCAA beach volleyball national championship with All-Tournament Team honours. 

They were also among eight pairs from across the US to receive All-American status for the third consecutive time. That’s on top of Nicole being named Pac-12 Player of the Year and the sisters earning Pac-12 Pair of Year as the Bruins’ No. 1 team. 

The South Delta Secondary graduates enjoyed plenty of success elsewhere including a gold medal run in Germany last July at the World University Beach Volleyball Championships. A month later they were crowned Canadian champions at the Beach Volleyball Nationals in Toronto.

The girls also spent time on the pro circuit — winning silver at the NORCECA stop in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in October and a fourth place finish at a FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour in Mexico to conclude their competitive season.

They have now begun their senior season at UCLA where the No. 1 ranked Bruins are off to an undefeated start. 

The Sport BC Awards recognize  the province’s best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, and officials for outstanding performances in their sport over the 2018 season. Each finalist was nominated by their Provincial or Multi-Sport Organization, High School, College or University.