(Halifax, N.S.) - Tigers men’s volleyball coach Dan Ota is pleased to announce the addition of Halifax native Blake McNeil to the roster this fall.

A 6’6 middle blocker, McNeil has been a member of Nova Scotia’s provincial team program since 2016. He helped lead Team NS to an eighth-place finish at the 2017 Canada Games last summer. Prior to the Canada Games, he was a part of the Elite Development program contingent that placed first at the Eastern Elite Championships and ninth at the National Team Challenge Cup in the summer of 2016.

The Halifax, N.S. native has been a member of the Tigers Volleyball Club team for the past three seasons. He helped lead them to a silver medal at the provincial championships last season, improving upon their third-place finish in 2016. He was named his team’s most improved player for his efforts.

In addition to his provincial and club team success, McNeil has been an integral part of the Citadel High School volleyball team for the past three seasons, earning silver and bronze at the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation provincial championships in 2016 and 2015, respectively. His team’s rookie of the year in grade 10, he earned the Coaches award at the end of his grade 11 year.

“I am very excited to be continuing my academic and athletic career at Dalhousie University,” says McNeil. “I look forward to playing for the Tigers under the coaching of Dan Ota.”

McNeil will graduate from Citadel High School this spring and will pursue a Bachelor of Arts this coming fall at Dalhousie.

“Blake is a promising local prospect,” says Ota. “Although he doesn’t have an extensive background in our sport, he has shown tremendous growth in his short time playing for the Tigers Volleyball Club and on Nova Scotia’s provincial teams. As with most incoming players, he will need to work hard to develop his skills to position himself to be a core player after our senior middles graduate over the next few years.”