OSHAWA, Ont. - The Durham College men's volleyball team has added a new name to its roster, welcoming left side hitter Ethan Sikma to the Lords program. 

The Bowmanville, Ont., product will join the team as he begins his post-secondary journey at Durham, bringing with him a fast-rising story and a passion for competition.

Sikma, who stands 6-foot-2, arrives with a unique athletic background and a clear vision for his future, both on the court and beyond it. "I'm excited about competing at this level and overcoming new challenges in not only volleyball but the Firefighter - Pre-Service Education and Training program," he said.

Though volleyball is now his main focus, Sikma's athletic path began on a different surface. "From the time I was 3 years old I was on the ice," he said, recalling years spent playing AAA and AA hockey until he was 15.

His introduction to volleyball came in a high school gym class, and he was hooked from the start.

"I really enjoyed it and decided I would try playing it outside of school," he said. A summer of beach volleyball and skill sessions with Court Time Volleyball followed, eventually leading to a successful tryout with Durham Attack. "It took a few sessions but I was grateful when I got the email offering me a position on the DA Warriors."

The following seasons saw him continue to develop through the Durham Attack club system, as well as with St. Stephen Catholic Secondary School, where he earned team captaincy and MVP, as well as a Coaches Choice recognition.

"Ethan is the kind of student-athlete we love bringing into our program," said Head Coach Dwayne Cochrane. "He's put in the work to grow quickly in volleyball, and we're excited about his potential both on the court and in the classroom."

When it came time to choose a post-secondary destination, Sikma found the right fit close to home. 

"Growing up with first responders in my family, I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps," he said. The combination of academics and athletics made Durham an easy decision. "DC not only has a great firefighter program but from what I have heard has a great volleyball program, so it was a win-win for me," he said.

Ethan is set to graduate from St. Stephen's in June and will enrol in the Firefighter - Pre-Service Education and Training program in September.

Stay in the know regarding Durham College Athletics and follow us on Instagram and Facebook. All home games are live streamed on the Durham Lords Network.