VB: ALB outside, TWU middle lead teams to national titles
ALB's Canham, TWU's Heppell named CW Players of the Week
CALGARY - Alberta's Jordan Canham and Trinity Western's Avery Heppell were named the Canada West Volleyball Players of the Week by the conference on Tuesday.
Canham was spectacular from all angles in a golden performance from his Golden Bears at the U SPORTS Men's Volleyball Championships at the University of Manitoba. He opened the tournament with four service aces in a quick 3-0 victory over Queen's University Friday. He also led all players in the match with seven digs on the night.
Canham looked to sharpen his hitting Saturday, dominating from the outside in the team's semi-final game against the Calgary Dinos. The Avonmore, ON product laid down 17 kills, another service ace, six more digs and four blocks as the Golden Bears booked their ticket to the national final.
Facing the Spartans, who beat them just a week prior in the CW Championship final, Canham and the Golden Bears flipped the script in a feat that had fans on the edges of their seats. The third-year outside was the most lethal hitter on the floor in the biggest moment of the season, against the team that spent the season atop the national rankings. He slammed down 17 kills, hitting .367 per cent in the game. Unfazed by the pressure or stakes, Canham also sailed in 3 service aces for 22 points in the title bout.
Canham was named the championship MVP and a member of the tournament's all-star team. His versatile and dominant performance helped his team capture its ninth national banner in program history.
Game log:
March 25: 6k, .176K%, 4SA, 7 digs, 2 BA, 11 points in 3-0 W vs Queen's
March 26: 17k, .303K%, 1SA, 6 digs, 4 blocks, 20.5 points in 3-1 W vs CGY
March 27: 17k, .367K%, 3SA, 3 digs, 3 blocks, 22 points in 3-1 W vs TWU
Meanwhile, a fourth-year middle was steadfast in cementing her team's place atop the country. Avery Heppell has locked in through the Canada West and U SPORTS championships to earn her second-straight Player of the Week nod.
Heppell's Trinity Western Spartans have led the nation's rankings through most of the regular season, but that pressure and the sheer volume of some hometown crowds couldn't crack her mentality over nationals weekend.
She started the U SPORTS championship tournament with a 10 kill performance against the host Calgary Dinos. Heppell converted on half of her swings while posting an eyebrow-raising eight blocks, stifling both the Dinos and the energy of their hometown fans. She hit the floor for four digs while serving two aces in the 3-1 victory.
Heppell continued to work with efficiency in a 3-0 walloping of McGill in the semi-finals. The Langley, BC product just needed 11 swings to bury seven kills. She completed her impressive work at the net with seven block assists as the Spartans raced to a three-set win.
In the Championship final, Heppell again loomed large at the net, shutting down the Mount Royal offence in a gym that rocked with Cougars fans. She remained steady and reliable, pushing her Spartans to the capture the banner they've waited three seasons for. She posted 11 kills, a .368 kill rate, seven block assists, four digs, an ace and 15.5 points in the 3-1 final.
Heppell's consistent and efficient presence earned her the Championship MVP award.
Game log:
March 25: 10 k, .500 K%, 8 blocks, 4 digs, 2 SA 16.5 points in 3-1 W vs CGY
March 26: 7 k, .636 K%, 7 BA, 1 SA, 11.5 points in 3-0 W vs McGill
March 27: 11 k, .368 K%, 7 BA, 4 digs, 1 SA, 15.5 points in 3-1 W vs MRU