VB: ALB setter, TWU middle rise to the big moments
ALB's Elgert and TWU's Heppell earn CW Player of the Week honours
CALGARY – Alberta's Max Elgert and Trinity Western's Avery Heppell were named the Canada West Volleyball Players of the Week by the conference on Tuesday.
This marks the second straight week Elgert has taken home the honour, as he continued his electric play into the pressure-cooker Final Four.
The fifth-year setter posted an astounding 53 assists in just four sets Friday, as he helped his Golden Bears earn key points in close sets.
The Athabasca, AB product was seemingly everywhere, contributing 13 digs as well. He also pitched in a couple kills, block assists and a service ace.
Elgert again stood out in the team's Championship finals match-up against Trinity Western, where he laid down an eyebrow-raising six service aces. Even more impressive, he put them past the country's top-ranked team. Alberta would ultimately fall to the Spartans, but it wasn't without a valiant effort from Elgert and his Bears.
Elgert posted 35 assists, three kills (1.000 K%), and nine digs in the match.
He and the Golden Bears are now set to play in the U SPORTS Championships, taking place this weekend at the University of Manitoba. The team's first game is slated for 3:00 p.m. CT Friday, when they'll square up against Queen's University.
Game log:
March 18: 53 assists, 2 kills, 2 BA, 1 SA, 13 digs in 3-1 W vs CGY
March 19: 35 assists, 3 kills, 9 digs 3-1 L at TWU
Meanwhile, Trinity Western's Avery Heppell turned her reliability rate up to 100 in the final two games of the CW Playoffs.
The Langley, BC product could not miss from the middle, finishing on .778 per cent of her kills in Friday's semi-final match, and .524 per cent of swings in the Championship final.
She hammered down nine and twelve kills in each contest, respectively, pushing her Spartans to 3-0 and 3-1 victories to claim the CW crown.
Heppell added three service aces and six blocks on the weekend, which saw her Spartans claim their third-straight conference title.
Heppell and the Spartans now go for national gold, starting Friday at the University of Calgary. The country's top-ranked Spartans will face the hosts at 6 p.m. MT in their first game.
Game log:
March 18: 9 kills, .778K%, 1 SA, 2BA, 9 points in 3-0 W vs UBC
March 19: 12 kills, .524K%, 2SA, 4 blocks, 1 dig, 16.5 points in 3-1 W vs ALB