Three Stars: Walisser, Farmer, Jaksic earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Men's volleyball student-athlete Alexei Walisser is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after putting up 35 kills in a pair of matches at UBC over the weekend.
The fifth-year outside hitter had the most kills of any player on either side of the court in both matches as he struck with intensity and demonstrated timely clutch play for the Griffins as they pushed the Thunderbirds.
Women's basketball player Mackenzie Farmer and men's basketball player Milan Jaksic are the second and third stars, respectively.
It's the first time for all three student-athletes on the Three Stars list this season.
1st STAR: Alexei Walisser, OH, men's volleyball
Peace River, AB, fifth-year, Commerce
Switching the veteran Walisser to the right side paid off handsomely for the Griffins against UBC on the weekend.
The fifth-year Peace River product produced a combined 35 kills in a pair of 3-1 losses to the Thunderbirds – the most of any player on either side of the court.
In Friday's defeat, Walisser produced a match-high 17 kills on a .286 percentage, adding six digs, three blocks and accounting for 19.0 points.
In Saturday's loss, he again led the match with 18 kills on a .182 percentage, adding an assist, two aces, four digs and two blocks, while accounting for 21.0 points.
For the season, Walisser leads the Griffins with 68 kills in six matches, which is 10th in the conference.
Walisser and the Griffins are enjoying a bye week before they get back to action vs. Calgary on Nov. 18.
2nd STAR: Mackenzie Farmer, F, women's basketball
Sherwood Park, AB, fifth-year, Arts
Mackenzie Farmer recorded her third career double double on Friday before scoring a game-high 19 points on Saturday in a pair of matches vs. UFV (Eduardo Perez photo).
The reigning Canada West third all-star team member was in fine form on opening weekend for the Griffins women's basketball team.
Farmer recorded the third double double of her career last Friday, producing 12 points and 10 rebounds, while adding two assists, two steals in a team-high 34 minutes in a 75-62 loss to UFV.
In Saturday's rematch – an 81-64 loss for the Griffins – the fifth-year veteran produced a game-high 19 points with eight rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes of work.
For the season, Farmer leads the Griffins with 15.5 points per game (10th in Canada West) and 9.0 rebounds per game (tied for fifth in the conference).
Farmer will lead the Griffins into weekend road action at Mount Royal University on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m., both Canada West TV).
3rd STAR: Milan Jaksic, P, men's basketball
Windsor, ON, second-year, Science
Milan Jaksic was a force for the Griffins against UFV last Saturday, scoring a career-high 27 points (Eduardo Perez photo).
The second-year post scored a career-high 27 points in MacEwan's tight 88-81 loss to UFV on Saturday.
That represented not only a high-watermark for Jaksic, but tied him for the eighth-best single-game offensive performance in MacEwan's Canada West history.
Jaksic added eight rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in 24 minutes on the court, helping the Griffins push the Cascades right to the finish.
In Friday's home-opening loss to UFV (102-71), the Windsor, Ont. native scored six points, with a rebound, an assist and a steal in 22 minutes on the court.
Jaksic will lead the Griffins into weekend road action at Mount Royal University on Friday (8 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m., both Canada West TV).
