Three Stars: Bereziuk, Scott, Jaksic earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's volleyball student-athlete Mariah Bereziuk is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after recording 30 kills in a pair of weekend wins over the Brandon Bobcats.
Bereziuk had a particularly prolific night in Friday's 3-1 win with 20 kills and 23.0 points – the latter a career-best.
Men's hockey forward Vincent Scott and men's basketball forward Milan Jaksic are the second and third stars, respectively.
This is the second time Bereziuk has made the Three Stars list this season after earning first-star honours on Oct. 31, while both Scott and Jaksic are appearing for the first time in 2023-24.
Mariah Bereziuk had 30 kills in seven sets on the weekend, leading MacEwan to a sweep over the Brandon Bobcats (Eduardo Perez photo).
1st STAR: Mariah Bereziuk, OH, women's volleyball
Boyle, AB, fourth-year, Commerce
Bereziuk was unstoppable over the weekend, seemingly scoring at will against the Brandon Bobcats in leading the Griffins to a series sweep.
In Friday's 3-1 win, she led MacEwan with 20 kills – the second-highest single-game total in her career – and produced 23.0 points, which is a career best.
The veteran outside hitter also had the most efficient game of her career where she's had a minimum of 20 attacks, finishing with a .405 hitting percentage on 42 attempts. She added nine digs and four blocks.
In Saturday's 3-0 victory, Bereziuk again led the Griffins with 10 kills on a .250%, adding four service aces, six digs and one block, while accounting for a match-high 14.5 points.
For the season, Bereziuk is fourth in Canada West in kills (103), third in kills/set (3.96), fourth in points (122.5) and third in points/set (4.7).
The Griffins host Regina on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (3 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
Vincent Scott scored twice to pace MacEwan to a 3-2 win over Mount Royal last Friday (Jefferson Hagen photo).
2nd STAR: Vincent Scott, F, men's hockey
Edmonton, AB, first-year, Commerce
Scott became the latest rookie to step up and make a big impact for the Griffins this season when he scored twice to pace MacEwan to a huge win over Mount Royal University on Friday.
Scott opened the scoring 4:44 into the game when he deflected Brendan Boyle's short-handed shot over Riley Sims' shoulder. He then scored the game-winner to give MacEwan a 3-2 win 3:15 into the third period when he chipped in Loeden Schaufler's back door past.
For the weekend (also including Saturday's 5-1 loss in Calgary to the Cougars), Scott finished with five shots and went +1.
For the season, he's now up to four goals and seven points in 14 games, tied for fifth on the team in scoring.
MacEwan (5-8-1) hits the road this weekend for a series at Regina (3-9-2) on Friday (6 p.m. MT) and Saturday (4 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).
Milan Jaksic narrowly missed two more double doubles, leading the Griffins with 18 rebounds in two games at UNBC (Rich Abney photo).
3rd STAR: Milan Jaksic, F, men's basketball
Windsor, ON, third-year, Commerce
Jaksic opened the 2023-24 campaign with three-straight double doubles (Nov. 3, 4 and 10) and narrowly missed a couple more on the weekend in Prince George, B.C.
In Friday's 97-66 loss to UNBC, he scored a game-high 21 points, adding nine rebounds, an assists and three steals.
In Saturday's 83-77 loss to UNBC, Jaksic again led the Griffins in rebounds with nine, adding nine points, an assist and a steal.
For the season, Jaksic is third on the Griffins in points/game (12.7) and first in rebounds/game (9.7).
His total of three doubles doubles is already tied for the second most by a Griffin a Canada West season and he sits just two shy of a program record that's stood for almost a decade (five by Ryan May in 2014-15).
The Griffins are on a bye week before returning to action Dec. 1-2 vs. UBC (8 p.m. and 5 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
