Players Bench Athletes of the Week: November 14 -20

Male Athlete of the Week

The U SPORTS seventh-ranked MRU Cougars men’s volleyball team headed east for a pair of games against the University of Manitoba Bisons this past weekend. Mount Royal dominated the Bisons and secured the 3-0 set sweep on Friday. However, Manitoba was able to earn the series split with a 3-1 win over MRU, despite the Cougars outplaying the Bisons.

The Players Bench Male Athlete of the Week is Chris Byam. The outside hitter from Bow Island, Alta. put on a show during the weekend, registering a total of 37 kills in seven sets. The Bisons had no answer for Byam’s power and skill on the right side, with the veteran Cougar consistently earning points for his team. During Friday’s victory, Byam put up a steady .652 hitting percentage. Although Mount Royal fell to Manitoba on Saturday, Byam outdid his previous performance, adding 21 kills and season-highs of nine digs and four aces.

Byam is a fourth-year student in MRU’s Health and Physical Education program.

Female Athlete of the Week

Mount Royal’s women’s basketball team pulled off the sweep against the Manitoba Bison during the weekend with two clutch victories. MRU was undeterred by injuries to a few key players and secured a couple of team-oriented wins over Manitoba. Friday’s game saw an impressive start and an eventual 72-66 win. The Cougars doubled down with an 81-65 win on Saturday.

The Players Bench Female Athlete of the Week is Marissa Richards. Standing 5-8, Richards was able to use her strength and skill to lead the Cougars to the sweep over Manitoba. The Red Deer, Alta. local filled the scoresheet on Friday, recording 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 26 minutes. Richards followed up Friday’s effort with a season-high 14 points, including two cold-blooded shots from beyond the arc. The Cougars relied on the guard’s suffocating defence and consistent scoring to capture their two wins, improving their record to 4-2.

Richards is a second-year English student at Mount Royal.