Three Stars: Bereziuk, Lyndon, Sank earn honours

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Women’s volleyball student-athlete Mariah Bereziuk is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after leading the Griffins to a weekend sweep over the Winnipeg Wesmen.

While the victories were certainly a product of a solid overall team game, Bereziuk led the charge with 28 kills and 14 digs, accounting for a weekend-high 32.5 points.

Men’s volleyball setter Alexander Lyndon and women’s hockey goaltender Brianna Sank are the second and third stars, respectively.

It’s the fourth time this season that Bereziuk has been named to the Three Stars list, following first star selections on Oct. 31, Nov. 21 and Nov. 28. 

Lyndon is making his first appearance of 2023-24, while Sank is being honoured for the second time this season, having previously been named first star on Oct. 3.

Mariah Bereziuk hits one of her 28 kills on the weekend against Winnipeg (David Larkins photo).

1^st STAR: Mariah Bereziuk, OH, women’s volleyball

Boyle, AB, fourth-year, Commerce

Bereziuk led a strong team effort as the Griffins snapped a four-game losing streak with a weekend sweep of Winnipeg.

In Friday’s 3-1 win, Bereziuk had  15 kills on a .294 hitting percentage, adding an ace, five digs and a block, while accounting for 16.5 points.

In Saturday’s 3-0 win, the outside hitter led the Griffins with 13 kills on a .233, adding an ace, nine digs and three blocks, while accounting for 16.0 points.

For the season, Bereziuk is second in Canada West in kills (234), kills/set (3.90), points (274.0) and points/set (4.6). She’s also 21^st in digs (126).

Bereziuk and the Griffins are enjoying a bye week before returning to action at home against cross-town rival Alberta on Feb. 2-3.

Alex Lyndon was a beast from the service line last Saturday in Winnipeg, recording a program record five aces (David Larkins photo).

2^nd STAR: Alexander Lyndon, S, men’s volleyball

Sydney, AUS, fourth-year, Arts

The Aussie setter broke a program record on Saturday in Winnipeg with a performance for the ages from the service line, recording five aces.

That breaks the previous high watermark of four by a Griffin in a Canada West match, held by Shane Kerrison (2014), Ryan Zachary (2017), Lyndon himself (2022), Daylan Andison (2022) and Alexei Walisser (2022).

Although the Griffins lost 3-0 Saturday, Lyndon also had 25 assists, a kill and five digs.

In Friday’s 3-0 defeat, the Aussie setter had three kills, 14 assists, one ace, five digs and a block.

Lyndon is up to 13 aces on the season, which is six shy of the program’s single-season Canada West record that he shares with Max Vriend.

The Griffins have a bye this week before returning to action against cross-town rival Alberta Feb. 2-3.

Brianna Sank stopped 64 of 67 shots sent her way in a weekend series at Saskatchewan (Electric Umbrella photo).

3^rd STAR: Brianna Sank, G, women’s hockey

Ardossan, AB, fourth-year, Commerce

MacEwan’s veteran goaltender gave her team every chance to win on the weekend in Saskatchewan, stopping a combined 64 of 67 shots sent her way over two games for a sparkling .955 save percentage

In Friday’s 2-0 loss, she stopped 30 of 31 shots as the teams played tooth-and-nail until the end with the Huskies sealing it on an empty-netter with 39 seconds left.

In Saturday’s 2-1 defeat, Sank made 34 saves on 36 shots as the Griffins finished within a goal of the Huskies.

For the season, Sank leads the Griffins with a 3.57 goals against average and .891 save percentage.

MacEwan hits the road again this weekend, visiting Regina for a pair of games on Friday (6 p.m. MT) and Saturday (4 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).