Josh Ince (Men’s Rugby) & Alexa Shields (Women’s Volleyball) Named Gryph’s Locker Athletes of the Week presented by Core Power

GUELPH, Ont. – Throughout the 2023-24 season, the University of Guelph Department of Athletics will be highlighting various members from our Gryphon varsity programs as part of our ‘Gryph’s Locker Athletes of the Week, presented by Core Power’ series. This week’s ‘Gryph’s Locker Athletes of the Week presented by Core Power’ recipients are Joshua Ince (Men’s Rugby) and Alexa Shields (Women’s Volleyball) for the period ending November 19, 2023. 
 

Josh Ince (Men’s Rugby)

Gryphons men’s rugby centre, Joshua Ince, earns ‘Athlete of the Week’ honours after helping lead the Gryphons to a victory in the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship bronze medal match Sunday in Langley, British Columbia. A 25-year-old in his fifth year academically and first-year of eligibility, Ince scored twice in the national bronze medal match, with his first coming just seven minutes in to open the scoring. The accounting major scored thanks to an assist from his brother, Jacob, kicking a loose ball into the endzone where Joshua would get the touch to give the Gryphons an early lead. In the 19th minute, Ince was into the tryzone for the second time of the match after receiving a pass on a 2-on-1 attack and taking it across the goal line, giving the Gryphons a commanding 14-0 lead. The Gryphons would go on to take the bronze medal win 38-12 for their second consecutive third-place finish at the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championships. The impressive showing at the national tournament wraps up another incredible season for the Gryphons men’s rugby team which saw the program complete an OUA Championship three-peat, capturing their 6th conference title in program history with a 35-22 victory over the Queen’s Gaels. 
 

Alexa Shields (Women’s Volleyball)

20-year-old Aurora, Ontario native, Alexa Shields takes home ‘Athlete of the Week’ honours after back-to-back strong performances for the Gryphons women’s volleyball team in a pair of matches against the Trent Excalibur. On Friday night (Nov. 17) the third-year setter produced a game-high 25 assists and 10 digs en route to a straight-sets victory.  Shields also totaled 5 points with 3 kills and a pair of service aces in an impressive team performance which saw the Gryphons give up no more than 17 points in each of their three set wins. The following afternoon (Nov. 18) the management economics and finance major once again led all players in kill assists (21) and digs (11) while adding a trio of service aces for three points in another 3-0 Gryphon victory. Shields now ranks among the OUA’s best setters in several key statistical categories including assists per set (9.31, 3rd), total assists (121, 6th), service aces (8, 6th), and digs per set (3.62, 7th). Her impressive performances have helped the Gryphons to a 4-0 start to the 2023-24 campaign, the longest undefeated streak to open a season for the program since the 2010-11 season which saw the Gryphon start 5-0. The team will have a chance to match that mark this weekend on Saturday (Nov. 25) when they take on the 1-4 York Lions. 
 

2023-24 Gryphon Athletes of the Week

*Indicates U SPORTS Athlete of the Week
*Indicates OUA Athlete of the Week