SPARTAN FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK I MIKAYLA BENTERUD

LANGLEY, B.C. – Mikayla Benterud (Sherwood Park, Alta.) has received this week’s Spartan Female Athlete of the Week after a strong offensive weekend from the middle.

The No. 1 ranked Spartans split their weekend series played against UBC Okanagan (3-1 W) and the No. 5 ranked Alberta Pandas (2-3 L). Benterud was great in TWU’s victory over UBCO, but it was her performance in Sunday’s defeat at the hands of the Pandas which saw her throw down one of her best games in the 2021-22 season, making 13 kills on a hitting efficiency of .407.

Benterud’s excellent display against the Pandas (25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 21-25, 13-15) wasn’t only done in the hitting department as the heavy-hitting middle managed to make six block assists and two aces. Although TWU’s roster is star-studded, Benterud’s performance was a major stakeholder in keeping the Spartans alive against a tough Alberta side.

With Sunday’s performance highlighting Benterud’s weekend, she also excelled in TWU’s tidy victory over the UBCO Heat (25-23, 22-25, 18-25, 24-26) on Friday night. Benterud completed five kills throughout four sets, also chiming in with an ace and three more block assists.

An impressive weekend by Benterud wrapped up her total stat-line at 2.0 kills per set, 2.8 points per set, and a block per set.

With Sunday’s loss only being TWU’s second of the season, the No. 1 ranked Spartans will have a chance to rewire themselves at the Canada West Final Four – which will be hosted by the Alberta Pandas. On Friday, the Spartans are set to take on their cross-town rivals, the No. 8 ranked UBC Thunderbirds, at 3:00 p.m. (MT).

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women’s rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men’s rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.

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