Three Stars: Croft, Sank, Sundar earn honours

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Men’s volleyball student-athlete Mitchell Croft is the MacEwan Athletics’ first star of the week after averaging four kills a set in a series against the defending national champion Alberta Golden Bears. 

The rookie outside hitter accumulated 28 kills over seven sets and led the Griffins to a set victory over the Golden Bears in Saturday’s match.

Women’s hockey goaltender Brianna Sank and men’s hockey forward Ethan Sundar are the second and third stars of the week, respectively.

Croft is making the Three Stars list for the second time in 2024-25, following a second star selection on Oct. 29, while both Sank and Sundar are appearing for the first time this season.

Mitch Croft prepares to serve against Alberta on Friday. He had 28 kills in two matches against the defending national champions (James Maclennan photo).

1^st STAR: Mitchell Croft, OH, men’s volleyball

Melbourne, AUS, first-year, Open Studies

Facing U SPORTS No. 1 Alberta can be a daunting task, but the Australian rookie handled the test like a veteran pro, recording 28 kills in a pair of matches against the Golden Bears.

The defending national champions game-planned specifically for the man who was accounting for 44.7% of the Griffins’ attack coming into the weekend and were still set on their heels multiple times during the weekend by Croft.

In Friday’s 3-0 loss, Croft led the Griffins with 10 kills, an ace and six digs, accounting for 11.0 points.

In Saturday’s 3-1 loss as the Griffins took a set off the Bears – only the third they’ve conceded this season – Croft had 18 kills, an ace, three digs and two blocks, accounting for 20.0 points.

For the season, Croft is fifth in Canada West in both kills/set (3.52) and points/set (4.0).

The Griffins will play early this Friday as they host a pair of ‘School Day’ games vs. Winnipeg (12 p.m. women, 1:30 p.m., men) and will also host the Wesmen on Saturday (3 p.m. women, 4:30 p.m. men, all David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).

Brianna Sank stopped 36 of 37 shots as the Griffins earned a point, following a 1-0 overtime loss to Alberta on Saturday (Rebecca Chelmick photo).

2^nd STAR: Brianna Sank, G, women’s hockey

Ardrossan, AB, fifth-year, Arts

Turning aside shot after shot at Clare Drake Arena on Saturday afternoon, the Griffins’ fifth-year goaltender was the biggest reason they earned a point against the Alberta Pandas.

Sank finished with 32 saves in regulation as she got MacEwan into overtime, tied 0-0, despite being outshot 32-12. 

The Griffins lost in overtime, but Sank finished with 36 saves on 37 shots for a sizzling save percentage of .973 in the contest.

For the season, Sank is sixth in Canada West with a .931 save percentage to go along with a 2.16 GAA (T7th in CW).

The Griffins will host Trinity Western for a pair of games on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (3 p.m., both Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV).

Ethan Sundar, seen in action against Manitoba earlier this season, scored his first Canada West goal on Friday at Alberta before adding two assists in Saturday’s rematch (Rebecca Chelmick photo).

3^rd STAR: Ethan Sundar, F, men’s hockey

St. Albert, AB, first-year, Commerce

The rookie out of the Spruce Grove Saints recorded a three-point weekend for the Griffins against the U SPORTS No. 4 Alberta Golden Bears, showing some sublime offensive talent in doing so.

Given more opportunity on the powerplay, Sundar took advantage on Friday at Clare Drake Arena, taking a cross-seam pass from Brody Tallman and picking a short-side spot in the top corner the size of a baseball, rifling it bar down for his first Canada West goal.

In Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Golden Bears, Sundar had two assists, setting up Carter Chorney twice for both of MacEwan’s goals.

For the season, the rookie has six points in eight games, tied for fourth in scoring on the Griffins.

MacEwan hits the road to Langley, B.C. this weekend for a pair of games against Trinity Western on Friday (8:15 p.m. MT) and Saturday (8:15 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).