Three Stars: Schubert, Vriend, Farmer earn honours

Kylie Schubert sets a ball to teammates during a match earlier this season. She tied a program record with 53 assists in Friday's 3-1 win over Saskatchewan (Robert Antoniuk photo).
Kylie Schubert sets a ball to teammates during a match earlier this season. She tied a program record with 53 assists in Friday's 3-1 win over Saskatchewan (Robert Antoniuk photo).

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Women's volleyball student-athlete Kylie Schubert is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after tying a program record against Saskatchewan on the weekend.

Schubert recorded 53 assists in Friday's 3-1 win over the Huskies to tie Rebecca Martin's mark of most in a Canada West match, set during the 2014-15 season.

Other athletes recognized this week include second star Max Vriend of the men's volleyball team and third star Mackenzie Farmer of the women's basketball team.

It's the first time this season Schubert has made the three stars list.

Vriend picked right up where he left off before the semester break and appears for a third-straight week, having previously been named second star on Nov. 26 and first star on Dec. 3.

Farmer is being honoured for the second time this season after netting first star honours on Nov. 5.

1st STAR: Kylie Schubert, S, women's volleyball

Edmonton, AB, third-year, Science

With 53 assists in Friday's 3-1 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon, the Griffins' setter tied the MacEwan single game program record for most in a Canada West contest.

Her total matched the mark that Rebecca Martin had in a five-set MacEwan win over Calgary on Jan. 24, 2015.

Only three players this Canada West women's volleyball season have had more assists in a match, but all of those have come in five-set games, not the four that Schubert accomplished her mark in.

Schubert's ability to spread the ball around was evident in the victory as MacEwan had four players in double digits for kills (Hailey Cornelis -17, Haley Gilfillan – 16, Mckenna Stevenson – 13 and Lauren Holmes – 11).

In Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Huskies, Schubert still managed to produce 32 assists.

Combined in both games, Schubert added 20 digs.

For the season, Schubert is fifth in Canada West in assists (442) and in assists/set (9.40).

She leads the Griffins into action against UBC on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).

2nd STAR: Max Vriend, OH, men's volleyball

Barrhead, AB, fifth-year, Commerce

Shifted to the left side as the Griffins searched for an adjustment against Saskatchewan on Saturday, the fifth-year senior powered MacEwan to a 3-0 sweep of the Huskies (25-23, 25-23, 25-23).

Vriend produced a team-high 12 kills, adding two aces, two digs and four blocks while accounting for 16.0 points as the Griffins beat the Huskies for the first time in program history.

Vriend also led the Griffins on Friday in a 3-0 loss to Saskatchewan, with nine kills, adding two aces, two blocks and five digs, accounting for 12.0 points.

For the season, he sits third in Canada West with 3.97 kills per set.

He leads MacEwan into home action against UBC on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (6:30 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).

Max Vriend smashes one over the head of Saskatchewan's CJ Gavlas during action on Saturday. He led MacEwan to a straight-sets sweep of the Huskies (getmyphoto.ca).

3rd STAR: Mackenzie Farmer, F, women's basketball

Sherwood Park, AB, third-year, Arts

Scoring nearly one third of the MacEwan's points (25) in their biggest offensive output of the year in Saturday's 94-76 loss to Manitoba, Farmer wrapped up a strong weekend for the Griffins.

She added seven steals, six rebounds and two assists as MacEwan topped 70 points for the first time this season.

Farmer also led the Griffins with 17 points in Friday's 77-61 loss, adding six rebounds, a block and a steal.

For the season, Farmer currently leads Canada West with 3.4 steals per game, is tied for 14th in the conference with 13.3 points per game and sits tied for sixth in blocks (1.0 per game).

She leads MacEwan into road action at Winnipeg on Friday (5 p.m. MT) and Saturday (6 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV presented by Co-op).

Mackenzie Farmer drives to the hoop against Manitoba on the weekend. She scored a combined 42 points for the Griffins in a pair of losses (Robert Antoniuk photo).