MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – MacEwan men's volleyball student-athlete Max Vriend has been named the Sutton Player of the Month for January.
Over 30 sets in nine January matches, Vriend produced 120 kills (an average of 4.0 kills/set).
None were better than his last – a 32-kill effort in a 3-2 loss to UBC-Okanagan on Friday, Jan. 31, which broke his own program record for most in a Canada West match. That tops the 30-kill match he had against Manitoba in the first semester.
"I had a good week of prep personally," said Vriend. "I think it helps that I have a good connection with (setter) Jon (Mohler) sport-wise and friendship-wise. I've been playing with him since my Grade 12 year."
The 32 kills are the highest recorded by any player in a Canada West match this season and the fifth-best single game output in the history of the conference.
Over the nine matches in January, Vriend added 10 service aces, 47 digs and 14 blocks.
As this month's award winner, Vriend gets a free night's stay at Sutton Place hotel in Downtown Edmonton.
"I've said this before, I don't play for awards, so it's just the result of hard work," said Vriend, who now leads Canada West in kills (269) and kills per set (4.01). "Not everybody gets recognized for their work all the time, but it's nice when you do."
Vriend is among four graduating players from the Griffins men's volleyball program heading into the final games of their university careers when MacEwan hosts Thompson Rivers University on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, 6:30 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV presented by Co-op). Saturday's contest is Senior Night.