MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Jordan Peters is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after leading the men's volleyball team to their first weekend sweep since the 2016-17 season.
The third-year outside hitter combined for 23 kills in leading the Griffins to a pair of 3-0 wins over UBC-Okanagan – the first time they've gone through a weekend without dropping a set since joining Canada West in 2014.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Justin Berget of the men's golf team and third star Maya Morrell of the women's soccer team.
All three student-athletes are being honoured on the three stars list for the first time in the 2018-19 season.
1st star: Jordan Peters, OH, men's volleyball
Edmonton, AB, third-year, Commerce
The veteran outside hitter was flying for MacEwan in the opening action of the Canada West men's volleyball season, leading the Griffins to their first weekend sweep since the 2016-17 season.
Peters combined for 23 kills and six blocks over six sets in a pair of 3-0 wins over UBC-Okanagan. He added three aces and five digs.
It's the first time since joining Canada West in 2014 that the Griffins have gone through a weekend without dropping a set.
Peters was a big reason for that as his play went beyond the numbers in its timeliness. He ended Set 1 on Saturday with a decisive block and ended Set 3 in the same match with a thundering left-side kill.
His passing was also very stable throughout the weekend, allowing the Griffins to stay in-system and run their offence.
After the opening weekend, Peters is fourth in Canada West with 3.83 kills/set, fourth in points/set (5.1) and tied for fourth in service aces/set (0.50).
The Griffins (2-0) will travel to Winnipeg this weekend to meet Manitoba (0-2) on Oct. 27-28.
2nd star: Justin Berget, men's golf
Spruce Grove, AB, second-year, Commerce
Flirting with the top 10 before eventually finishing T21 at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association men's golf national championship in Medicine Hat last Friday, Berget led the Griffins to a seventh-place team finish.
He wound up finishing 11-over par through four rounds on Medicine Hat's Desert Blue Golf Club (74-72-79-74) to pace the Griffins.
The second-year player had a solid week, showing off his improved ball striking at the nationals – parring the course on Day 2.
While the Griffins fell 40 shots shy of their first men's podium in MacEwan history, they did finish as the top ACAC team in attendance, besting Red Deer College, host Medicine Hat and Concordia.
Justin Berget tees off in front of Griffins teammates Reid Woodman, left, Josh Gorieu, Noah Lubberding and Christian Solkowski during CCAA nationals week at Medicine Hat's Desert Blume Golf Club.
3rd star: Maya Morrell, F, women's soccer
Vancouver, BC, first-year, Arts
The rookie forward is playing her best soccer when it counts for the Griffins, scoring in both of MacEwan's home games on the weekend.
Morrell scored her first goal of her Canada West career in the 28th minute of Friday's 4-1 win over UBCO, a tally that stood up as the game-winner. She took a pass from Salma Kamel and ripped it through keeper Emma Terrillon – a game-changing strike that came a minute after the Heat tied the game.
Morrell was the difference again for the Griffins in Sunday's 1-1 tie with Thompson Rivers University, coming on a half-time substitution and leading a rally after the Griffins initially trailed against a team needing a win to make the playoffs. She scored in the 74th minute, whirling around a defender and slotting it home.
When she wasn't busy creating scoring chances, she was sticking tackles and working hard defensively.
She'll lead the Griffins into the opening round of the playoffs against Regina on Friday (Foote Field, Noon).
Maya Morrell gets some help celebrating her first career Canada West goal - against UBC-Okanagan on Friday night - from teammates Kaylin Hermanutz and Salma Kamel (Chris Piggott photo).
