Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Alexei Walisser rained down 287 kills on his Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference foes during the 2018-19 season as the biggest threat on the Lakeland College Rustlers.
No one in the ACAC's North Division had more and his production was fifth-best in the collegiate loop.
So, when Walisser (Commerce) transferred to MacEwan last season and the decision was made that he would redshirt during his first Canada West campaign, you couldn't blame head coach Brad Poplawski for wishing he could immediately insert the talented outside hitter into the lineup.
"He would have started last year, I'll put it that way, but we just thought for our development and his, it made sense for him to really have that year to learn the game," said Poplawski. "Because he didn't have to play on weekends, it really gave us an opportunity to break down his skill set and build it back up. We changed his passing big time, we changed his serve. Not that it needed fixing, but we were really able to fine tune it."
Whenever Canada West action resumes, the most excited guy on the court might be the 6-foot-5 Peace River, Alta. native, who has been waiting to hear his name called out as a member of the Griffins' starting lineup for months.
"I know he's just champing at the bit to get game experience," said Poplawski. "It's tough when you're working out and just training and don't get that pay-off on the weekends. I could tell in matches he was just itching to get out there.
"It was a good decision to get used to the U SPORTS game. He knows he's ready whenever we get to compete again. I think that's a good feeling for an athlete where you know you belong. I'm excited to see what he'll bring for us. I think he'll be a go-to guy offensively. That's really what I'm looking for from him."
Walisser is one of two ACAC transfers (along with former SAIT setter Alexander Lyndon - read more about him here) joining the Griffins in 2020-21. It's a recruiting pipeline the Griffins – who were in the ACAC themselves prior to joining Canada West in 2014 – have enjoyed success from, most recently with libero David Morgan (2018-20) and middle Kornel Kowalewski (2016-18).
"It's a great development route if they treat it the right way – they're hitting the gym and they're getting used to training four days a week with games on the weekend," said Poplawski. "It really does give them that experience and preps them for U SPORTS. Also, just being a university student, learning how to balance your studies with your volleyball commitments is huge."
NAVC and Salisbury Composite product Mason Moore has the physical tools to make an impact at the Canada West level for the Griffins (photo supplied).
Poplawski also went searching for another athlete to add to his outside hitter pool – which includes Walisser, Jordan Peters, Jefferson Morrow, Olamide Ajayi and Tyler Jodoin – and signed Sherwood Park's Mason Moore. The 6-foot-3 product of Salisbury Composite also played with the Northern Alberta Volleyball Club (NAVC).
"Really athletic – that's what stood out any time I watched him," assessed Poplawski. "He played middle with NAVC mostly. He has a big jump, big arm.
"We're going to turn him into an outside. This summer, that was our talks with him – just be prepared, you're going to get a lot of passing reps. I'm excited to work with him, very coachable – a nice kid who's eager to learn. His athleticism is something I'm really excited to work with."
