Jason Hills 
For MacEwan Athletics 
 
EDMONTON – In sports and in life, not everyone is cut out to do the grunt work, but the MacEwan Griffins certainly don't have that problem. 

Not only is Bronwyn Ettinger more than happy to do it, but she's also proving to be one of the best liberos in the Canada West conference in just her second season with the Griffins. 

Ettinger currently sits sixth in the conference in digs, with 112, and those ahead of her are a veteran-laden group with the likes of UBC's Kacey Jost, UFV's Emily Matsui and Winnipeg's Selva Planincic. 

"I love grunt work. It's so much fun," said Ettinger. 

"I love the defensive mindset. I always want to make the opposition feel like you're not scoring on me. With digs, there is recognition with the defense. The serve-receive area of the game is where the grunt work is, and it's 50 per cent of my job, but it's very rewarding. I love it." 

It will be a battle this weekend, not only between two of the top teams in the conference, but two of the top liberos in Canada West as Ettinger and the Griffins (9-3) will host Julia Arnold and the Manitoba Bisons (10-2) on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (4:30 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).

Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food bank items to support the SAMU Pantry, which provides food to students in need.

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Ettinger wasn't always a libero. She was an outside hitter until she reached her Grade 10 year at Strathcona. 

"The net kept growing higher, and I did not," laughed Ettinger, who stands at just five-foot-five. 

She may lack the height to be an outside hitter, but she plays with a big heart and her game has certainly reached new heights this season with the Griffins, as she's moved into a starting role, taking over from team captain Megan Foxcroft. 

"Everything begins with Bronwyn," said Griffins head coach Chris Wandler. 

"This is her first year starting, and I'm very happy with the amount of maturity she shows on the court. All the athletes around her have a sense of calmness and respect from Bronwyn. 

"She's doing a lot for us and we're very fortunate to have someone with her abilities. It's a very tough position, and with this only being her first year starting, it's been interesting to see how far she's come in a short period of time." 

Bronwyn Ettinger learned from veteran libero Megan Foxcroft last year and has hit the ground running in her first season as a starter (Robert Antoniuk photo).

Ettinger has certainly made the most of her opportunity in her second season. She had big shoes to fill with the graduation of Foxcroft, but she's thriving as the Griffins have six-straight wins under their belt. 

"Bronwyn takes her position and her job seriously in the backcourt. All her teammates can learn from her," said Wandler. 

"There aren't too many athletes that are willing to do the job that she does. She'll do whatever it takes, and she goes all out with her effort." 

Being able to learn from a veteran like Foxcroft in her first year has made Ettinger's move into the starting lineup, a rather smooth transition. Ettinger's play in the back row has really stood out this year. 

"I think Megan did a really good job of leading our team. She took our previous difficulties in stride and kept us pushing forward," said Ettinger. 

"In the second semester, we realized we weren't going to reach some of our goals, but she made sure that we kept building for this year, and she'd always tell us that we can expect good things this year." 

If Ettinger keeps playing the way she has through the first half of this season, she's will no doubt take on a bigger role with the program, and that's something that she looks forward to – whenever that time comes. 

"I'm still learning, but I'm hoping to step into more of a leadership position, and I just want to be that rock for the team," said Ettinger. 

There were a lot of learning moments last year, and Ettinger is glad she was able to go through that experience. She believes that it's important for all young players to go through some tough times early in their career. 

"Last year was a tough year, but it was necessary for me to go through," said Ettinger. "It led me to realize how crucial playing as a team is and taking personal accountability. I think the biggest growth for me came on the mental side. Expectations of others don't define you as a player. 

"There was a lot of growth last year that went unrecognized, because it wasn't seen in the scores, but we're seeing that growth come through this year."