MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's volleyball student-athlete Rachel Jorvina is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after breaking the Canada West single-match digs record in a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Wesmen last Saturday
The fourth-year libero recorded 63 digs to shatter the old mark of 39 in leading the Griffins back from a 2-0 deficit to their 14th victory of the season.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Ashley Tymkow of women's indoor track and third star Brandt Holt of the mixed curling team.
It's the first time this season all three student-athletes have been honoured on the MacEwan three stars list.
1st STAR: Rachel Jorvina, LB, women's volleyball
Edmonton, AB, fourth-year, Arts
In what may go down as the match of the year in Canada West, MacEwan libero Rachel Jorvina shattered the conference's single-game digs mark with 63 in a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Wesmen on Saturday.
The teams combined for an eye-popping 519 attacking attempts in the epic contest, which saw the Griffins rally from two sets down and dodge two match points in the fifth set to eventually triumph.
Jorvina displayed quickness and tenacity in recording the best defensive performance in the history of Canada West women's volleyball, eclipsing the 46 digs recorded by Winnipeg counterpart Madison Fyvie in the same game.
Both marks broke the old Canada West record of 39, set by Brandon's Caitlin Le in a match earlier this season.
Jorvina's performance came on the same day the Griffins officially clinched a Canada West playoff spot for the first time in program history.
She also had 26 digs in Friday's 3-1 win over Winnipeg.
For the season, Jorvina leads the conference in digs/set (4.46) and is third in digs (299).
2nd STAR: Ashley Tymkow, women's indoor track
Westlock, AB, second-year, Science
Ashley Tymkow kicked off the MacEwan Invitational ACAC Running Room Grand Prix #1 at Edmonton's Kinsmen Fieldhouse on Saturday with a win in the women's 3000 metres, throwing on a strong finishing kick to lead a Griffins' 1-2-3 sweep to the line with teammates Kiana Row and Emma Steele.
She then won the women's 1000 metres and helped MacEwan comfortably triumph by more than seven seconds in the women's 4x400 relay with teammates Ember Large, Shaunice Burgers and Steele.
As a result, Tymkow was crowned top female student-athlete at the meet, narrowly finishing ahead of teammates Large and Row in the points standings.
The Westlock, Alta. native also helped the Griffins to a dominant team title as they finished 37 points ahead of runner-up Red Deer College.
Ashley Tymkow, seen taking the baton from teammate Emma Steele in the 4x400 relay at last Saturday's MacEwan Invitational ACAC Running Room Grand Prix at the Kinsmen Fieldhouse, was named female athlete of the meet (Robert Antoniuk photo).
3rd STAR: Brandt Holt, curling
Sherwood Park, AB, first-year, Commerce
With steady play throughout the weekend at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Winter Regional, Holt helped the MacEwan mixed curling rink to qualify for the conference championship next month in Red Deer.
Playing third, he contributed to the team's strategy with skip Rebecca Bartz, was a key sweeper and showed consistency in his shot-making during the round-robin bonspiel.
Holt and the Griffins team went 2-3 at the Avonair Curling Club to finish with a 5-5 mark (combined with the Fall Regional) and qualify as one of four teams going to the ACAC Championship Feb. 28-29.
Griffins head coach Tom Kitagawa noted Holt's play has improved dramatically – particularly in his delivery – since entering the program as a rookie in the fall.
Last Thursday, he and his teammates Bartz, second Brennin Turner and lead Zale Zabolotniuk recorded a rare eight-ender during league play at Edmonton's Saville Centre and are set to be recognized by Curling Canada for the feat.
Brandt Holt, right, brought consistently strong play all weekend at the ACAC Winter Regional, leading the MacEwan mixed curling rink to an ACAC Championship qualifying spot (Joel Kingston photo).
