Highlights:
- UBCO’s Sara McCreary (VB), Victoria’s Anna Mollenhauer (FH), and Mount Royal’s Alex Donaghy (VB) are the women’s three stars
- Alberta’s Dylan Bredo (HKY), Victoria’s Michael Baart (SOC), and Thompson Rivers’ Tim Dobbert (VB) are the men’s three stars of the week
- Bredo posted a combined three goals and an assist, as Alberta swept the Calgary Dinos in men’s hockey, while McCreary posted a combined 87 assists in UBCO’s season-opening split with UBC in women’s volleyball
EDMONTON – UBC Okanagan’s Sara McCreary and Alberta’s Dylan Bredo are the Canada West First Stars of the Week after sparking their teams over the weekend.
McCreary and UBCO managed a split this weekend against the defending U SPORTS champion UBC Thunderbirds, as the second-year setter combined to post 87 assists for the Heat.
The Heat, who were one of five CW teams to earn a first-place vote in the coaches pre-season poll, dropped the opener 3-1 Friday, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win of their own on Saturday.
Meanwhile on the ice, Bredo’s offensive output helped Alberta keep their perfect start to the 2017-18 season alive. The fourth-year defenceman registered a combined three goals and an assist in the Bears weekend sweep of Calgary. One of Bredo’s three goals came Saturday in overtime, as Alberta skated away with a 3-2 win over their provincial rival to improve to 6-0-0 on the season.
You can catch every Canada West volleyball and hockey game this season by tuning into Canada West TV.
Women’s first star – Sara McCreary
UBC Okanagan Heat volleyball
Setter
2nd-year
Edmonton, Alta.
Human Kinetics
Game log: Friday, Oct. 20 – 44 assists, six digs, and one kill in 3-1 L vs. UBC / Saturday, Oct. 21 – 43 assists, nine digs, two blocks, and two kills in 3-1 W vs. UBC.
Two teams hoping to be left standing at the end of March were matched up in the opening weekend of the Canada West women’s volleyball schedule, as the UBC Okanagan Heat hosted the UBC Thunderbirds.
Over the course of two nights and eight sets, the two UBC squads played even with the visiting Thunderbirds taking down their hosts 3-1 and then the Heat returning serve on Saturday with a 3-1 victory.
The matches were even but the play of second-year UBCO setter Sara McCreary stood out both nights.
In the Friday night loss, the Heat were outscored by the favoured Thunderbirds but to no fault of the sophomore setter, as she dished out 44 assists in four sets while her team hit .246 off her offense.
In the Saturday victory, McCreary passed for 43 assists, added nine digs and a pair of blocks while her team once again hit for over .200 against the T-Birds, who entered the season ranked No. 1 in the nation and defending USPORTS champions.
The start of the season does not ease up for McCreary and her Heat team with a matchup in Langley against the Trinity Western Spartans set for this weekend October 27-28.
Men’s first star – Dylan Bredo
Alberta Golden Bears hockey
Defence
4th-year
Edmonton, Alta.
Business
Game log: Friday, Oct. 20 – two goals and one assist in 7-5 W @ Calgary / Saturday, Oct. 21 – overtime goal in 3-2 OTW vs. Calgary.
Fourth-year University of Alberta Golden Bears hockey defenceman Dylan Bredo is the Canada West First Star of the Week, after leading his Bears to a series sweep of the nationally ranked Calgary Dinos.
Bredo scored his first three goals of the season over the weekend, including the overtime winner on Saturday, while adding an assist on Friday night for the four-point weekend.
The Edmonton product was tremendous in the series opener on Friday night in Calgary, as the veteran D-Man scored twice and adding an assist as the Bears earned a thrilling 7-5 win over the Dinos.
Bredo capped off the strong weekend with his third goal of the season on Saturday, sniping a shot over Jordan Papirny in overtime to give Alberta the series sweep.
The No. 2-ranked Golden Bears, who still own an undefeated 6-0-0 record, will but their perfect record on the line this weekend, as they visit the Regina Cougars.
Women’s second star – Anna Mollenhauer
Victoria Vikes field hockey
Defender
1st-year
Victoria, B.C.
Education
Game log: Saturday, Oct. 21 – goal in 6-0 W vs. Calgary / Sunday, Oct. 22 – two goals in 4-0 W vs. Calgary.
It was a solid ending for the Victoria Vikes women’s field hockey team, shutting out Calgary 6-0 and 4-0 to close out their CW season on a high despite not qualifying for the national championship.
First-year defender Anna Mollenhauer added a goal in the 6-0 victory and two goals in the 4-0 win, while she was also named the Canada West Rookie of the Year and a conference all-star.
Mollenhauer’s goals all came in free play, which is often less likely for defenders. The St. Michael’s University School graduate was also at the head of the circle for nearly every Vikes penalty corner this weekend and in the other end was the first out on defensive penalty corners. Mollenhauer’s individual skills were far and beyond any other first-year on the pitch as her aerials, three dimensional and elimination skills were on display this weekend. Mollenhauer closed out the season with four goals and showcased herself as a player to watch in the coming years.
The Vikes finished 4-3-1 and earned a Canada West silver medal after Sunday’s game.
Men’s second star – Michael Baart
Victoria Vikes soccer
Forward
4th-year
Victoria, B.C.
Engineering
Game log: Friday, Oct. 20 – two goals, three shots on goal in 3-0 W @ UFV / Saturday, Oct. 21 – goal in 4-2 L vs. Trinity Western.
The UVic Vikes men’s soccer team couldn’t overcome their slow start to the season, as the team missed out on a playoff spot by the slimmest of margins, despite picking up three points in their final weekend of play.
Fourth-year forward Michael Baart did everything he could to will his team into the post-season, scoring two goals on three shots in a 3-0 win over Fraser Valley and adding another in the team’s season ending 4-2 loss at the hands of Trinity Western.
Baart also contributed in ways not captured on the scoresheet, as the Engineering student was key for the Vikes in holding up balls, allowing the defence to rest and regroup.
Women’s third star – Alex Donaghy
Mount Royal Cougars volleyball
Right side
5th-year
Sylvan Lake, Alta.
Health & Physical Education
Game log: Friday, Oct. 20 – game-high 18 kills, and eight digs in 3-0 W vs. Winnipeg / Saturday, Oct. 21 – game-high 15 kills, and eight digs in 3-1 W vs. Winnipeg.
The Mount Royal Cougars women’s volleyball team swept the Winnipeg Wesmen over the Canada West opening weekend of regular season play. Team captain Alex Donaghy led all players with game-high kills in both matches.
The fifth-year veteran helped the Cougars cruise to a 3-0 win on Friday night with 18 kills and eight digs as one of only two players from both teams to hit double digits in kills. In MRU’s 3-1 win on Saturday, Donaghy had another top performance, recording a game-high 15 kills and another eight digs in the contest.
After results from the weekend, Donaghy leads the conference in kills per set with 4.71, sits second in Canada West in hitting percentage with .400, and ranks third overall in kills with 33. The Cougars will take a break this upcoming weekend on bye week and they’ll take on the UBCO Heat, Nov. 3-4.
Men’s third star – Tim Dobbert
Thompson Rivers WolfPack volleyball
Outside hitter
4th-year
Aichelberg, Germany
Masters of Business
Game log: Friday, Oct. 20 – 21 kills, three aces, two digs in 3-1 W vs. MacEwan / Saturday, Oct. 21 – 23 kills, two aces, three digs in 3-1 W vs. MacEwan.
It was an impressive Canada West debut for Tim Dobbert. The six-foot-10 native of Aichelberg, Germany made quite the impact in his first games for Thompson Rivers, leading the WolfPack to a sweep of the visiting MacEwan Griffins at the Tournament Capital Centre.
The transfer from Brigham Young (NCAA) was the kills leader both nights, and currently stands second in Canada West in kills per set (5.25), kills (42) and service aces per set (0.75).
The WolfPack have a bye this week and don’t return to action until Nov. 3 when they entertain the Brandon University Bobcats.