(FREDERICTON, NB) UNB REDS outside hitter Heather Benko is the 2022-23 Atlantic University Sport Rookie of the Year.

“Heather made the most of the opportunity that was presented to her within our team this past season,” said REDS’ head coach Richard Schick. “Her statistics speak for themselves, being one of the top point-getters not only in the AUS, but in the country.”

Benko played in all 20 of the REDS regular season matches, earning the third most kills, kills per set, and total attacks in the conference.

She led the country in service aces with 59, and in aces per set with 0.86.

Benko averaged 4.2 points per set, second most in the conference.

Along with being named Rookie of the Year, the first year Arts student was also named to the AUS All-Rookie Team and the conference’s First All-Star Team.

“She’s not only an excellent attacker, but impacted many matches from the service line,” said Schick. “Our program is fortunate to have a player lead the country in total aces and aces per set, let alone that player be a rookie.”

Benko is the seventh REDS student-athlete to earn conference Rookie of the Year honours and first since Kristen Burns, in 2016-17.

“Having accomplished all this in her first year at the U SPORTS level, and this being her first time playing the left side position, is truly remarkable,” said Coach Schick.

Benko now becomes the AUS nominee for the Mark Tennant Award, for U SPORTS Rookie of the Year. No Atlantic conference student-athlete has ever won the national award.