The Atlantic University Sport Men's Volleyball Conference pennant winning University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds, who host the Dalhousie Tigers in the first game of the best-of-three AUS final tonight at 7 p.m. at the Lady Beaverbrook Gym, cleaned up at the AUS awards table Thursday.
Fifth-year middle blocker Jacob Kilpatrick won two major awards, including the league's Most Valuable Player and the league award for community service. It marks the fourth year in his five seasons Kilpatrick has won the AUS community service award and AUS nominee for the Dale Iwanoczko Award for outstanding achievement in volleyball, academics and community involvement.
Kilpatrick, who also made the AUS all-star team for the fourth time, had another outstanding season on the court for the V-Reds in capturing MVP honours leading the AUS in hitting percentage with a .439 mark, in blocks, averaging 1.35 per game, and service aces, 0.37 per game, and finishing second in scoring, with 4.39 points per game.
"Jacob has had a tremendous year for our team and has made a significant impact in the AUS," said coach Dan McMorran, who was a significant winner in his own right, capturing AUS coach of the year honours. "He has shown he is one of the best middles in the country. He is both a great athlete and person, and is very deserving of this award."
He was every bit as outstanding off the court: president of the UNB Student-Athletes council, a four-time academic All-Canadian, including twice on the Dean's List, he is the UNB nominee for the prestigious James Bayer Memorial Scholarship, to be handed out in March. He is a leader of the UNB Heads Up With The Reds program, going into the schools to talk to children each year on the themes of Respect, Esteem, Dedication and Strategy and also is active in the Read With the Reds program.
"Jacob is a natural leader, not just as captain of our team, but within the entire athletic department at UNB," said McMorran. "Jacob has been, and continues to be, an exceptional individual who encompasses all that we want from our student-athletes. He is a special young man who is a very worthy recipient of this award."
McMorran too, is a worthy recipient of the coach of the year citation, winning the award for the third time in four years as he built the V-Reds to the status of AUS pennant winner. They dethroned the Tigers and will be aiming to unseat the perennial AUS champions for the right to represent the Conference at the CIS championships at Trinity Western University in British Columbia next week.
McMorran led the V-Reds to a first place record of 11-6 to cop the coaching award, including a sweep of the Tigers on home court last weekend to clinch the pennant.
"Dan being recognized as the AUS coach of the year validates his outstanding effort and the significant growth of our men's volleyball program within the CIS," said UNB director of athletics Kevin Dickie in a press release. "He is one of the country's top coaches and an even better person."
Fourth-year libero Kyle Blanchard of the V-Reds was named the league's libero of the year, the first UNB player to be so honoured since the award was established in the 1999-00 season. He led the V-Reds with 2.86 digs per game after making the transition from outside hitter.
The rookie of the year in the Conference is Jalen Blackmore of Memorial University of Newfoundland, the fourth straight member of the Sea-Hawks to capture the honour.
UNB had three players named to the league's all-star team, including Kilpatrick, third year Matt Sweet of O'Leary, PEI, and fifth-year Tyler Veenhuis of South Branch, N.S. The other three all-stars are all from Dal, including fifth-year Sander Ratsep of London, Ont., fifth year Max Burt of Newfoundland, and fourth-year Graeme Higgins of Scarborough, Ont.
Following tonight's match, the best-of-three will switch to Halifax and the DalPlex Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Should a third and deciding match be necessary, it would be back here next Saturday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. at the Main Gym.