February 22, 2011 (HALIFAX, N.S.) - UNB volleyball players Julio Fernandez and Jill Blanchard were each named the most valuable players of their respective Subway AUS championships this past weekend and are the AUS Subway Athletes of the Week for the week ending February 20th, 2011.

Male Athlete of the Week
Julio Fernandez
Men's Volleyball
University of New Brunswick
2nd year
Los Teques, Venezuela

Julio Fernandez of the UNB Varsity Reds men's volleyball team is the Atlantic University Sport Subway Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 20th, 2011. Fernandez, a second-year outside hitter from Los Teques, Venezuela, was named the most valuable player of the 2011 Subway AUS men's volleyball championship series this past weekend as the V-Reds swept the Dalhousie Tigers in two straight matches. In Friday's opening match in Fredericton, Julio had 16 kills, seven digs and racked up 19.0 total points as UNB won 3-2 in an exciting five-set match. In Sunday's rematch in Halifax, the 6-foot-3 sophomore was even more impressive with 23 kills, 10 digs and two aces for a 26.0-point outing as the V-Reds won another thrilling five-set contest and claimed their first AUS men's volleyball banner since the 1978-79 season. UNB will now represent the Atlantic conference at the CIS championship slated for March 4-6 at Trinity Western University.

Female Athlete of the Week
Jill Blanchard
Women's Volleyball
University of New Brunswick
5th year
Saint John, NB

Jill Blanchard of the UNB Varsity Reds women's volleyball team is the Atlantic University Sport Subway Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 20th, 2011. Blanchard, a fifth-year outside hitter from Saint John, NB, had an exceptional weekend at the 2011 Subway AUS women's volleyball championship hosted by Cape Breton University. Jill led her UNB squad to their second AUS championship in the past four seasons and was named to the tournament all-star team as well as the most valuable player of the championship. In Saturday night's semifinal match against the third-seeded Dalhousie Tigers, Blanchard had eight kills and 10 digs in a 3-1 victory. In Sunday afternoon's championship final, she finished with nine kills, 12 digs and two service aces as the V-Reds blanked the top-seeded and CIS No. 9-ranked Saint Mary's Huskies in three sets. UNB advances to the CIS Championship scheduled for March 4-6, hosted by Laval