National recognition for UNB v'ballers
Fifth-year middle player Jacob Kilpatrick and coach Dan McMorran, both of whom played major roles in leading the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds to their first Atlantic University Sport Men's Volleyball Conference championship since 1979-80, were in the spotlight on the national stage at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport awards banquet Wednesday night in Langley, B.C.
"Jacob is a natural leader, not just as captain of our team but within the entire athletic department here at UNB," said V-Reds head coach Dan McMorran in a release announcing the awards. "He has been, and he continues to be, an exceptional individual who encompasses all that we want rom out student athletes. He is a special young man who is a very worthy recipient of that award."
The six-foot-nine captain of the V-Reds was named the most valuable player in the AUS after leading the country with a .439 hitting percentage and leading the Atlantic Conference in blocks per set, with 1.35, and service aces, 0.37 per set. Kirkpatrick is the only Atlantic athlete to be named a first-team all-Canadian after the V-Reds dethroned the perennial Atlantic champion Dalhousie Tigers of Halifax, who had won 24 straight Atlantic championships before the V-Reds swept them in straight matches in the AUS final.
The other first team all-Canadians include Karl De Granpre of Laval, Tanner Nault of Alberta, Winston Rosser of Guelph, Paul Sanderson of Brandon, player of the year Graham Vigrass of Calgary, and Kyle Williamson of Windsor. Outside hitter Sander Ratsep of Dalhousie was named a second team all-Canadian, joining Justin Boudreault of Laval, Pierrre-Marc Lussier of Sherbrooke, Matt Poulin of Western, Kevin Tillie of Thompson Rivers, Rudy Verhoeff of Trinity Western and Joren Zeeman of Queen's on the squad.
McMorran, in his seventh season as coach of the V-Reds, became the first UNB men's volleyball coach to win CIS coach of the year laurels.
He's won the AUS award three times in the past five years.
A former player in the V-Reds program, including two seasons as captain of the team, McMorran previously coached at St. Thomas before taking on the UNB job.
"Dan being recognized as the CIS coach of the year validates his outstanding effort and the significant growth of our men's volleyball program within CIS," said UNB athletic director Kevin Dickie. "He's one of the country's top coaches and is a terrific person. UNB couldn't be prouder of him and our team."
The other major award winners included Blair Bann of UBC as winner of the CIS libero of the year for the third time in his career, and Garrett May of the University of Western Ontario as rookie of the year.
V-Reds are seeded seventh among the eight competing teams at the CIS tournament, which begins Friday. V-Reds face Quebec champion Laval Rouge et Or at 5 p.m. Atlantic time.
The other first round matchups pit Brandon Bobcats against McMaster Marauders of Hamilton, host Trinity Western takes on Alberta, and top-seeded University of Calgary takes on Sherbrooke.
Meanwhile at the CIS women's championship in Quebec City, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds dominated the stage at the awards banquet Wednesday night at Laval University.
Shanice Macelle of the three-time reigning CIS champion T-birds was named CIS player of the year and fifth-year veteran Jen Hinze was named winner of the Therese Quigley Award for outstanding community service.
Other major award winners included Ryan Hofer of Trinity Western as coach of the year, Donata Huebert of Brandon was named libero of the year while Marie-Sophee Nadeau of Montreal was named rookie of the year.
Fifth-year Jill Blanchard of Saint John was the only player recognized from the Atlantic champion University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds. She was chosen a second-team all-Canadian. V-Reds open play in the CIS tournament Friday at 9 p.m. Atlantic against the host and Quebec Conference champion Laval Rouge et Or.