Three Stars: Holmes, Njaa, Beazer earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's volleyball student-athlete Lauren Holmes is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after leading the Griffins to back-to-back upset wins over U SPORTS No. 2 Trinity Western University.
With 25 kills and 31 digs in a pair of home contests, Holmes led a huge team effort in scoring 3-2 and 3-1 wins that bolsters the squad's chances at the program's first playoff berth since joining Canada West in 2014.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Brett Njaa of the men's hockey team and third star Raven Beazer of the women's hockey team.
Holmes and Njaa are both being recognized for the first time this season, while Beazer makes her second appearance in 2018-19, having also been named second star on Jan. 15.
1st star: Lauren Holmes, OH, women's volleyball
Edmonton, AB, fourth-year, Nursing
Plenty of players share the credit after the Griffins upset U SPORTS No. 2 Trinity Western on back-to-back nights over the weekend.
Any number of them are deserving of a star, but perhaps the biggest difference-maker was outside hitter Lauren Holmes as MacEwan bolstered its playoff hopes with 3-2 and 3-1 wins over the Spartans.
In Friday's victory at the David Atkinson Gym, Holmes recorded a team-high 13 kills and a match-high 19 digs, adding three blocks.
In Saturday's win, she again led the Griffins with 12 kills, adding 12 digs, five blocks and a service ace, while accounting for 16.5 points.
Holmes, who missed time and dealt with injuries for most of the first semester, has 118 kills, 162 digs, 14 service aces and 22 blocks so far this season.
2nd star: Brett Njaa, F, men's hockey
Birch Hills, SK, fourth-year, Commerce
As the Griffins returned to action over the weekend, veteran forward Brett Njaa was on point in leading them to a pair of victories over the Concordia University Thunder.
The reigning Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference MVP had five points in two wins that keep the Griffins within striking distance of the top two spots in the standings.
In Friday's 6-4 victory at the Downtown Community Arena, Njaa recorded two assists.
In Saturday's 5-2 win on the road at the Clareview Arena, he had a goal and two assists, combining with linemates Nicolas Correale and Sean MacTavish to drive the play for the Griffins.
For the season, Njaa is tied for second on the Griffins in scoring with nine goals and 26 points in 21 games.
Brett Njaa led the Griffins to a pair of victories over Concordia with five points last weekend (Matthew Jacula photo).
3rd star: Raven Beazer, F, women's hockey
Cardston, AB, fifth-year, Science
Goal scoring was at a premium between the MacEwan Griffins and Red Deer College Queens over the weekend with only six scored in the span of two games.
But Raven Beazer factored into two-thirds of MacEwan's offence, netting a goal and an assist in the weekend series.
In Friday's 2-1 win in Red Deer, the fifth-year veteran forward scored the game-winner in the second period by picking the pocket of a defender and beating goalie Miranda Cook under the bar.
In Saturday's 2-1 to the Queens at the Downtown Community Arena, Beazer drew an assist on Kyrelle Skoye's tally with 24 seconds left.
For the season, Beazer is tied for third in scoring on MacEwan with five goals and 13 points in 21 games.
Raven Beazer battles for puck possession off a faceoff during Saturday's game against Red Deer College (Matthew Jacula photo).
