Three Stars: Holmes, Reimer, Taupert earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's volleyball student-athlete Lauren Holmes is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after her performance led the Griffins to a weekend sweep of the UBC Thunderbirds.
Holmes produced a combined 19 kills, seven service aces, six blocks and 29 digs to account for 29.5 of MacEwan's points over the weekend as they beat UBC 3-0 and 3-1.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Jordyn Reimer of the women's hockey team and third star Jordan Taupert of the men's hockey team.
It's the first time this season for all three student-athletes on the three stars list.
1st STAR: Lauren Holmes, OH, women's volleyball
Edmonton, AB, fifth-year, Nursing
Several players made major contributions to MacEwan's weekend sweep of the UBC Thunderbirds, but perhaps none were more across the board than what the fifth-year senior brought to the table.
She led the Griffins with a match-high 13 kills in Saturday's 3-1 victory, while hitting at a .303 efficiency, adding three service aces, four blocks, 17 digs to account for 18.0 points.
Beyond the numbers, Holmes was a difference-maker in the match when the Griffins needed it most, ending UBC runs with powerful blasts through the block.
Holmes also made multi-category contributions in Friday's straight-sets win over the T-Birds, recording six kills, four aces, two blocks, 12 digs and accounting for 11.5 points.
For the season, Holmes is second on the Griffins in kills (132) and digs (159) and is third in points (167.0).
She leads the Griffins into home action against cross-town rival Alberta on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
2nd STAR: Jordyn Reimer, F, women's hockey
Winnipeg, MB, fifth-year, Arts
The fifth-year senior and her linemates Chantal Ricker and Morgan Casson combined for eight points in MacEwan's two-game weekend sweep of the Red Deer College Queens.
In Friday's 5-3 win over the Queens in Edmonton, Reimer scored MacEwan's first two goals – both in the opening period – as the Griffins took an early lead and never looked back.
During Saturday's more defensive-oriented 2-0 win over the Queens in Red Deer, Reimer and her linemates accounted for the second goal and she drew an assist on Ricker's tally.
Her big-time weekend performance couldn't have come at a better time for the Griffins, who, with the wins, gained a seven-point lead over the Queens and NAIT Ooks for first place in the ACAC standings with both those teams having two games in hand.
For the season the Winnipeg product is tied for fifth in the ACAC scoring race with five goals and 11 points in 14 games played.
Reimer and the Griffs are on a bye week before returning to action on Jan. 24 vs. NAIT (7 p.m., Downtown Community Arena).
Jordyn Reimer produced two goals and an assist in a pair of weekend wins over Red Deer College (Joel Kingston photo).
3rd STAR: Jordan Taupert, F, men's hockey
Beaumont, AB, first-year, Open Studies
Consistently hitting the scoresheet for the MacEwan Griffins in his rookie ACAC season, Taupert came up big for the team in securing a weekend sweep over the Red Deer College Kings.
In Friday's 4-2 win in Red Deer, he recorded two assists, including drawing a helper on Zach Webb's game-winner with 1:54 left in the third period.
Then, on Saturday in Edmonton, he scored a bar-down beauty in double overtime to lift the Griffins to a 4-3 win over their rivals.
For the season, Taupert is now second on the Griffins in scoring with seven goals and 17 points in 16 games. He's currently the third-highest scoring rookie in the ACAC.
Taupert leads the Griffins into action against cross-town rival Concordia on Friday (7 p.m., Clareview Arena) and Saturday (6 p.m., Downtown Community Arena).
Jordan Taupert celebrates after scoring the double overtime-winning goal over Red Deer College on Saturday night (Joel Kingston photo).
