Alexei Walisser had 29 kills in six weekend sets against U SPORTS No. 4 Mount Royal University (Robert Antoniuk photo).

February 21, 2023

Three Stars: Walisser, Bereziuk, Morrell earn honours

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Men's volleyball student-athlete Alexei Walisser is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after his performance on the final weekend of his university career.

Walisser produced 29 kills in just six sets over two 3-0 losses to the U SPORTS No. 4-ranked Mount Royal University Cougars.

Women's volleyball student-athlete Mariah Bereziuk and women's soccer forward Maya Morrell were named the second and third stars, respectively.

All three are appearing on the Three Stars list for the third time this season.

Walisser was previously named first star on Nov. 8 and Nov. 22. Bereziuk was second star on Nov. 1 and first star on Nov. 29. And Morrell was previously honoured as first star on both Sept. 13 and Oct. 18.

1^st STAR: Alexei Walisser, OH, men's volleyball

Peace River, AB, fifth-year, Commerce

On the final weekend of his epic seven-year university career, Alexei Walisser produced an incredible 29 kills in just six sets against Mount Royal University.

In Friday's 3-0 loss, he recorded a team-high 14 kills on a .300 efficiency, adding nine digs and three blocks, accounting for a team-high 17.0 points.

In Saturday's 3-0 loss, Walisser had a match-high 15 kills on .270 hitting percentage, adding five digs and accounting for a match-high 15.0 points.

M��| FINAL
Thank you Alexei Walisser for a fine career at @MacEwanU. Here is his final kill to give him 15 on the night and 289 in 2022-23 - the 2nd-most by a Griffin in a @CanadaWest season. He also finishes with 458 in his career.@MRUCougars win 3-0.#GriffNation #SeniorNight pic.twitter.com/6hzHXp1mAt
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) February 19, 2023

That left Walisser with 289 kills in 2022-23, the second most in a single season by a Griffins men's volleyball player since the program joined Canada West in 2014. His total points this season (326.5) is also second, behind only Max Vriend (362.5) in 2019-20.

His kills per set average in 2022-23 (3.28) is third-best in the program's Canada West history.

Walisser, who kicked off his post-secondary athletics career as an ACAC badminton athlete at King's University in 2016-17 and also played two seasons of ACAC volleyball for Lakeland College, was at MacEwan for four seasons but only played in two, redshirting in 2019-20 and, like everyone else, losing a year due to the pandemic pause in 2020-21.

Still, he finishes with 458 career kills and 516.5 career points (both sixth all-time in MacEwan's Canada West era).

Mariah Bereziuk hammers home one of her 22 kills over the weekend against Mount Royal University (Robert Antoniuk photo).

2^nd STAR: Mariah Bereziuk, OH, women's volleyball

Boyle, AB, third-year, Commerce

Capping off a stellar season, Mariah Bereziuk had 22 kills and accounted for 25.0 points in two matches against U SPORTS No. 3 Mount Royal University on the weekend

In Friday's 3-0 loss to the Cougars, she produced a team-high eight kills and 11.0 points, adding an ace, four digs and two blocks.

In Saturday's 3-0 setback, Bereziuk had a match-high 14 kills and 14.0 points, adding an assist and eight digs.

For the season, Bereziuk finished as the Griffins' leader in kills (279) and points (319.0). That's the fifth-most kills and points by a Griffin in a single Canada West season.

For her career, Bereziuk is up to 379 kills (seventh in the program's CW history) and 431.0 points (8^th).

Maya Morrell, seen in action against Lethbridge last fall, scored twice to pace the Griffins to a 4-0 win over NCAA Div. II Hawaii Pacific University on Sunday (Rebecca Chelmick photo).

3^rd STAR: Maya Morrell, F, women's soccer

Vancouver, BC, fourth-year, Arts

The Griffins women's soccer team kicked off a Hawaiian exhibition tour with a 4-0 win over Hawaii Pacific University on Sunday and Maya Morrell was front and centre in the victory.

Scoring twice, the veteran forward continuously drove play and was a force to be reckoned with, constantly beating defenders and wreaking havoc on the back line of the NCAA Div. II school.

53' | ��GOOOAAALLLL��
@maya_morrell does it all alone, stripping the defender of the ball and scoring. Making that her second of the day and putting the score at 3-0 for the Griffs. pic.twitter.com/RF3UxzSv7I
— MacEwan Soccer (@GriffinsSoccer) February 20, 2023

Morrell finished the 2022 U SPORTS soccer season second on the Griffins with eight goals and 11 points in 14 games. That's tied for the second-most goals in a season in the program's Canada West history and is the third-most points.

For her career at MacEwan, Morrell has 14 goals and 23 points (both tied for fourth in the program's CW history).

The Griffins continue their Hawaii trip with with a match against NCAA Div. 1 University of Hawaii on Feb. 23 (7:30 p.m. MT).