Top Grade 12 players in Edmonton hit Atkinson Gym Sunday for Big Kahuna Senior Showcase
Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Three players who've already committed to the MacEwan Griffins women's volleyball team for 2020-21 will be among 25 high school all-stars converging on the David Atkinson Gym this Sunday for the 2019 Big Kahuna Edmonton School Volleyball Senior Showcase.
Danielle Jodoin (St. Peter Apostle), Madison Hoppus (Salisbury) and Alyshia Bryks (Lamont) will see their future home court as part of the annual Grade 12 all-star game hosted by the Griffins at 1 p.m.
"We're pretty excited when they got selected," said MacEwan women's volleyball head coach Ken Briggs. "We didn't pick them. The coaches in the league did, so that's kind of neat."
All of the players in the game were selected by a vote amongst coaches based on position.
The two squads will be run by reigning Div. 1 high school city champion Wade Rolph of Strathcona and Div. 2 high school city champion Cassidy Merta of Strathcona Christian.
"It's nice that they take part and are excited about it, too," said Briggs.
Rolph's Team Maroon will feature Anna Piers (Edmonton Christian), Sharla Boelee (Paul Kane), Kendra Kern (Jasper Place), Kaitlyn Weinkauf (Louis St. Laurent), Raenna Armbruster (Strathcona Christian), Ruth Lumsden (Ross Sheppard), Allie Ruptash (Strathcona), Bryks, Sarah Heupel (St. Peter Apostle), Raeann Wintoniak (Harry Ainlay), Sash Greenways (Archbishop MacDonald), Ava Robinson (St. Francis Xavier) and Hoppus, who is injured.
Merta's Team White will feature Brooke Risselada (Edmonton Christian), Kira Johnston (Strathcona), Lauren Kauffeldt (Jasper Place), Sadie Vogel (St. Albert), Jodoin, Maddie Mrazik (St. Francis Xavier), Kyla Cadieux (Holy Trinity), Nora Kotun (Bev Facey), Abigail Weiss (Strathcona Christian), Carmen Paterson (Ross Sheppard), Makenzie Reeve (Salisbury) and Jennifer Shapko (Archbishop Jordan).
"It's a great way for us to honour those kids and they bring their parents, coach, friends or whoever wants to come watch them," said Briggs. "We've been really fortunate. We just randomly choose the two teams and have great matches. Our girls really enjoy being the announcers, they run the games in between sets."
Many of the current Griffins, including starters Lauren Holmes, Haley Gilfillan, McKenna Stevenson and Rachel Jorvina played in the game when they were in Grade 12.
"There's a bunch of kids on our team who played in it and they remember it," said Briggs. "I don't think we realize how special it is when kids get recognition. They're excited."
Admission to the game is a non-perishable food donation for The Edmonton Food Bank.
