Season preview: Griffins ranked 14th in Canada West coaches' poll
Canada West Communications
CALGARY – Canada West is poised for another season of jaw-dropping women's volleyball action as the best university athletes in the country square off in a marathon to conference glory.
Ahead of tip off Friday, coaches from across the west have weighed in on who they think will take home the Women's Intervarsity Volleyball Trophy. Last year's CW and U SPORTS champion, the Trinity Western Spartans finished atop the poll, with eight first-place votes from 13 coaches.
The MacEwan Griffins finished 14th. They will open the 2022-23 season on Friday vs. Winnipeg (6 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
The Mount Royal Cougars finished just behind the Spartans in preseason polling, garnering 152 points and three first-place votes.
Rounding out the top three is the UBC Thunderbirds.
It all starts Friday, with a full slate of games. The top three poll finishers will all be looking to start their seasons with energy at home. For the complete schedule, click here.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ON CANADA WEST TV
Every women's volleyball game will be available live and on demand this season exclusively on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of the conference. To purchase your pass, click here.
2022-23 CW WVB PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- Trinity Western Spartans - 156 (8)
- Mount Royal Cougars - 152 (3)
- UBC Thunderbirds - 146 (2)
- UBCO Heat - 135 (1)
- Alberta Pandas - 124
- Calgary Dinos - 100
- Manitoba Bisons - 94
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 88
- Fraser Valley Cascades - 77
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 69
- Winnipeg Wesmen - 51
- Brandon Bobcats - 34
- Regina Cougars - 25
- MacEwan Griffins – 23
Megan Foxcroft will lead the Griffins into the 2022-23 season on Friday vs. Winnipeg (Robert Antoniuk photo).
MacEWAN GRIFFINS PREVIEW
2021-22 CW regular season record: 1-17/ 4th in CW Central
2021-22 post-season record: Missed playoffs
Interim Head Coach: Dusty Freimark, 1st season
Last CW championship / total CW championships: None
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: None
2021/22 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 11.5 points/set – 13th
2021 CW regular season leaders (returning):
Hits: 98 – Mariah Bereziuk, Outside Hitter
Assists: 307 – Payton Shimoda, Setter
Digs: 78 – Megan Foxcroft, Libero
Blocks: 44 – Dana Dunbar, Sarah McGee, Middle
Hitting percentage: .142, Sarah McGee, Middle
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Bronwyn Ettinger / Libero / 1 / Edmonton, AB / Strathcona
Renee Jodoin / Setter / 1 / Spruce Grove, AB / St. Peter the Apostle
Narelle Arnold / Middle/Outside Hitter / 1 / Edmonton, AB / Austin O'Brien
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Jordyn Thomas / Libero / Wilkie, SK / 5
Erica Bolink / Outside Hitter / Victoria, BC / 1
Key performer (pictured above):
Megan Foxcroft
Libero
4th Year
Edmonton, AB
2021-22 Stats: 0/14/78/20/-.500/14 (Hits/Assists/Digs/Blocks/Hitting percentage/Aces)
Heading into her final season with the Griffins, Foxcroft is the key leader on and off the court for a young team trying to take a step forward this season.
With high expectations for the squad, she's always trying to make those around her better mentally, physically and emotionally.
On the court, she sets the standard for the compete level necessary to succeed at the Canada West level. In the classroom, she is one of the top student-athletes MacEwan has ever had, with three U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian honours to her credit (likely to be five when she's done) and back-to-back Griffins' Top Academic Awards, tied for the best marks of any MacEwan student-athlete in the Faculty of Arts & Science.
