BARRHEAD - Barrhead-area native Max Vriend was named as MacEwan Athletics’ “First Star of the Week” for his performance as part of the university's men’s volleyball team.
During a 3-1 Nov. 29 loss to the University of Manitoba Bisons, Vriend broke his record for kills in a Canada West (CW) game.
In the same match Vriend also recorded 33 points, the second-highest total in a Canada West game. A day later, during a 3-0 loss against the Bisons, he recorded a team-high eight kills.
Vriend also broke MacEwan program record of 28 points, which he set five years ago in his rookie season, during a five-set loss to Winnipeg. His 33 points was also close to breaking another personal best, a 34 point performance against Winnipeg on Dec. 1, 2018.
Making these numbers more impressive is the fact that teams often take extra precautions to stop Vriend, who is the Griffins’ top offensive threat.
“We were putting as many guys on him as we could all game and he was still coming up with big hits. Max played a great game and gave us a lot of trouble … When he plays like that, [the Griffins are] going to be in any game with anybody,” said Manitoba Bisons coach Garth Pichke.
Vriend is responsible for 41 per cent of the team’s kills — the biggest impact any one player has on their team in Canada West.
Through the first semester, Vriend was second in the conference in kills per set (4.06) and points per set (4.6).
In some ways, Vriend’s strong start to the season is surprising. When the Barrhead Leader spoke to Vriend this summer, he said he was taking some time away from the sport. Usually, in the offseason, Vriend is successful in making Canada’s national team.
However, this year, Vriend worked in the area with a construction company.
His father Mark Vriend said at the Barrhead Advocates community dinner on Dec.3 that the time off served Max well.
“When you are playing you train differently,” he said. “By taking time away from the game he was able to do a lot more strength training and I think that has really helped him this year.”
As for how Max felt at the end of the game when he was informed that he had broke his old record, he took it in stride.
“You play volleyball because you like volleyball,” he said. “You don’t play for records. I think I said this the last time, too – I have a team that pushes me in practice and that really helps and makes me better every day. I have a coach that’s hard on me, which helps as well. You kind of show up to play volleyball and it’s the result.”
CW is one of four conferences within U SPORTS, the others being Ontario University Athletics (OUA), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) and Atlantic University Sport (AUS). Schools representing each conference compete annually for national supremacy.
