In a historic moment, Mariah Bereziuk became the first Griffins women's volleyball player to make a U SPORTS all-star team when she was named to the second team at the national championship banquet on Wednesday night.
The honour follows her selection to the Canada West first all-star team last month.
"I was really surprised," said the veteran outside hitter, who attended the ceremony in Hamilton, Ont. where the U SPORTS women's volleyball nationals are being held. "I had no idea that was coming. It's a really cool accomplishment to have, especially to end my career."
She was so surprised that head coach Chris Wandler had to repeat himself when he initially phoned to tell her the news.
"It's extremely exciting, No. 1, for her," he said. "When I told her, she was a little in disbelief. I had to tell her a couple of times that she got it. It's the first time in MacEwan women's volleyball history that this has been awarded to an athlete, so I'm extremely proud of her."
Indeed, the best previous awards result for a Griffins women's volleyball student-athlete was when Haley Gilfillan made the Canada West first all-star team in 2019-20.
Mariah Bereziuk poses with her award after being announced as a member of the U SPORTS second all-star team on Wednesday night in Hamilton, Ontario (Photo: Chris Wandler).
Bereziuk joins UFV's Gabrielle Attieh, UBC's Lucy Borowski, Alberta's Lauryn Tremblay, McMaster's Jenna Woock, Toronto's Julia Murmann and Acadia's Charlotte Dean on the U SPORTS second all-star team.
Manitoba's Raya Surinx, who was also named U SPORTS player of the year, Trinity Western's Kaylee Plouffe, Queen's Hannah Duchesneau, Brock's Sara Rohr, Montréal's Olympe Desmedt, Sherbrooke's Emma Bergeron and Saint Mary's Olivia Bell were named to the U SPORTS first team.
Wandler noted it's huge for the program to have a player crack the U SPORTS all-stars, which is a testament to not only Bereziuk's talent, but to the team's success, as well.
"You don't get that award alone, so I'm extremely proud of the group for helping propel her to get to that spot," he said. "All these individual awards are great, but it takes a group effort. I'm really proud of her and the rest of the group, for sure."
Read the full story by Jefferson Hagen on MacEwanGriffins.ca.