Tuivai, Robertson take top Bobcat awards
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/03/2013 (4837 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Nobody at the Victoria Inn was surprised Monday night when Sam Tuivai was named the Brandon University Bobcats’ most outstanding male athlete. Meaghan Robertson, however, was left speechless after she learned she was picked as the university’s most outstanding female athlete.
Robertson, a homegrown third-year middle with the Bobcats women’s volleyball team, was caught completely off guard when her name was announced, especially since Kellie Baker was the women’s volleyball team’s most valuable player.
“I was not expecting that,” Robertson said. “To be on that trophy with those other people and only being a third year, that’s a big deal and it hasn’t sunk in yet that I just got that award.”
The 6-foot-2 Crocus Plains graduate has been one of the top Bobcat players since she joined the program. Robertson was named to the CIS all-rookie team two seasons ago and that inspired her to try to bring her game to a new level.
She was the conference’s seventh-most efficient attacker this season with a .294 hit percentage. She averaged 2.03 kills and 0.81 blocks per set and served 15 aces.
While it was a very difficult season for the Bobcats, who missed the playoffs with an 8-14 record, Robertson believes she further developed her game this season and will have to continue to do so in her next two seasons.
“My first year I had that rookie award and that started it,” she said. “That showed me I could be a better volleyball player, that (Bobcats head coach) Lee (Carter) and the rest of the team saw something in me that I could be a better volleyball player and keep pushing. Getting this award, being a third year, I still don’t even know what to say about that. … I have lots of pressure on me now. It’s a big deal.”
Meanwhile, Tuivai took home two major awards on the night, as he was also named the most valuable player on the men’s volleyball team.
Neither nod came as a shock as the New Zealander was named an all-Canadian this season, taking home second team honours. Tuivai led the Canada West conference with 4.35 kills and 4.89 points per set and was very humbled by the award.
“It’s an honour,” said the Bobcats’ second-year left side, who served 28 aces and averaged 0.54 blocks per set.
“Throughout the season you’ve been pushing yourself and pushing yourself and your teammates and out of all the athletes, they train hard and push themselves, too,” Tuivai said. “It’s an honour for myself to be the outstanding athlete of all the athletes who are here.”
Tuivai admits it’s been quite a journey to get to where he is today. The 6-foot-4 Tuivai basically started a new life in Canada where he has met new people and made new friends through the Bobcats. He was a force on the left side last season, but proved even deadlier this season and helped the Bobcats post a 13-9 record, win their first Canada West conference title and a bronze medal at nationals.
He credits better mental toughness for his improved play this season, and hopes to continue to get better each year. However, he’s going to take some time to relax before preparing for next season.
“Firstly, I’m going to start doing recovering,” he said. “My body did a bit of peaking this year and I’m going to get my body to recover and start from where I left off last season.”
» cjaster@brandonsun.com
2012-13 BRANDON UNIVERSITY AWARD WINNERS:
R.J. McCarthy Award for Outstanding Male Athlete: Sam Tuivai
Nancy Stanley Award for Outstanding Female Athlete: Meaghan Robertson
Student Union Service Award: Garrett Popplestone, Brendan White, Craig Lowe, Victoria Dakin, Chloe Reimer, Meaghan Robertson, Larissa Vonkeman
Doug Crandle Award: James Elias
Jim Casey Memorial Award for Sportsmanship: Dan Boutwell
H. Stuart Perdue Memorial Award for Sportsmanship: Chantel Gaslard
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Sam Tuivai
Bill Gadd Inspirational Award: Scott Neufeld
Leadership Award: Garrett Popplestone
Rookie of the Year: Roy Ching
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Kellie Baker
Leadership Award: Chloe Reimer
Daryle McCannell Inspirational Award: Shanlee McLennan
Rookie of the Year: Kendra Bommersbach
MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM AWARDS
Jerry Hemmings Most Valuable Player: Jordan Reaves
James O Dolling Inspirational Award: Isaiah James
Leadership Award: James Elias
Rookie of the Year: Turell Scott
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Player:Chantel Gaslard
Tracy McLeod Inspirational Award: Jaynell Gillett
Leadership Award: Carrera Lamoureux
Rookie of the Year: Carrera Lamoureux