GRADE-POINT ANECDOTES: Kristjanson makes smooth switch to middle

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This article was published 31/01/2022 (1513 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Liam Kristjanson isn’t likely to tease middle blockers anymore, now that he is one.

“You like to poke fun at the middles, that ‘You only play front row, it’s only half the game’ but holy cow, all the responsibility. Just being aware of all three hitters on the court, that’s such a different responsibility,” Kristjanson said.

“You got to really be aware of what’s coming at you, so huge respect to the guys that make a living at this position. It’s no joke.”

The six-foot-nine Oak River product joined the University of Winnipeg Wesmen men’s volleyball team in 2019. Highly touted as a towering left side with above-average ball skills and athleticism, Kristjanson played all three attacking positions during the Canada West season.

He stayed in Winnipeg whenever gyms were open during the cancelled 2020-21 campaign, which unfortunately meant three months away. But Kristjanson feels the team still got better than it was in 2020 when it finished 12-10 and suffered a first-round playoff exit at UBC.

The Wesmen beat the Brandon University Bobcats (5-7) in four sets on Saturday to improve to 7-5 and sit atop the East Division by one match.

Winnipeg has plenty of depth — something Kristjanson feels is an underrated aspect of the group — with four solid setters and a bundle of outside hitters. However, the Wesmen are thin in the middle and that gives the second-year a big opportunity.

Kristjanson had five kills with just one error and a .364 hitting percentage on Saturday. He’s leading all Wesmen attackers in that category at .371. Head coach Larry McKay said good middles are tough to come by, and the former Crocus Plainsmen star has “a tremendous appetite for work,” putting in extra time to get up to speed.

“He’s a good player,” McKay said. “He’s a product of a really good school system out here in Brandon and combined with his (physicality), being so tall and can jump and everything, he’s displaying some versatility and is able to help us as a middle player, even though he’s never played that position.”

McKay has tinkered with his lineup a ton, as 11 of 13 players have played in at least 10 matches and 23 sets. While Kristjanson didn’t spend much time in the middle last year, it looks like he’s settling into that role and growing. Before the semester break, he put up a fantastic eight-kill, error-free effort with just 11 attempts in a four-set win over Saskatchewan.

He credits his setters, led by starter Matt Klysh, and said it’s more important to be on the same page as the setter than at any other position. He has no problem playing wherever he’s needed.

“I’m working hard to improve my game and try to be the best player I can for this team, whatever position that suits me, I’m happy to be part of a winning volleyball team,” Kristjanson said. Off the court, Kristjanson is in the third year of a computer science degree. He noted the digital nature of most of his schoolwork has minimized the downside of online classes. He was drawn to statistics, now his minor, and elected to take an epidemiology course to better understand the COVID-19 pandemic on a scientific level.

In practice, however, the Wesmen aren’t focused on external forces as much anymore. They’ve clinched a playoff spot since 12 of the 13 teams make it, and have a little over a month to be at their best for a three-match round-robin — the first of three playoff weekends before nationals at Manitoba.

At most, it’ll include one other East Division team along with clubs from Alberta and British Columbia.

“It’s going to be teams we have not seen all season,” Kristjanson said, “so really focusing on taking care of what we can on our side of the net, polishing different aspects of our game that are going to be important going into that tournament, making sure 13 guys deep, we’re all putting quality reps in each time we touch the court.”