The Capilano Blues men’s volleyball team took home two of the top prizes as the PacWest league announced their season-long awards on the eve of the provincial championships.
The Blues now boast both the Player of the Year in setter Simon Friesen and the coach of the year in Emmanuel Denguessi.
Friesen set himself above the rest of the pack as he led the Blues to a 19-5 record, good enough for second place behind 20-4 Vancouver Island University. The third-year player out of Abbotsford’s Mennonite Educational Institute averaged 10.14 assists per set this season while also putting up strong numbers for digs, kills, blocks and service aces.
“Simon has a winner’s mindset,” Denguessi stated in a Capilano University release. “(He) has established himself as the face of the Capilano Blues men’s volleyball program. He is at the service of his teammates, and he serves as a communication bridge between the coaches and athletes.”
Denguessi knows a thing or two about setting: the former Cameroonian national team player was the PacWest Rookie of the Year for the Blues several years back, starring at the setter position.
“It comforts me to realize that the other coaches in our conference saw it and granted him the Player of the Year award, which is most often awarded to outside hitters,” said Denguessi.
The coach was also recognized for his work, as he helped the team improve from a 10-14 record last season to 19-5 this year. The Blues were ranked in the CCAA Top 10 all year and tied a team record for most wins in season (the 2004-05 team went 19-1).
“It is my faith in God; the support of my family; the empowerment from athletic director Milt Williams and the entire department staff; the collaboration of my coaches, Alex, Taylor, John; and the great work of my student-athletes – because it is a student-athlete game – that made it happen,” said Denguessi about receiving the Coach of the Year award.
Middle blocker Zarley Zalusky joined Friesen on the PacWest first all-star team while outside hitter Jacob Hopkins was named to the all-rookie team.
The Blues earned an opening-round bye in the PacWest playoffs and will play the winner of University of the Fraser Valley vs. Douglas College Friday at 3 p.m. at UFV.
On the women’s side three Blues picked up PacWest honours, led by third-year outside hitter Tyneille Neufeld who earned a spot on the first all-star team. On a per-set basis Neufeld was third in the league in kills, fourth in total offence and 15th in digs. Neufeld was honoured despite missing significant playing time with an ankle injury.
“I knew she was working hard to be one of our established players, and she came in and has been all season,” said head coach Cal Wohlford. “It’s been great to see that even though she’s been out for five weeks, the coaches recognize what an impact player she is for our team.”
Capilano’s Isabela Lima picked up a pair of awards, earning a spot on the second all-star team as well as the all-rookie team. Splitting time between libero and outside hitter, Lima finished 12th in the league in digs and 14th in kills per set while also doing damage at the service line with 20 aces. She has been around the Blues team for more than three years but has spent much of the time battling back from injury after a virus left her partially paralyzed in 2015 (read her incredible story here).
Joining Lima on the all-rookie team is Emma Schill, an outside hitter who finished fifth in the league in aces, eighth in total offence and ninth in kills.
The fourth-seeded Blues women begin their playoff run against fifth-ranked Columbia Bible College today at UFV. The winner will move on to play top-ranked Douglas College in the PacWest semifinals tomorrow.
