GUELPH, Ont. – Marc Stevens (men's hockey) and Alex Curran (women's volleyball) have been named Gryphon Muscle MLK Athletes of the Week for the period ending February 17, 2020.
Marc Stevens (Men's Hockey)
The Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team entered the 2020 OUA playoffs as the No. 3-seed in the OUA West division. But after dropping Game 1 of their best-of-three series to the Laurier Golden Hawks, the Gryphons found themselves on the brink of elimination with the series shifting back to Waterloo.
That's when fourth-year forward
Marc Stevens, playing in his final season in the red, black and gold, stepped up to ensure that his team's season, as well as his own university playing career, would be extended at least one more round.
Stevens racked up 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) over the final two games of the OUA West Quarter-finals, helping lead the Gryphons to an opening round series win thanks to a 6-3 victory in Game 2, followed by a 4-2 victory in a decisive Game 3. The Turkey Point, Ontario native was the most impactful player on the ice Saturday night in Waterloo, tallying 2 goals and 3 assists in Guelph's 6-3 road win over the Hawks to tie the series.
Sunday night at the Gryphon Centre, the social and applied human sciences major needed less than two minutes to make his presence felt in Game 3, opening the scoring just 1:47 into the first period. Marc's six points through the opening round of the playoffs ties him for the OUA lead in playoff scoring with Windsor's Brennan Feasey. Stevens and the Gryphons will now face the Brock Badgers in the OUA West semi-finals, with Game 1 of the best-of-three series set for Thursday night (Feb. 20) in Guelph.
Alex Curran (Women's Volleyball)
The Guelph Gryphons women's volleyball team is led by one of the top setters in all of Canadian university women's volleyball in
Alex Curran. This past weekend, Alex turned in one of her best matches as a Gryphon, with the fourth-year psychology major helping the Gryphons clinch a playoff spot with an impressive straight sets road win over a talented Queen's Gaels squad.
Curran, a native of Aurora, Ontario, racked up 28 assists in Guelph's 3-0 win over the Gaels Saturday night (Feb. 15) in Kingston.
The 2018-19 OUA West First Team all-star was at the top of her game throughout the match, creating great scoring opportunities for everyone around her in a Gryphon uniform, helping the Gryphons return to the postseason after a one-year absence.
On the season, Curran ranks in the Top 10 in the OUA in assists (4th - 540), assists per set (6th - 8.44) and digs (174 – 10th). The big performance over Queen's on Saturday night capped off an undefeated weekend for the U of G women's volleyball team, who also won in straight sets Friday night at RMC, with Curran adding 18 assists and 6 digs. The Gryphons now sit at 11-7 on the season and have posted a 7-2 record in conference play since the new year. The Gryphons will close out their regular season schedule on Saturday (Feb. 22) at Waterloo, where they will can jump up to 3rd-place in the OUA West standings with a win over the 11-6 Warriors.
2019-20 GRYPHON ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
| Period Ending: |
MALE: |
FEMALE: |
| Feb. 18, 2020 |
Marc Stevens (Men's Hockey) |
Alex Curran (Women's Volleyball) |
| Feb. 10, 2020 |
Zarko Ubiparip (Men's Volleyball) |
Shania Van Herk (Women's Swimming) |
| Feb. 2, 2020 |
Alexander Chaves (Men's Wrestling) |
Hannah Little (Women's Wrestling) |
| Jan. 27, 2020 |
Mikkel Aagaard (Men's Hockey) |
Jayden Sparks (Women's Wrestling) |
| Jan. 20, 2020 |
Ryan Valentini (Men's Hockey) |
Burke Bechard (Women's Basketball) |
| Jan. 13, 2020 |
Tommy Yanchus (Men's Basketball) |
Shyvonne Roxborough (W Track and Field) |
| Jan. 5, 2020 |
Connor Bramwell (Men's Hockey) |
Aurore Beaulieu (Women's Hockey) |
| Dec. 2, 2019 |
Marc Stevens (Men's Hockey) |
Jade Ziebarth (Women's Volleyball) |
| Nov. 24, 2019 |
Keenan Dowell (Men's Basketball) |
Shania Van Herk (Women's Swimming) |
| Nov. 18, 2019 |
Mikkel Aagaard (Men's Hockey) |
Voneta Davis (Track and Field) |
| Nov. 11, 2019 |
Mitch Ubene (Men's Cross Country) |
Miranda Lantz (Women's Hockey) |
| Nov. 3, 2019 |
Gideon Dresser (Men's Volleyball) |
Burke Bechard (Women's Basketball) |
| Oct. 27, 2019 |
Mitch Ubene (Men's Cross Country) |
Katherine MacMillan (Field Hockey) |
| Oct. 20, 2019 |
Mitch Talbot (Men's Rugby) |
Sidney Evans (Field Hockey) |
| Oct. 13, 2019 |
Justin Allen (Men's Golf) |
Julia Schell (Women's Rugby) |
| Oct. 6, 2019 |
Erik Hermanns (Men's Soccer) |
Venessa Mazur (Women's Soccer) |
| Sept. 29, 2019 |
Alex Zis (Men's Soccer) |
Kate Knafelc (Women's Soccer) |
| Sept. 23, 2019 |
Josiah Dixon (Golf) |
Cameron Ormond (Women's Cross Country) |
| Sept. 16, 2019 |
Aria Keshoofy (Men's Rugby) |
Victoria Hinchliffe (Women's Soccer) |
| Sept. 8, 2019 |
Dylan Clark (Baseball) |
Katherine MacMillan (Field Hockey) |
| Sept. 1, 2019 |
Moses Kafeero (Men's Soccer) |
Sayan Ladhani (Women's Soccer) |
* green signifies OUA Athlete of the Week
* red signifies U SPORTS Athlete of the Week
