The winter restart sees 2025 award its first Athletes of the Week, including a back-to-back winner to bridge 2024 and 2025.
Natalie Rourke is the Capilano University Blues women’s Athlete of the Week.
In the first action of 2025, Rourke was dominant from her middle blocker position, reaching double-digit kills each night as the Blues swept a pair of road matches at Douglas College.
In Friday’s opener, the 6-foot product of Beaverlodge, Alberta, had an otherworldly .786 hitting percentage as she put up a team-leading 12 kills on 14 swings with only one error while also contributing two aces and a block.
Coming back the next night, Rourke recorded 10 kills to go along with a block and five digs. Her 22 kills on the weekend resulted in a .629 hitting percentage.
Xavier Masztak is the Capilano University Blues men’s Athlete of the Week.
In a tough road set at Douglas, the Australian international was the Blues leader in kills both nights, totalling 16 for the weekend.
On Friday, the 6-foot-4 outside hitter put away seven kills alongside an ace and four digs.
On Saturday, he went for nine kills with eight digs and an ace. Masztak was also solid on serve-receive, handling 54 serves on first touch, helping his team get in system.
