GAVLAS NAMED COACH OF YEAR; GILBERT, FRASER ALL-STARS2013-02-22
University of Saskatchewan Huskie men’s volleyball head coach Brian Gavlas was named the Canada West Coach of the Year, while Chris Gilbert and Bryan Fraser were each named conference all-stars Friday.
It is the fourth time in his 20-year career that Gavlas has been named Canada West Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year. Gilbert was named a Canada West First Team All-Star, while Fraser was named to the conference’s second team. It is the first all-star selection for both athletes.
Taking the Canada West by surprise this year, Gavlas led the Huskies, who have been ranked in the CIS Top 10 all season, to a 15-7 record, finishing third after winning 12 of their last 14 matches. A year ago, the Huskies finished 4-16 and in 10th spot in the conference. Saskatchewan hosted a Canada West playoff series for the first time since 2004-05 and made an appearance in the postseason for the first time since 2006-07.
“Brian is a hardworking, dedicated coach who has returned his team to be among the best in the Canada West,” said U of S Athletic Director Basil Hughton. “With Brian’s leadership, this core group of athletes have worked hard over the last number of years to return our team to its place of prominence that it enjoyed in the 1990s and early 2000s. Brian is well-deserving of this award.”
The Huskie men’s volleyball team has appeared at the CIS Championship 10 times winning the crown in 1998-99 and 2003-04 and won the Canada West Championship four times with Gavlas at the helm.
Gilbert, a fifth-year setter from Lethbridge, Alta., had a career season in 2012-13. The Arts & Science student led the Canada West in assists with 855 and 10.43 per set. He also added 40 kills, nine service aces, 211 digs and 25 blocks in the season.
Fraser, who also had a career season, led the Huskies on the attack and sat ninth in the conference with 278 kills averaging 3.39 per set. The fourth-year Arts & Science student also added 10 service aces, 166 digs and 29 blocks.
Gavlas is now in the running for the award at the CIS level, while Gilbert is eligible to be named an All-Canadian. Both will be announced at the CIS Championship March 1-3.
The Huskies’ season came to a close after losing in the Canada West quarter-finals last weekend.
FULL CANADA WEST RELEASE
