U SPORTS TORONTO – Conor Morgan of the UBC Thunderbirds and Beth Vinnell from the Calgary Dinos are the final U SPORTS Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Dec. 3, 2017.

The 10-2 UBC Thunderbirds enter the holiday break tied for the top record in Canada West thanks in large part to Conor Morgan’s outstanding weekend against Regina. The fifth-year put up a season-high 36 points along with 10 rebounds Friday night to lead all players on both sides of the court in a 96-72 win over the Cougars. The Victoria native followed up with a 29-point effort Saturday in a 98-92 overtime win. Morgan’s 20 total rebounds Saturday tied a career-high as he completed his fifth double-double of the season. Morgan is off to a red-hot start to his final U SPORTS season tied for third in the nation with 25.0 points per game. He also ranks third in the country in defensive rebounds per game with eight and is fourth in U SPORTS in total rebounds per game with 10.3.

In a showdown of first-place teams, Beth Vinnell shined for the University of Calgary Dinos as they earned a sweep of the UBCO Heat. On Thursday night in front of a packed crowd for the Dinos Block Party, Vinnell put on a hitting clinic. The third-year middle had a hitting percentage of .619 as the Dinos win in three-straight (25-21, 25-21, 25-23). She also posted 14 kills, 3.0 blocks, and two digs. On Friday night, the Dinos had another quick night, beating the Heat 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 31-29). Vinnell led Calgary with 11 kills and 4.5 blocks, to go along with two digs and a hitting percentage of .474.

U SPORTS Athletes of the Week will resume on Jan. 10, 2018.

 

Male Nominees:

CW: Conor Morgan, basketball, UBC (winner)

OUA: Ben Blasko, hockey, UOIT

RSEQ: Frantson Démosthène, basketball, Laval

AUS: Holden Cook, hockey, StFX

 

Female Nominees:

CW: Beth Vinnell, volleyball, Calgary (winner)

OUA: Sofia Paska, basketball, Ryerson

RSEQ: Jane Gagné, basketball Laval

AUS: Maya Reynolds, track and field, Dalhousie

 

– Player bios courtesy U SPORTS member conferences

       

About U SPORTS

U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 12,000 student-athletes and 500 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit USPORTS.ca.