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It looks like a bright future for the Heat men's volleyball program as for the third straight year they place at least one player on the Canada West All-Rookie team.
Also for the first time since 2011-12, the UBC Okanagan program has earned a conference all-star.
Caleb Funk found himself as one of the top first-year players over the course of the 24-match regular season.
The Heat's captain and all-time kill leader, Lars Bornemann, closes out his career in style earning a conference all-star.
Completing his second year at the helm of the UBCO men's volleyball program, first without the interim tag, Brad Hudson found it easy to praise his award winners.
"Really I am exceptionally proud of both Lars and Caleb. I'm also very proud of everyone's efforts through the season that helped propel these two exceptional young men to very fine seasons. We were one of only five Canada West Men's Volleyball programs to have multiple representatives and I believe that speaks to our individual and collective growth," begins Hudson.
"In the last three year's we have seen Eli Risso, Devon Cote, Kyle Hinchey, and now Caleb Funk on the rookie team and that can only bode well for our future. Caleb came to camp last fall and quickly established himself as someone we could all rely on," says Hudson of his rookie middle.
Funk, as a first-year player, played in all 24 matches for the Heat and he started all but the first match of the year and the last. Caleb finished with 82 kills averaging just over one a set (1.01) converting on nearly 20-percent of his attacks (.182).
With 60 total blocks, Funk was in the top-25 in the conference. He also served for nine aces over the year.
Completing the best year of his historic career for the Heat, team captain Lars Bornemann passed many milestones on his way to his first conference all-star nod.
This season Bornemann set career marks in kills, kills per set, attack rate, digs, digs per set, points, and points per set, all while playing in the fewest sets in his career.
Bornemann's 339 kills total was third in the conference, and his 4.08 kills/set was second, he led the league with 800 total attacks and his point total of 375.5 (3rd) and 4.5 points per set (4th) were strong numbers that helped vault Bornemann to all-star status. He also finished tied for fifth in double-doubles on the season. In three-set matches this season Bornemann twice went for 20 kills, tied for third best of the year.
Victoria's Oak Bay grad also hit some milestones in his career that left him high on the Canada West leaderboard. He became one of 11 players in conference history to surpass 1000 kills and 500 digs. At the end of the season, Bornemann finished with 1275 kills, sixth best in the history of Canada West and best ever at UBC Okanagan.
Coach Brad Hudson will have a new path next season without having his captain on the court to generate offence and lead the team and is happy that the career Bornemann put together was recognized by the conference.
"He's a terrific competitor and has a very bright future," said Hudson. "With regards to Lars, what a season for our senior captain! Lars finished as a Canada West 2nd team All-star, 2nd in CW in kill per set, 3rd in CW in total kills, and 4th in CW total points per set. Statistically, it was incredible and even more impressive when you consider he was without a doubt the focal point of every opponent's game plan."
The men's team never played more than a handful of sets with the preseason starting lineup, due to injury, but still was in the playoff hunt right down to the final two matches.
The Heat program will look to next season to be healthy and make a strong run to a playoff spot.
List of Canada West All-Stars for UBC Okanagan:
- 2017/18: First team: Hamish Walde (MSOC), Aidan Lea (WVB); Second team: Mitch McCaw (MSOC), Lars Bornemann (MVB), Michelle Jakszuk (WVB)
- 2016/17: First team: Mitch McCaw (MSOC); Second team: Kaitlynn Given (WVB)
- 2015/16: First team: Katie Wuttunee (WVB); Second team: Katy Klomps (WVB), Brianna Beamish (WVB)
- 2014/15: First team: Katy Klomps (WVB); Second team: Katie Wuttunee (WVB)
- 2013/14: Second team: Katy Klomps (WVB)
- 2012/13: Second team: Emily Oxland (WVB)
- 2011/12: Second team: Nate Speijer (MVB)
UBC Okanagan, has now earned 15 Canada West All-Star awards overall since it joined the Canada West Universities Athletic Association in September of 2011. Soccer started competing in Canada West in the fall of 2014.
List of Canada West All-Rookies for UBC Okanagan:
- 2017/18: Sam McDonald (MSOC), Caleb Funk (MVB)
- 2016/17: Kyle Hinchey (MVB), Sara McCreary (WVB)
- 2015/16: Eli Risso (MVB), Devon Cote (MVB)
- 2014/15: Aldrich Berrios (MBB)
- 2013/14: Lars Bornemann (MVB), Michelle Jackszuk (WVB)
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