2024 ACAC Men's Volleyball Players of the Year
Edmonton, AB (February 21, 2024) –
North Male Player of the Year | João Cunha | Keyano College:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce João Cunha of the Keyano College Huskies has been selected as the 2023-24 ACAC Men’s Volleyball North Division Player of the Year.
Cunha’s win marks the third time a member of the Men’s Volleyball Huskies has earned the award after wins by Alwyn Piche in 2008-09 and 2012-13. Appearing in 62 sets across 17 games this year, Cunha recorded 231 kills, 78 digs, 26 aces, and 19 blocks. That included a 24-kill performance in a five-set match against the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings on January 13, 2024, which was one off his single-game career-best total of 25.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Keyano Huskies Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Keegan Kuhr said. “He’s something super special that we’ve been lucky enough to have him be part of this program. Every time he’s out there, he has an opportunity to dominate the game in all aspects. Even at his height, how skilled he is at passing the ball, his offence is fantastic. He’s a good server, great blocker, and a fantastic leader.
“He’s been our on-court captain this year and done amazing things for us. I’m really proud of what he was able to accomplish this year.”
A product of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Cunha is in his fourth year of eligibility. Cunha was previously recognized as the ACAC Men’s Volleyball North Division Rookie of the Year, is a three-time member of the ACAC North Division All Conference team and was recognized as an All-Canadian by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in the 2019-20 academic year. He was also a key part of the 2022-23 Men’s Volleyball Huskies that earned an ACAC Bronze Medal.
To date, he is the only Keyano Huskies male student-athlete to win every major award available at the conference level (Rookie of the Year, All-Conference, Player of the Year).
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2023 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship hosted by Olds College in Olds, AB. The Player of the Year award is proudly sponsored by Alberta Volleyball.
South Male Player of the Year | Karym Coleman | Briercrest Clippers:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Karym Coleman of the Briercrest Clippers has been selected as the 2023-24 ACAC Men’s Volleyball South Player of the Year.
Karym's remarkable statistics for the season include kills per set of 4.70, overall kills totaling 334, hitting percentage at .446, aces per set of 0.41, and 29 total aces.
“Karym has yet again showcased an outstanding performance for the Briercrest Men’s Volleyball program. He has consistently excelled, leading the league in several critical categories. Karym's unwavering commitment to excellence has significantly contributed to the team's success this season. Notably, he broke the all-time kill record for the ACAC this year, achieving this milestone while playing 62 fewer sets than the previous record holder. His leadership on the court has undoubtedly made a lasting impact on the team, both for this year and in the years to come.” - Nigel Mullan (Head Coach)
Background information about Karym: Originally from Belize City, Belize, Karym is in his fifth year at Briercrest College, pursuing a MA in Leadership and Management. Among his other notable sport accomplishments, Karym was named the 2022-23 ACAC Male Athlete of the Year and has been recognized as a CCAA All-Canadian for the years 2019-20, 2021-22, and 2022-23. Additionally, he proudly represents the Belize Men’s National Volleyball Team.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2023 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship hosted by Olds College in Olds, AB. The Player of the Year award is proudly sponsored by Alberta Volleyball.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Jonathan Lambert, Keyano College
Director, Athletics & Recreation
780-791-4852
Jonathan.Lambert@keyano.ca
Stan Peters, Briercrest Clippers
Athletic Director
306-681-3676
speters@briercrest.ca
Kayla Blacquiere, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
kaylab@acac.ab.ca