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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Feb 25, 2020

Joao Cunha makes a splash in rookie season

Joao Cunha makes a splash in rookie season

Posted December 15, 2019, on YouTube, the 8:50 highlight reel of Keyano Huskies men's volleyball left-side hitter Joao Cunha is quite impressive, considering the rookie star had only 12 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) matches to choose from since arriving in Canada and Fort McMurray, Alberta.

It is a highlight reel full of huge spikes finding nothing but court...the 6-foot-8 Cunha using timing and hang time to score. It is a highlight reel full of service aces, leaving defenders gawking.

More importantly, it is a highlight reel of a young man celebrating sport...a smile on his face and clap of hands in celebration of each point.

Having finished the 24 match season recently, the Huskies defending ACAC men's volleyball champions, sport a record of 19 matches won, 5 matches lost, 62 sets won, 24 sets lost, which is good enough for second place in the 7-team North Division behind the NAIT Ooks at  20 matches won, 4 matches lost, 64 sets won and 26 sets lost.

Cunha appeared in 21 matches and finished the ACAC regular season with one of the best statistical performances. The following are the numbers with ACAC over ranking:  1st. hitting percentage, .517; 4th, points per game, 4.2; 5th, total kills, 265; 5th, kills per set, 3.53; 6th, total points, 314; 7th, service aces per set, 0.43 and 9th in service aces with 32.

Prior to arriving in Canada, Cunha, who is enrolled in College Prep, played for various club teams back home, including: Botafogo 2017-2018, São José Vôlei  2016-2017, Santos Vôlei/Praia Grande 2915-2016,

São Caetano 2014-2015 and Flamengo 2013-2014.

While Cunha may hold the hot hand on the court the Canadian weather has been hard to get used to.

"He is always cold," said Keyano Huskies men's volleyball head coach Keegan Kuhr, with a chuckle added on. "Whether it is in practice or outside, he is always cold but he hasn't complained that much. When we got down to those cold temperatures in December he was felling it."

Of Cunha's unbridled passion, Kuhr said: "With some of his passion, we had to work a little bit in not controlling it or taking it away but understanding how to play. Keep that passion and desire to win but we have to do a little bit of this or that a bit more. We found some common ground but it did not happen overnight. He is a coachable player."

Even though it is a team game, something that Kuhr emphasizes, he admits that Cunha has been the team's go-to player.

"With how many guys we lost (to graduation) he means a lot. He has been our best player all year. He is very offensive and he has taken a leadership role even in his first year. He is able to help carry the offensive load every weekend. I think we know at the end of the day, at 6-foot-7, he demands that type of stature. We know and he knows that we need to get him the ball."

Joining Keyano and NAIT at the 2019-2020 ACAC Men's Volleyball Championships to be held Feb. 27 - 29, 2020 in Lethbridge are: North Division: The Kings University Eagles, Lakeland College Rustlers. South Division: Lethbridge College Kodiaks, Red Deer College Kings, SAIT Trojans and Briercrest College.

Key players to keep an eye on include:

  • Briercrest College: Karym Coleman, 1st kills, 397; 1st kills per set, 4.38; 1st  points, 456; 1st points per set 5.0 and 6th service aces, 36.
  • The Kings University Eagles: Jayden Hiebert, 3rd kills, 324; 3rd, kills per set, 3.68; 10th digs, 169; 4th in points, 363 and 5th in points per set 4.1  
  • Lakeland College Rustlers. Brady Cole, 4th blocks solo, 59; and 8th blocks per set, 0.61.
  • Lethbridge College Kodiaks: Carter Hansen, 4th in kills, 317; 2nd kills per set, 3.69; 6th service aces, 36; 8th service aces per set, 0.42; 3rd in points, 381 and 3rd in points per set, 4.4.,
  • NAIT Ooks: Spencer Fisher, 8th  kills, 218; 6th  kills per set, 3.21 and 7th points per set 3.6
  • Red Deer College King: Carter Hills, 6th kills, 255; 7th kills per set, 3.11; 6th service aces 36; 5th service aces per set, 0.44; 5th points, 316 and 6th points per set at 3.9.
  • SAIT Trojans: Maddux Greves, 5th assists, 661; 2nd assists per set, 8.58 and 2nd service aces, 54.

Photo: Erwin Kuhr