Tuesday, September 01, 2009

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After going 2-1 to open the 2009 season, the JU volleyball team will receive a boost this week as freshman middle blocker Alison Loeppky joins the squad after leading her native Manitoba to a gold medal in the 2009 Jeux Du Canada Games in Charlottetown, Prince Edward.

Loeppky helped lead Manitoba to a perfect 7-0 record through the national tournament after tallying 27 kills, 11 service aces and 24 blocks in six contests. She also finished strong by registering four service aces and a .417 hitting (6-1-12) in the semifinals before registering a .500 hitting percentage (9-2-14) and 12 blocks in the final.

“It was a tremendous experience and I can’t even begin to explain what it meant to me,” said Loeppky. “We were definitely underdogs coming into the tournament, because we were such a young squad, but we all came together and played well. Now I’m looking to carry over that experience as I begin my collegiate career.”

In pool play, Manitoba recorded wins over New Brunswick (3-0), Yukon (3-0), Quebec (3-2), Prince Edward Island (3-0) and Alberta (3-2). In the semifinals, the squad blanked Nova Scotia (3-0) before handling Ontario (3-1) in the medal match.