ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS athletes of the week (#24): Volleyball MVPs Cruickshank, Scheerhoorn honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Volleyball players Caleigh Cruickshank from the University of Toronto and Blake Scheerhoorn from Trinity Western University are the ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS female and male athletes of the week for the period ending March 13, 2016.

Cruickshank, a fourth-year health studies student from Etobicoke, Ont., was named the most valuable player at the CIS championship in Brandon after she led the second-seeded Varsity Blues to the first national title in program history, which also marked the first triumph by an OUA team at the competition since 1976. The 6-foot-1 left side hitter had a team-high 16.5 points, 14 kills and 15 digs in a five-set quarter-final win over McGill, added a game-high 22 points on 18 kills, three aces and one block in a 3-1 semifinal victory against UBC Okanagan, and contributed 8.5 points and five digs in Sunday's dominating 3-0 gold-medal decision over top-seeded and defending champion Trinity Western. The Blues ended their dream campaign with an unblemished 25-0 record in conference and post-season action.

Saint Mary's hockey player Caitlyn Schell, McGill basketball player Alex Kiss-Rusk and Alberta track star Ashley Whiteman were also nominated for the women's award.

Scheerhoorn, a third-year general studies student from Belleville, Ont., earned tournament-MVP honours at the CIS championship in Hamilton after he guided the second-seeded Spartans to the school's fourth Tantramar Trophy triumph. The explosive left side hitter kicked off the competition with a 21-kill performance in a four-set defeat of Ryerson, tallied 25 kills and four blocks in a thrilling 3-2 semifinal win over archrival Alberta, and ended his dream tournament on Saturday with 15 kills, three aces and three blocks in the gold-medal match as TWU upset the No. 1-ranked McMaster Marauders 3-1 on their home court. The Spartans had settled for sixth place in the Canada West standings at the end of conference play before taking off in the playoffs.

St. Francis Xavier hockey player Nathan Chiarlitti, Laval mid-distance runner Antoine Thibeault and Ryerson basketball player Aaron Best were the other male nominees.

Female nominees:
AUS: Caitlyn Schell, hockey, Saint Mary's
RSEQ: Alex Kiss-Rusk, basketball, McGill
OUA: Caleigh Cruickshank, volleyball, Toronto (recipient)
CWUAA: Ashley Whiteman, track and field, Alberta

Male nominees:
AUS: Nathan Chiarlitti, hockey, StFX
RSEQ: Antoine Thibeault, track and field, Laval
OUA: Aaron Best, basketball, Ryerson
CWUAA: Blake Scheerhoorn, volleyball, Trinity Western (recipient)

About ArcelorMittal Dofasco

ArcelorMittal Dofasco is Canada's largest producer of flat carbon steel and is part of the world's largest steel and mining company. Headquartered in Hamilton, ON, our more than 5,000 employees are dedicated to being world class as we strive to transform tomorrow with lighter, stronger and more sustainable steel. For us, steel is the fabric of life, as it is at the heart of the modern world. ArcelorMittal has a presence in more than 60 countries and an industrial footprint in over 20 countries. Guided by a philosophy to produce safe, sustainable steel, we are the leading supplier of quality steel in the major global steel markets including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with world-class research and development and outstanding distribution networks.

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