Simon Friesen, a graduate of MEI in Abbotsford, has added another accolade to his resume.
Last week, the fourth-year setter on the Capilano University Blues men’s volleyball team was named the 2018 College Athlete of the Year at the 53rd annual Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards in Vancouver.
The award recognized Friesen’s achievements during the 2017-18 season, after which he was named Pacwest and CCAA national player of the year.
He averaged 10.14 assists per set this season and also recorded 65 kills on a 0.419 hitting percentage. He also excelled on defence, averaging 1.77 digs per set and ranking 15th in the Pacwest in blocks with 0.43 per set. Friesen was also strong from the service line, as his 28 total aces were seventh-most in the league.
Friesen and the Blues earned a bronze medal at the recent Pacwest volleyball championships.
Friesen’s twin brother Ben Friesen also recently finished up his fourth year on the UFV Cascades men’s volleyball team.
He wasn’t the only Abbotsford native to earn recognition at the event, as golfer Adam Hadwin was named the senior male athlete of the year.
Hadwin racked up top 10 finishes at the CareerBuilder Challenger, Genesis Open and the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championships in 2018, and earned over $1.9 million.
The Athlete of the Year Awards, founded by Sport BC, is the longest standing sport recognition event in Canada. Awards in 18 different categories are presented each year to athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers for their performance and contribution to sport in B.C.
For a complete list of the results, visit sportbc.com/athlete-of-the-year-awards.