November 20, 2023

Gribbon, Shantz, Owen named OUA athletes of the week

Burlington, Ont. – Jessica Gribbon, MacKeely Shantz, and Paige Owen have been named OUA athletes of the week for the period ending November 19, 2023.

Jessica Gribbon, Hockey, Windsor Lancers

Windsor women's hockey player Jessica Gribbon battling for the puck against an opponent on the ice

It was a weekend to remember in more ways than one for Windsor’s Jessica Gribbon, as she not only met a milestone for her varsity tenure, but found lofty success on the ice therein.

Gribbon and the Lancers began their two-game stretch with a tough tilt against Toronto, a team that they had not defeated in 12 years. Thanks to some aggressive play from the fifth-year forward from Orangeville, Ont., which featured a leading effort in attacks and shots on net, Windsor was able to take home the long-awaited win over the Varsity Blues. On the scoresheet, Gribbon’s great play translated into a pair of goals, both of which came in the middle frame of the team’s eventual 4-3 victory.

Facing another formidable foe the following night, Gribbon wasn’t about to will her team to victory once again. And while she did net Windsor’s lone goal in their 4-1 defeat to Nipissing, the night was more noteworthy than that, as it marked the captain’s 100th game in the OUA.

MacKeely Shantz, Basketball, Western Mustangs

Western women's basketball player MacKeely Shantz dribbling the ball with an opposing defender in front of her

MacKeely Shantz has made a quick impression on her new team this season, and her latest efforts on the road en route to a split record were her most impressive to date with the Western Mustangs.

After a productive tenure with Guelph, Shantz has found continued success with Western and added to her immediate impact in the team’s back-to-back wins over York and McMaster. In the former, Shantz poured in a season-best 34 points to help her side overcome a late deficit. She also grabbed seven rebounds and collected three steals in the London squad’s eventual 13-point win. If the numbers weren’t impressive enough, Shantz was able to achieve the result on an efficient 13-of-18 shooting from the field, including 50% from beyond the arc.

While her offensive presence wasn’t quite as pronounced the following night, the fourth-year guard from Plattsville, Ont. was still about to influence the game in several different ways. She finished with her third double-double of the season – 16 points and 10 rebounds – while also adding a pair of assists and steals for the ‘Stangs in their tough loss to the Marauders.

Paige Owen, Volleyball, Nipissing Lakers

Nipissing women's volleyball player Paige Owen hitting the ball with the net in front of her and the arm of an opposing player going for a block

Paige Owen was an offensive powerhouse for the Nipissing women’s volleyball team this weekend, helping to lead the Lakers to a pair of wins over Waterloo in their home opening efforts.

It took four sets on both occasions against the Warriors, but the heroic hitting from Owen was a difference maker all weekend for the Lakers. In their Friday night festivities, the sophomore outside hitter provided 19 kills, three aces, a solo block, and an assisted block, en route to a 25 point night for the North Bay squad.

She would follow that up with an equally impressive outing that the Warriors were unable to contain once again. Adding a pair of kills to her previous night’s total, the education major from Cambridge, Ont. connected on 21 kills on Saturday night, while also chipping in with a pair of aces and another solo and assisted block. Her 24.5 points on the night brought her total to nearly 50 on the weekend backed by a combined 40 kills.