Lauren Ens: February's Zueike Female Athlete of the Month
Congratulations to Lauren Ens of Women's Volleyball on being selected the CMU Zueike Female Athlete of the Month for February. The first year Blazers libero has shown incredible leadership and positivity down the home stretch of the season and into Championship weekend.
The month started out strong for the Blazers women's volleyball team as they took home a win in Brandon over the Assiniboine Cougars coming off a win over the league-leading St Boniface Rouges, which had them in second place in the standings early in the second half of the season. However, the CMU squad hit a rough patch in the middle portion of the month, suffering back-to-back home losses against the Providence Pilots, which ultimately dropped the Blazers into third place in the standings, and then a tough road loss to the top-seeded Les Rouges. Despite the adversity, the Blazers found their game for their last match of the regular season, and finished off with another win over the Cougars, leaving the team tied in the MCAC rankings with the Providence Pilots, who they will matchup with on semi-final Saturday.
In a month where there were plenty of moving parts to the Blazers women's volleyball lineup, Lauren Ens was the most consistent performer, and a steady force in the Blazers' backcourt. Though a rookie in eligibility, Ens is currently in her third year at CMU, having taken her first year off from playing, and was part of the team last year that lost the season to COVID. Those extra years of maturity show in spades on the court, and she plays the libero role perfectly, picking her teammates up, and praising her peers' good play. Often an unsung position on the team, the libero role can be a crucial facet of a team's makeup, and often an x-factor in a team's performance, as the continuous rotation on and off the court allows the player to be a go-between from the courtside coaches and the players on the court.
All the intangibles that Ens brings to the team should not diminish from her performance on the court when it matters most. Throughout the home matches in the month of February, Ens averaged over 10 digs per game, as well as averaged three kill assists per match, over only 11 sets of play. Throughout the entire regular season, Ens has amassed 90 digs during the team's eight home matches, as well as 16 assists, both good for third on the team statistically.
When asked about her backrow specialist, head coach Jayme Menzies gushed about the impact Ens has had on the team. "I am pleased to send my highest praise and recognition to the big talent, big dedication, and big hear that Lauren has brought to the gym every minute of the season. Lauren's first and second contacts allow our team to play confidently, swing aggressively, and prolong rallies, but more significantly, Lauren's gentle spirit and unwavering kindness build up everyone around her."
Expect to see Ens' talents on full display this weekend, as the Blazers volleyball teams head out to Brandon for MCAC Championship weekend. Blazers women's volleyball will matchup with rivals Providence Pilots in the second semi-final at 2PM on Saturday, March 5, with the men immediately following at 4PM. Spectator limitations have been lifted for the tournament, hosted by Assiniboine Community College, and all games will be livestreamed on the Cougars' YouTube channel. For the first time in MCAC volleyball history, the winners of the championship will earn a spot to play at the CCAA Nationals, held this year in Charlottetown, PEI for the women, and Quebec City for the men, from March 24-27.
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