by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips

The very first question we asked Jesse Weber in our eight-minute telephone interview was: "How do you feel the University of Alberta Augustan Vikings will do at the 2018-2019 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Volleyball Championship?"

His reply.

"We are a good attacking team and blocking is coming together nicely and we work well as a team," said Weber, Vikings' second-year right side hitter from Athabasca, Alberta. "I feel that we have not too bad a shot at winning. Individually we have to do our jobs and work as a team."

At 6-foot-5, Weber was a coaches dream for either high school volleyball or basketball.

He gave up the latter after junior high.

"Basketball and I did not mesh too well," admitted Weber, not realizing of the miss attended pun. "Co-ordination wise, I took a while to get into it and dribbling was not my friend."

Weber started for the Vikings his rookie year at the Camrose post-secondary school, appearing in 23 matches and 90 sets with a team-high 194 kills, 14 service aces and 109 digs.

"It was a big jump skill level wise. The guys were bigger and the competition was better."

Enrolled in Bachelor of Science and Biology, Weber hopes to be a veterinarian one day.

"I grew up on a farm and loved working with the animals. It was kind of a funny farm, in that we had cows, horses, donkeys, ducks, chickens and even bunnies for a bit."

"I never thought of big jobs like a doctor or engineer...working with animals would be rewarding for me."

Asked what he liked to do for fun when away from the books and volleyball, "I like to milk cows at my girlfriends family dairy farm (near Camrose)."

Who do you think will win the upcoming championships ready to spike it down Feb. 21-23, 2019 in Edmonton and hosted by the NAIT Ooks?"

"There are a couple of top contenders but I think we have the goods to roll with them."

Thursday February 21, 2019

Game 1 - 1:00 p.m.

University of Alberta Augustana Vikings vs. Red Deer College Kings

University of Alberta Augustana Vikings

15 Matches Won 9 Matches Lost 54 Sets 40 Won Sets Lost
Kills: Jesse Weber 208
Assists: Logan Pasishnik 817
Service Aces: Rhys Fingas 24
Digs: Thomas Zimmerman 153
Blocks: Lyndon Varga 52

Red Deer College Kings

18 Matches Won 6 Matches Lost 64 Sets Won 30 Sets Lost
Kills: Regan Fathers 435
Assists: Thomas Wass 911
Service Aces: Regan Fathers 30
Digs: Isaiah Stime 166
Blocks: Mark DeWit 46

Game 2 - 3:00 p.m.

Briercrest College Clippers vs. Keyano College Huskies

Briercrest College Clippers

13 Matches Won 11 Matches Lost 50 Sets Won 38 Sets Lost
ACAC Championships: 1
Kills: Bryton Codd 290
Assists: Caleb Schnitzer 533
Service Aces: Bryton Codd 46
Digs: Mitchell Erickson 161
Blocks: Jordan Schnitzer 47

Keyano College Huskies

22 Matches Won 2 Matches Lost 69 Sets Won 14 Sets Lost
Kills: Justin Delorme 266
Assists: Kelly Woods 353
Service Aces: Liam Matheson 40
Digs: Joel Makara 225
Blocks: Don Campbell 43

Game 3 - 6:00 p.m.

The Kings University Eagles vs. Lethbridge College Kodiaks

The Kings University Eagles

12 Matches Won 12 Matches Lost 43 Sets Won 47 Sets Lost
Kills: Evan Veldman 277
Assists: Chris Graham 637
Service Aces: Evan Veldman 22
Digs: Kaiden Aceron 177
Blocks: Tyssen Voogd 29

Lethbridge College Kodiaks

22 Matches Won 2 Matches Lost 69 Sets Won 18 Sets Lost
ACAC Championships: 1
Kills: Carter Hansen 366
Assists: Zach Wikenheiser 707
Service Aces: Carter Hansen 27
Digs: Matt Primrose 230
Blocks: Michael Svab 61

Game 4 - 8:00 p.m.

SAIT Trojans vs NAIT Ooks

SAIT Trojans

14 Matches Won 10 Matches Lost 49 Sets Won 43 Sets Lost
ACAC Championships: 4
Kills: Jarett Noel 294
Assists: Nathan Goss 669
Service Aces: Tyler Latu'ila 34
Digs: Andrew Birchall 221
Blocks: Chris Kayser 54

NAIT Ooks

17 Matches Won7 Matches Lost 56 Sets Won 37 Sets Lost
ACAC Championships: 4
Kills: Jonathan Shapka 230
Assists: Mitch Lewington 688
Service Aces: Devon Klein 22
Digs: Karsten Stime 166
Blocks: Brandon Eagle 50