ACAC Class of 2017: Gavin Schmitt
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
In celebration of its 50th season of competition, the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) held its inaugural ACAC Hall of Fame selection and ceremony in 2014 with induction of 50 individuals within the categories of builders and administrators, coaches and student-athletes.
In this second instalment, a total of eight inductees will be named with a Class of 2017 ceremony scheduled for May 13, 2017 in Calgary, Alberta.
Below is the first of eight inductee profiles.
Athlete Category
Gavin Schmitt, Red Deer College Kings, Volleyball
At the encouragement of his mother Joanne Schmitt, Gavin Schmitt picked up the sport of volleyball as a Grade 12 high-school student in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
As his game grew while playing with HVC volleyball club, so did his frame, shooting up to 6-foot-10 in height.
After two years of U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sports) with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's volleyball program, where he had redshirted his second year, Schmitt headed further west to play for the Red Deer College Kings.
In his one season (2006-2007) with the ACAC school, Schmitt, switching from middle blocker to right-side hitter, assisted the Kings to an ACAC banner, beating Grant MacEwan Griffins 25-18, 25-22 and 25-20.
In the ACAC playoffs, Schmitt would record 43 kills and six service aces in only nine sets!
Following up on a regular season performance of 326 kills, 31 blocks and 17 service aces in 82 sets, Schmitt and teammates headed to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men's volleyball championships held in Nanaimo British Columbia and hosted by Malasppina University College.
Kings would defeat the host team 25-19, 25-21, and 35-33 in the championship match, making it eight-consecutive years in a row that the Kings won the CCAA men's volleyball banner.
Schmitt was named the tournament MVP to go along with his ACAC All Conference and CCAA All Canadian selection.
Schmitt would go on to establish himself as a top amateur and professional within the world volleyball scene.
Professionally some of the highlights include Schmitt playing for the Daejeon Samsung Bluefangs in South Korea's V-League.
He would lead the team to three consecutive titles winning the MVP awards in the 2009–2010 and 2011–2012 seasons.
Schmitt, a member of the Canadian National Men's Volleyball team from 2007-2016, led the team in scoring in six -of -seven matches at the 2014 World Championship in Poland.
Canada finished seventh for its best result ever in the championship that has been held since 1949.
At the 2015 Pan American Games, hosted in Toronto, Schmitt led the team in scoring with 25 points in the semi-finals and again in the bronze medal game.
Schmitt, 31, currently plays professionally in Poland for Asseco Resovia Rzeszów.
Below are some of his career highlights to date.
College/University 2004-2007
2007 Universiade silver
2007 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference champion Red Deer Kings
2007 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association champion Red Deer Kings
Canadian National Team 2007-2016
2008 Pan American Cup silver
2009 Pan American Cup silver
2011 Pan American Cup bronze
2011 NORCECA Championship bronze
2013 NORCECA Championship silver
2015 Pan American Games bronze
2016 Olympic Games 5th
Professional 2007-present
National Championships
2009 KOVO Cup champion with Daejeon Samsung
2010 South Korea V-League Champion with Daejeon Samsung Blue Fangs
2011 South Korea V-League Champion with Daejeon Samsung Blue Fangs
2012 South Korea V-League Champion with Daejeon Samsung Blue Fangs
2015 Turkish First League Champion with Arkas Izmir
2016 South American Club Championship silver medalist with Funvic Taubaté
Individual Awards
2008 Pan American Cup – Best Spiker
2009 Pan American Cup – Best Scorer
2011 Pan American Cup – Best Scorer, Best Spiker
2015 Pan American Games – Best Scorer, Best Server
Record
2011/2012 58 points in one match in V-League