Villadiego & Cooley KPU Eagles/Sheraton Guildford Vancouver Athletes of the Week', week ending Sunday, January 11, 2015

Metro Vancouver.....The KPU Eagles are proud to announce their Sheraton Vancouver Guildford 'Athletes of the Week' for the week ending Sunday, January 11, 2015 as Jessica Villadiego, Surrey, BC, of women’s basketball and Matt (Madison) Cooley, Delta, BC of men's basketball.

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Villadiego was reunited with women’s basketball program during the PACWEST/CCAA holiday break. The third-year guard had a strong return back to varsity basketball during Friday’s game versus CBC, sinking 6/12 shots for 50% accuracy and leading the team in rebounds. Villadiego played all 40 minutes and achieved 14 points, four assists, seven rebounds, and two steals. Eagles head coach Dan Nayebzadeh is thrilled with Villadiego’s return to the court.

“Jessica was the heart of the team right away as well as a first-team rookie all-star. In her second year she was also an all-star,” said Coach Nayebzadeh, “Her demeanor is extremely competitive. She is level-headed, she is a leader, and she brings energy every time whether its practice or game time.”

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Cooley achieved his second double-double of his university career against the Bearcats, the same team in which he earned his first double-double. The science student was a team leader with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and one blocked shot over 36 minutes of court time. Cooley’s contributions helped KPU come from a 19-point deficit to a seven-point win over CBC.

“Matt has achieved another tremendous milestone in his first year as an Eagle with his second double-double of the season. He has a strong basketball IQ, had great shot selection, and was a clutch player when we needed him most,” said Eagles head coach Vladimir Nikić, “Matt is a regular starter, plays significant minutes, and on Friday he filled in a leadership gap that we have on our bench due to the absence of key senior players. I am eager to see him develop further as a player in PACWEST and continually push his potential beyond his expectations.”

For more information on the Department of Athletics & Recreation, please contact Junelle Mah, sports information and marketing, at 604-786-0804 or at junelle.mah@kpu.ca.

The KPU Eagles Department of Athletics & Recreation enters its 14th season of interuniversity competition. The Eagles are members of the PACWEST conference and play in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with 100 student-athletes participating on eight varsity teams in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, badminton and golf. KPU athletics plays its home games at the Eagles’ Nest (Surrey Campus), Northview Golf & Country Club, Newton Athletic Park, all located in Surrey, BC and the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC.  The Eagles are active in the conference with staff members on various advisory committees and competing to host both provincial and national championships. The student-athletes are mainly from the lower mainland but KPU’s rosters have included student-athletes from North America, South America, Asia and Europe.

Follow the Eagles on Twitter @KPU Eagles, on Facebook www.facebook.com/KPUEagles, or on our website www.kpu.ca/eagles.