UNB's Heather Benko and STFX's DJ Jackson named AUS Athletes of the Week

(HALIFAX, N.S.) UNB REDS women's volleyball outside hitter Heather Benko and STFX X-Men basketball guard D.J. Jackson have earned AUS Athlete of the Week honours following their performances this past week.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Heather Benko
University: University of New Brunswick
Sport: Women’s Volleyball
Position: Outside hitter
Hometown: Sechelt, B.C.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: BA

Heather Benko from the UNB REDS women’s volleyball team is the Atlantic University Sport Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending Feb. 9, 2025.

A third-year arts student from Sechelt, B.C., Benko wrote herself into the AUS record book as the all-time regular season service ace leader this past weekend.

She served a total of 10 aces in a pair of weekend wins over the Memorial Sea-Hawks, giving her 151. That eclipses the previous record of 145, set by Dalhousie’s Courtney Baker (2015-16 to 2019-20).

In Friday’s straight sets victory, Benko served seven aces, including the record-breaking ace, and added eight kills and half a dozen digs.

On Saturday, in UNB’s 3-1 win, she added three more aces and had 19 digs and seven kills.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: D.J. Jackson
University: St. Francis Xavier University
Sport: Men’s Basketball
Position: Guard
Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: Human Kinetics

D.J. Jackson from the STFX X-Men basketball team is the Atlantic University Sport Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending Feb. 9, 2025.

A first-year human kinetics student in his third year of eligibility, Jackson led the X-Men to a hard-fought 90-87 victory over the Saint Mary’s Huskies Saturday night in Antigonish, N.S.

He took home player of the game honours after scoring a game-high 37 points in the win, along with five rebounds, four assists and a steal.

Jackson is currently the conference’s leading scorer and sits second nationally, averaging 23.4 points per game.