Top International Recruits To Join REDS
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s volleyball team has a tradition of recruiting top-notch international talent, and that tradition will continue in 2022.
The REDS have secured commitments from a pair of prized international recruits.
Outside Hitters Rafael Hilario, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Emil Pedersen, from Slagelse, Denmark, have signed U SPORTS Letters of Intent, and both will join the REDS ahead of the 2022-2023 RSEQ season.
The 6’4” Hilario joins the REDS after three standout seasons in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association.
This past season, at Capilano University, in British Columbia, the 24-year-old was a PacWest 1st Team All-Star and a CCAA All-Canadian.
In 2019-20, Hilario helped Capilano to the PacWest and CCAA Championships, earning 1st Team All-Star selections at the PacWest and CCAA levels. The 2020 CCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship was hosted by St. Thomas University and contested at the Grant-Harvey Centre.
In 2018-19, at Humber College, in Ontario, Hilario helped the Hawks to the silver medal at the OCAA Championship, and was named a 1st Team OCAA All-Star and to the OCAA All-Rookie Team.
“Rafael is coming to UNB as an accomplished CCAA player from a tough PacWest conference,” said REDS head coach Dan McMorran. “He’s an explosive and talented outside hitter who will make a seamless transition to the U SPORTS game. His experience and scoring potential will be assets for us this coming season. We’re excited to have a player of his caliber strengthen our roster.”
Hilario has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
“I had the chance to play in Fredericton, in 2020, and we had a couple of practices at UNB,” said Hilario. “I really liked the facility and the city, so it wasn’t hard to say yes to the REDS.”
Hilario will study Business while attending UNB.
The 6’8” Pedersen is a member of Denmark’s U20 national team and recently took part in the European Championship Qualifying Tournament, in Bulgaria.
He’s also a reserve for the Danish senior men’s team.
Pedersen is a veteran of four seasons in the Danish Volleyball League, helping teams to bronze medals in the league’s final four tournament on two occasions.
“Emil is a very physical right-side player who also has some international experience in the middle,” said Coach McMorran. “At 6’8”, his size and versatility are big assets, and make him a player who’ll have an immediate impact on the floor for us. He’s a motivated student-athlete, and we’re really excited to work with him as he develops in our REDS family.”
The 19-year-old Pedersen says playing overseas is a dream come true for him.
“I’m very much looking forward to playing for the REDS and becoming part of the REDS family,” he said. “The strengths I bring to the REDS are my will to learn and work hard. I’ll be looking to have a great start next season.”
Pedersen will study Kinesiology while attending UNB.
PHOTOS: Submitted