Chris Byam signs with Alterna Stade Poitevin

Poitiers, F – Alterna Stade Poitevin has signed outside hitter Chris Byam to a professional contract.

Byam comes to Poitiers from Mount Royal University, where he posted 442.5 points from 378 kills and a .337 hitting percentage, earning a spot in the top 5 for all three statistics for Canada West. The outside hitter was named captain of the team before the season and has been a leader for the squad both on and off the court. 

This year, Byam was named to the Canada West first-team as well named a U SPORTS first-team All-Canadian. In the 2022-23 Byam also achieved these honours, as well as earning a spot on the Canada West and U SPORTS rookie-team in the 2019-20 season

Through four seasons and 342 sets played at Mount Royal University from 2019-24, Byam amassed 1479.5 points on 1276 kills with a hitting percentage of .286 and also 435 digs.

“Exciting times ahead. Chris has a huge opportunity with the National team this summer and this is a great opportunity for Chris to get his professional career started. It’s a great situation and team he’s joining. Dan Lewis will be the coach there next year. Brett Walsh and Jackson Howe are returning to play there again. To have 3 Canadians on the team and one of them as your head coach is fantastic. He’s in an ideal spot to learn and perform. Playing in France, playing for Alterna Stade Poitevin, living in Poitiers is an exceptional opportunity for Chris. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does and what his experience is like.” Cougars coach Shawn Sky said.

Byam has been a member of Canada’s Next Gen program since 2023.

Stade Poitevin Poitiers is a French volleyball club from Poitiers and plays in the LNV Ligue A.