First-year phenom Owen Weekes a key piece for versatile men’s volleyball roster

An already deep men’s volleyball roster added more talent this off-season with the addition of four key recruits, including blue chip prospect Owen Weekes.
 
A Winnipeg native, Weekes’ resume entering university was absolutely loaded. As a senior, he was named the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association [MHSAA] Male Athlete of the Year, and he’s coming off a summer playing for Team Canada’s U21 squad.
 
A Vincent Massey grad, Weekes was co-captain of the school’s AAAA Provincial Championship-winning volleyball team that went undefeated with a record of 49-0. He was named the Provincial Championship MVP, ranked as the top volleyball player in the province in the 2023 Winnipeg Free Press Coaches Poll, named Volleyball Manitoba’s 2023 Volleyball Player of the Year and was a member of Volleyball Manitoba’s graduating all-star team.
 
Weekes was also a part of the school’s basketball team that captured the AAAA Provincial Championship banner.
 
Suffice to say, the 6’8″ student-athlete knows how to step up in big moments.
 
“I try and stay loose and have a lot of fun,” he says of his in-game mentality.
 
“I feel like that’s what I’m doing it for. I’m enjoying it, that’s why I’m here. There’s a lot of focus and preparation, but I feel like when it comes to games, it’s about rising to the occasion and having fun and playing your game.”
 
 
Playing everything
Weekes played “everything” when he was younger. His first love was hockey, and he also played golf and tennis. As he got older, baseball became his biggest passion, while basketball runs in the family.
 
Owen’s dad Mike is an alum of the Bisons basketball program, and coached him his whole life until high school. His older sister Olivia also plays the sport for UBC.
 
Volleyball came into the picture much later. Early success, and a massive growth spurt helped foster a love for the game, and it’s taken Weekes to great heights already.  
 
“Playing all those sports has helped me now,” he adds.
 
“I was really into baseball my whole life. I really wanted to play college baseball. I started volleyball really late. My dad and my coaches call me a late bloomer. I didn’t start out until grade 11. I started playing volleyball and I really enjoyed it. I hit my growth spurt really late. I was 6’3″ in grade ten and 6’6″ in grade 11. My competitiveness really kicked in with volleyball once I realized I could be good at this.”
 
Weekes began his volleyball journey as a middle blocker, shifting to right side at the end of 16U. It was there that he found his niche on the court.
 
“I had a lot of practice with my arm swing. Being a pitcher helped a little bit,” he says.
 
“I have a bit of a unique arm. It’s like a windmill, it goes around. I think over the last year, my left side attack has gotten a lot better, and just the ability to use my physicality in the back row. It’s further away from the net of course, so there’s a lot of jumping involved in where you’re going to hit the ball. Working on it with different coaches and programs has helped me a lot.”
 
 
Versatile ‘Zoons
Weekes’ maximum touch point is currently 11’9″ and he hopes to reach 12 by next year, comparable to some international players at his position. The true freshman is already well on his way, making his debut during Manitoba’s weekend split to open the season against Calgary.
 
Weekes recorded nine kills in his first two games at the U SPORTS level, including seven in game two, while Manitoba’s 94 total team kills are third in Canada West after the first week of play.
 
Overall, 11 different student-athletes saw the floor against the Dinos, showcasing the Herd’s versatility. Weekes and starting right side Karil Dadesh Adeh combined for 37.5 points as part of opening weekend.
 
“Karil is a great right side. Having guys that push me every day to compete for a starting spot is really important. That’s part of why I picked this program. There’s so much competitiveness and so many good players,” says Weekes.
 
“We’re our best competition in practice. That’s what helps me to become a better player, all these guys around me. I’m really excited to contribute where and I can and hopefully get better.”
 
“It’s tough for an opponent. You have to prepare for anything. We will not get weaker when we bring in subs,” adds head coach Arnd ‘Lupo’ Ludwig.
 
“[Weekes], if he makes a mistake, he keeps playing, which is a very, very good thing in volleyball. If he hits the block, next attack he’s doing something different and is going to score most likely.”
 
Speaking of versatility, Weekes blasted kills from a variety of angles last weekend. His most impressive came in game two against Calgary, with the Herd down 15-14 in the second set.
 
With a head start from the end line, Weekes swung with all his might on a back row c-ball, smashing the volleyball so hard it went off a Dinos player’s body in the back row and right back to Manitoba’s side.
Bisons setter Sammy Ludwig then dished him again with a back set from just behind the attack line, and he made no mistake on a line shot that was lethal in its accuracy.
 
“It’s so fun, because it’s such a physical position. [Assistant coach] Mike [Stephens] is really good with letting me use my jumping ability and reminding me to be physical and to go get the ball and jump high,” says Weekes.
 
“I really like to use it all, so all I have to worry about really is attacking and blocking, so I’m really focused on that. When I get set the ball I try to just jump as high as I can, and obviously there’s different shots and strategy to it, but it’s an exciting position to play in. It’ really fun and keeps me engaged in the game.”