Heslinga named Player of the Year, Wiebe Community Service Award winner

Alberta’s Isaac Heslinga has been named the 2024 Canada West Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year.

Heslinga’s 373 kills were the third most ever for a Golden Bear in a single season. His remarkable .380 attack percentage led the conference and was second in all of U SPORTS. ?

For his work in the classroom and local community, Bears captain Grayden Wiebe also earned the Student-Athlete Community Service Award. 

The Golden Bears will take on rival Trinity Western in the CW Final this Friday, marking the fourth straight championship meeting between Alberta and TWU.

2023/24 Canada West Men’s Volleyball Award Winners

Player of the Year: Isaac Heslinga, Alberta
Rookie of the Year: Piers de Greeff, Trinity Western
Libero of the Year: Logan Greves, UBC
Coach of the Year: Pat Hennelly, Thompson Rivers
Student-Athlete Community Service Award Winner: Grayden Wiebe, Alberta

For the second-consecutive season, the best player in Canada West Men’s Volleyball is an Alberta Golden Bear, as third-year outside Isaac Heslinga was named the 2023-24 Player of the Year.

The Orangeville, Ont. product finished fourth in Canada West with 373 kills and third with 446.5 points, adding 39 aces and 142 digs. His remarkable .380 attack percentage was tops in the conference and second in U SPORTS, as he led the Golden Bears to an 18-6 record and the No. 1 seed in Canada West.

His kill total is the third most ever for a Bear in a single season, while his 4.14 kills per set is the highest by an Alberta athlete since the turn of the century. Only one Bear has ever recorded more than Heslinga’s 446.5 points in a single season.

Heslinga is the 11th Golden Bear to be named the Canada West Player of the Year, with each of the previous 10 also winning the U SPORTS Player of the Year Award.

“Isaac has had a very impressive year which anyone can see through the stat lines, he’s been our top point scorer and leading receiver making him a very well-rounded player. Isaac is very detailed and extremely motivated, I’m very proud of him for the investment he has put into our team and his craft. I’m sure being recognized for the outcome of this investment is a real honour for Isaac, especially to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Player of the Year and former teammate Jordan Canham. Isaac’s capacity for growth is very impressive, as is his volleyball IQ. His burgeoning leadership role on the court and in the locker room have made a huge impact on our success this year.” – Brock Davidiuk, Head Coach, Alberta Golden Bears

The Golden Bears captain is recognized for his outstanding leadership, balancing high-performance on the court and in the classroom while also giving back to Edmonton volleyball community.

The veteran middle led Alberta to an 18-6 regular season record and a first place finish in the competitive Canada West. He was a pillar of the Bears’ defence, finishing 14th in the conference with 0.86 blocks per set.

His performance in the classroom has been even more impressive. After graduating with distinction from the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program last season, Wiebe continued his academic journey this year by pursuing a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering, holding a running GPA of 4.0. He is a four-time Academic All-Canadian and Dean’s Honor List member, and a two-time Louise McKinney Scholarship Recipient, a prestigious honor awarded to the top 2% of students in the Faculty of Engineering.

Despite a hectic student-athlete schedule, Wiebe has also dedicated his time to many community initiatives. He has presented energy topics to children and the public as a volunteer with Future Energy Systems’ “Energy Explorers” program. He also aims to inspire the next generation of volleyball athletes through the FOG “G” Volleyball club, coordinating Golden Bear athletes to assist with coaching training sessions. He served as an assistant coach for a U14 Girls Developmental Club Team with FOG, and assisted at “Dream Camp,” a volleyball camp in Edmonton organized by the Indigenous Peoples of Montreal Lake for Indigenous student-athletes.

“Grayden’s remarkable ability to excel in high-performance athletics while maintaining near-perfect grades and contributing extensively to the community is truly inspiring. Despite his demanding schedule, he never misses early morning lifts, social time with the team, or study hall responsibilities, all while carrying a smile on his face and a skip in his step. Adding to his achievements, he recently got married! As our team captain, Grayden stands out as one of the strongest and most well-rounded leaders I have had the privilege to coach during my time with the Bears.” – Brock Davidiuk, Head Coach, Alberta Golden Bears