MVB: Huskies Ranked Eighth in CW Pre-Season Coaches Poll

CANADA WEST – The drama of Canada West men’s volleyball returns this weekend, and there promises to be plenty of intrigue if the pre-season coaches poll is any indication.

The Alberta Golden Bears will once again enter as the favourite, taking top spot in the ​ poll with five first place votes. The Bears took home their first CW title since 2015 last season, downing arch-rival Trinity Western 3-1 in a hotly contested final. 

While the Golden Bears have seen a large portion of their championship roster graduate, their youth movement will be hungry to continue the winning tradition. The group will be led by star outside hitter Isaac Heslinga, who competed for Team Canada at the NORCECA Final 6 and at the Pan American Cup this summer.

While the Bears claimed the conference title, it was the TWU Spartans who surged on the national stage, winning their seventh U SPORTS national championship. The defending national champs placed third in the coaches poll and will be led by fourth-year outside hitter Henry Rempel. The Swift Current, Sask. product averaged 3.15 kills/set last year and is once again expected to be an impact player on both sides of the net. 

While Alberta and TWU have dominated the CW men’s volleyball scene in recent years, many eyes will also be on Mount Royal University this season. The Cougars ranked second in the coaches poll and also received five first place votes. The Cougars will be led by veteran outside hitter Chris Byam, who was named a First Team All-Canadian last season and is coming off a summer spent with the Next Gen Canadian National Team. 

The UBC Thunderbirds took fourth place in the poll and had a first place vote, and will turn to sophomore Conaire Taub for another big season. Named to both the CW and U SPORTS All-Rookie Teams, Taub quickly established himself by leading the team with 127 kills.

The Winnipeg Wesmen rounded out the top five, led by key returnee Nigel Nielsen. The Wesmen have beefed up at attacking positions, but Nielsen is the returnee with the most kilometres under his belt and was seventh in the country in kills a season ago.

Calgary placed sixth but also received a first place vote. The Dinos will look to third-year middle Louis Kunstmann to lead one of the conference’s stingiest defences. 

Scouting Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is coming off a successful 2022-23 year, with a Canada West bronze medal and a trip to the U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship, where they finished seventh overall. While the team has had some key losses in Dylan Mortensen, Levi Olson, and Quinn Buchanan, the team is full of talent and skill and will be a contender this season. 

Key Performers: Isaiah Mamer – Outside Hitter
“Isaiah returns to the Huskies after a summer with Team Canada and the U21 and U23 teams. The sophomore will be looking to increase his role with the Huskies. He is a great all-around outside hitter that can make big plays.” – Huskie Head Coach Sean McKay

Key Additions: Jefferson Morrow – Outside Hitter, Jacob Baird – Middle Blocker
Coach McKay has added two additions to the 2023-24 roster with one thing in common – they both come to the Huskies from Brisbane, Australia. 

Jefferson Morrow spent the 2022-23 season with the MacEwan Griffins, with 249 kills, 150 digs and 8 services aces in 79 sets. Rookie Jacob Baird joins the Huskies from the Australian national team. Both are expected to have an immediate impact on the court this season.
 
2023-24 CW MVB PRESEASON COACHES POLL 
Team – Points (First-place votes)

1. Alberta Golden Bears – 133 (5)
2. Mount Royal Cougars – 129 (5)
3. Trinity Western Spartans – 126 (1)
4. UBC Thunderbirds – 114 (1) 
5. Winnipeg Wesmen – 91
6. Calgary Dinos – 88 (1) 
7. Brandon Bobcats – 74
8. Saskatchewan Huskies – 71
9. Manitoba Bisons – 66
10. Thompson Rivers WolfPack – 43
11. Fraser Valley Cascades – 36
12. UBCO Heat – 30
13. MacEwan Griffins – 13