CW Announces Players of the Week

March 12, 2024 – The 2023-24 Canada West calendar came to an exhilarating close last weekend, highlighted by two incredible volleyball championship games and a pair of tense bronze medal matches with nationals spots on the line.

When the dust settled, Manitoba won their first CW women's volleyball gold medal by outlasting UBC in a five set thriller, while Alberta repeated as conference champions on the men's side after a 3-1 win over rival Trinity Western.

Alberta's women and UBC's men both claimed bronze medal victories, earning spots at U SPORTS nationals.

CW student-athletes also shone bright on the national stage, bringing home a flurry of medals at the 2024 U SPORTS Swimming and Track and Field championships. On the hardcourt, an exciting weekend of hoops saw the Saskatchewan Huskies women's basketball team grab a national silver after coming up just short in the national final against Carleton.

Here are your Canada West Players of the Week.

Women's Volleyball - Katreena Bentley (Manitoba)

In an instant classic against top seeded UBC, Bentley's smart decision making and consistency was key to the Bisons overcoming a hostile road environment to win the first Canada West gold medal in program history.

The third-year setter from Winnipeg racked up 47 assists in the five-set match, adding 19 digs, a service ace and two block assists. Her calming presence was key to the Bisons success, especially as UBC began to make a desperate comeback attempt.

Manitoba will charge into the top seed heading into the 2024 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championships at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. this week. The Bisons will take on AUS finalist Saint Mary’s in the quarter-finals on Friday, with first serve at noon ET.

Men's Volleyball - Isaac Heslinga (Alberta)

The CW Player of the Year was dominant when his team needed him most last Friday, ripping home a match-high 23 kills in front of 1,110 fans in the UofA's Main Gym, leading the Golden Bears in their successful quest to retain the Costa Chrysanthou Trophy.

Heslinga also added nine digs and two blocks in Alberta's win. 

After Trinity Western dominated the second set to tie the match, Heslinga helped the Bears respond with back-to-back 25-21 wins to clinch the title. The third-year from Orangeville, Ont. had 11 kills on 19 attempts in a dominant third set, before adding three more in the fourth.

The Golden Bears will enter the 2024 U SPORTS Men's Volleyball Championships in Kingston, Ont. as the second seed. They will face RSEQ finalists Laval to open the tournament on Friday at noon ET.

Women's Basketball - Gage Grassick (Saskatchewan)

While it didn't have the golden ending they were hoping for, Grassick and the Saskatchewan Huskies still put forth a terrific showing at the 2024 U SPORTS Women's Basketball Championships in Edmonton last weekend, narrowly falling in the national final.

Whether she was displaying her deft scoring touch, playmaking ability or aggressive defence, the third-year guard from Prince Albert, Sask. put the country on notice with her tremendous play in all three games. The second-team All-Canadian opened the tournament with a game-high 19 points and a remarkable seven steals in an 85-54 rout of Calgary, then added nine points and five assists in a 64-57 semifinal win over Laval.

It was her performance in the national final that was next level, scoring a championship-high 30 points and adding six rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block.

Men's Basketball - Diego Maffia (Victoria)

While his team ultimately fell victim to the tremendous Cinderella story that was the host Laval Rouge et Or, Maffia was up to his usual tricks on the national stage this week in Quebec City while delivering three dazzling performances.

The U SPORTS player of the year opened his tournament with a 26-point performance on Friday, although it was not enough to overcome a 75-69 upset from the eventual-champion Rouge et Or.

He picked up where he left off in the consolation semis against Brock, pouring in an incredible eight three pointers and 25 points in a 71-61 victory. He followed that up with 24 points in an 80-70 defeat to the UQAM Citadins in the consolation final.

CW Gold Medal Winners at 2024 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships

The Manitoba Bisons hosted the nation's best track and field athletes this past weekend, with Canada West student-athletes coming away with a medley of podium performances.

It was a particularly memorable weekend for the Calgary Dinos women's team, as triple gold medalist Sienna MacDonald earned Athlete of the Year honours while Jessica Zelinka was named Coach of the Year. The Dinos placed third overall in the women's team standings, narrowly ahead of fourth place Saskatchewan. On the men's side, host Manitoba came in second while Alberta came in fifth.

Read the U SPORTS Track and Field Day 3 recap.

CW Gold Medal Winners - Women

4x400: Saskatchewan (Paige Willems, Sarah Schwab, Jenica Swartz, Avery Pearson - 3:45.37)

4 x 800: Saskatchewan (Kaitlyn Harrison, Attleigh Maloney, Jenica Swartz, Avery Pearson - 8:45.60)

1,000M: Avery Pearson, Saskatchewan (2:47.10)

60M hurdles: Sienna MacDonald, Calgary (8.20)

Long jump: Sienna MacDonald, Calgary (6.04m)

High Jump: Lara Denbow, Manitoba (1.78m)

Pentathlon: Sienna MacDonald, Calgary (4164)

CW Gold Medal Winners - Men

4x400: Alberta (Josh Li, Clay Grattidge, Nicholas Cook, Justin Rose - 3:16.83)

60M: Jordan Soufi, Manitoba (6.69)

600M: Tristan Allen, Manitoba (1:17.96)

Pole Vault: Nicolas Martin Huerta, Trinity Western (4.90m)

Triple Jump : Daxx Turner, Manitoba (15.82m)

High Jump: Noel Vanderzee, Calgary, (2.15m) ​

Heptathlon: Max Speiser, Manitoba (5270)

CW Gold Medal Winners at 2024 U SPORTS Swimming Championships

Canada West student-athletes had a strong showing last weekend at the U SPORTS Swimming Championships in Montreal. On the women's side, UBC finished in second place in the team standings with Calgary right behind in third. In the men's competition, Calgary finished in second place overall while UBC finished in fourth.

A pair of CW student-athletes were also recognized with major awards, as Calgary's Alexanne Lepage was named the women's Rookie of the Year while UBC's Hugh McNeill was named the men's Swimmer of the Meet.

CW Gold Medal Winners - Women

50 Backstroke: Bridget Burton, UBC

50 Butterfly: Eloise Allen, UBC

100 Backstroke: Bridget Burton, UBC

200 Backstroke: Bridget Burton, UBC

200 Breaststroke: Alexanne LePage, Calgary

200 Freestyle: Anna Dumont-Belanger, UBC

400 Individual Medley: Alexanne LePage, Calgary

800 Freestyle: Anna Dumont-Belanger, UBC

4x200 Freestyle Relay: UBC (Anna Dumont-Belanger, Brooklyn Wiens, Jade Lo, Rosalie Davidson)

CW Gold Medal Winners - Men

50 Backstroke: Christopher Alexander, Lethbridge

100 Backstroke: Hugh McNeill, UBC

100 Freestyle: Stephen Calkins, Calgary

200 Backstroke: Hugh McNeill, UBC

400 Freestyle: Liam Clawson-Honeyman, UBC

1,500 Freestyle: Olivier Risk, UBC

4 x 100 Medley Relay: UBC (Hugh McNeill, Ethan Hemeon, Siu Lun Ho, Jake Gaunt)

4 x 100 Freestyle Relay: Calgary (Stephen Calkins, Gibson Black, Addison Butler, Thomas Mcdonald)