Canada West BioSteel Players of the Week: March 18

March 18, 2025 - It was a banner weekend for Canada West student-athletes on the national stage, as CW teams claimed all three U SPORTS championships that were up for grabs last weekend.

Canada West swept the U SPORTS Final 8 basketball event in Vancouver, with the Saskatchewan Huskies winning the women's crown and the Victoria Vikes taking home the men's championship.

A couple of provinces over, it was the Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball team who capped off a storybook season in front of their hometown fans, winning their first national championship in 11 years.

The CW Rugby 7s season also came to a close with Tournament #3 in Langley, B.C. The UBC Thunderbirds continued their dominance, finishing off an undefeated season and capturing their third straight Rugby 7s banner.

Here are your Canada West Players of the Week - Presented by BioSteel.

Women's Volleyball - Raya Surinx (Manitoba Bisons)

U SPORTS Nationals

QF vs Saint Mary’s: 11 Kills, 4 aces, 4 digs, 4 total blocks in 3-0 win

SF vs UBC: 25 kills, .221%, 1 aces, 10 digs, 5 total blocks in 3-1 win

Final vs Montreal: 23 kills, .400%, 10 digs, 5 total blocks in 3-1 win

Leading the Bisons to their first national championship in 11 years, Bisons third-year left side Raya Surinx added another historic chapter to what has already been a storybook U SPORTS career.

The back-to-back Canada West and U SPORTS Player of the Year earned tournament MVP honours, proving why she's regarded as the best player in the country. She thrilled the hometown faithful all weekend with her powerful serve, including an incredible showing to open the tournament against Saint Mary's, where she struck for four aces in a 3-0 quarterfinal victory.

She only upped her game from there, including an incredible 25 kill game against UBC in the semifinals. Facing Montreal in the championship game, Surinx delivered another 23 kills and hit for an incredible .400 attack percentage to bring the national championship home for the Bisons.

View WVB: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Women's Basketball - Gage Grassick (Saskatchewan Huskies)

U SPORTS Final 8

Quarterfinal vs ALB: 15 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 9 STL, 1 BLK in 67-58 win

Semifinal vs UBC: 12 PTS, 5 REV, 4 AST, 1 STL in 85-63 win

Final vs CAR: 35 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST, 3 STL, 7-15 3PT in 85-66 win

Gage Grassick reached new heights at the U SPORTS Final 8 in Vancouver, earning Tournament MVP honours while leading the Huskies to their third national title in program history.

Grassick averaged 20.7 points per game across the three-game tournament. The weekend was highlighted by a highlight reel performance in the national final, where she totalled 35 points in an 85-66 victory over Carleton. Her performance, which featured 7-for-15 three-point shooting, produced the sixth-most points in a single U SPORTS Final 8 game. She would add seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals to capture the Bronze Baby.

View WBB: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Men's Basketball - Sam Maillet (Victoria Vikes)

U SPORTS Final 8

Quarterfinal vs BU: 18 PTS, 6 REB, 1 STL, 6-10 FG in 85-73 win

Semifinal vs OTT: 13 PTS, 10 REB, 1 STL, 8 AST, 6-6 FG in 89-75 win

Final vs CGY: 9 PTS, 6 REB, 2 STL, 3 BLK, 4-8 FG in 82-53 win

The 2025 Canada West and U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year was on top of his game at the U SPORTS Final 8 in Vancouver last weekend, earning Tournament MVP while leading the Vikes to their first national championship since 1997.

Maillet delivered three impressive performances, doing it all at both ends of the court. He scored a team-high 18 points in a quarterfinal matchup against Bishop's, then delivered a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the semifinals as the Vikes knocked off No. 1 seeded Ottawa.

His toughest matchup came in the national final against CW rival Calgary. Tasked with guarding U SPORTS Player of the Year Nate Petrone, Maillet's defence was relentless all game long, limiting the Calgary superstar to just 10 points. Maillet added nine points of his own, along with three blocks and two steals, in what became a lopsided 82-53 victory.

View MBB: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Women's Rugby 7s - Adia Pye (UBC Thunderbirds)

Tournament #3 - 9 tries, 45 points

The UBC Thunderbirds finished off an impressive undefeated campaign at the third Canada West Rugby 7s stop in Langley, and the dominance of Adia Pye was a big reason why. The Victoria product continued her season-long domination, recording a tournament high nine tries and 45 points over five contests.

The Thunderbirds went 5-0 in Langley to wrap up a perfect season, winning their third straight Canada West Rugby 7s banner.

About Players of the Week:

The Canada West Players of the Week, Presented by BioSteel is a weekly celebration of athletic achievements across the conference. Each week, deserving student-athletes are nominated by SIDs from each member institution. Canada West office staff review nominations and select the recipients.

About BioSteel:

BioSteel is a leading sports hydration and nutrition brand, delivering clean, high-performance solutions trusted by professional athletes, top universities, and teams across North America and Europe, including major organizations like the NHL, MLB, NFL, MLS, NBA, and their affiliates. Alongside hydration, BioSteel offers premium protein and sports nutrition products, catering to athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and those striving for a healthier lifestyle. Committed to excellence, BioSteel equips top athletes and active individuals with the essential tools to reach peak performance and sustain wellness every day.

About Canada West:

As the leading university athletic conference in the country, Canada West is home to student-athletes that excel in the classroom and their communities. The conference is comprised of 17 member institutions spanning from Victoria to Winnipeg, with over 3,200 student-athletes competing across 14 sports. Canada West’s mission is to train leaders and build champions by providing leadership in the delivery, regulation, and promotion of university level high performance sports programs throughout western Canada.