MVB: UBC's Mason Greves named CW Player of the Year

March 4, 2026 - Orchestrating the most efficient offence in the country, UBC Thunderbirds setter Mason Greves has been named the 2025-26 Canada West Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year.

A steady hand at the controls of the UBC offence throughout his entire career, Greves leaves a lasting legacy in blue and gold as one of the premier setters in conference history. The Calgary native authored the finest campaign of his career in 2025-26, leading Canada West with 10.68 assists per set while ranking second in digs at 2.17 per set. He finishes his career second on the conference’s all-time assists list.

With the honour, Greves becomes the first Thunderbird to earn Canada West Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year since Guy Davis in 2000, cementing his place among the program’s all-time greats.

Canada West announced its full slate of men’s volleyball major award recipients on Wednesday. Greves was joined on the list by his head coach Michael Hawkins, who earned his first career Canada West Coach of the Year award. Trinity Western's Tate Calles was named Libero of the Year, while a pair of Mount Royal Cougars were recognized with Kale Orr taking home Rookie of the Year and Max Turgeon named the Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner.

Greves and his Thunderbird teammates will look to capture UBC's first Canada West men's volleyball championship since 1986 when they host the Final Four this weekend. Friday's semifinal round will feature the host T-Birds taking on Manitoba, while perennial rivals Trinity Western and Alberta clash in the other semi. Medal games will take place on Saturday.

Fans can catch all the playoff action on Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel. Recaps and game highlights from every playoff game are available at WinTheWest.ca.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mason Greves, UBC Thunderbirds

Setter | Fifth Year | Hometown: Calgary, Alta.

Mason Greves has pulled the strings of the UBC offence since he became the team's starting setter in his second game as a Thunderbird. Now finishing his fifth and final season in blue and gold, Greves has mastered his egalitarian approach, disguising his intention until the last moment before dishing the ball to any of his teammates anywhere on the court with pinpoint precision and timing.

Now second in assists in Canada West history, Greves saved his best season for last, leading the conference with 10.68 assists per set while sitting second in digs per set at 2.17. Under his guidance, the Thunderbirds have had the best offence in not just Canada West, but all of U SPORTS this year, topping all other teams in both points and assists per set, while leading the country in hitting percentage by a whopping 30 points.

Greves becomes the first Thunderbird to win Canada West Player of the Year since Guy Davis in 2000.

“I think there’s no better way for him to be recognized for his consistently impressive career since he’s come to UBC. Having the opportunity to essentially earn the starting position in his first year, he has consistently been not only one of the best setters in the conference but one of the best overall players with everything else he does defensively. So for him to be able to receive this recognition is the cherry on top of what’s been an incredibly illustrious individual career. Collectively, what he’s meant to the program, I think his level of play has just allowed us to continue to grow year in and year out. Sometimes we take for granted how much he stabilizes things with his exceptional physical and technical execution but even just his experience having been there, been with the national team and his calm, quiet confidence that he exudes at all times.” - UBC Thunderbirds Head Coach Michael Hawkins

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kale Orr, Mount Royal Cougars

Outside Hitter | First Year | Hometown: Magrath, Alta.

Kale Orr’s rookie campaign with the Mount Royal Cougars was nothing short of outstanding, immediately establishing the Magrath, Alta., product as one of the conference’s most dangerous offensive threats. Orr became the centrepiece of the Cougars’ attack, leading the team with 259 total kills and averaging 3.55 kills per set. Those marks not only paced MRU but ranked third overall in Canada West, demonstrating his impact against the conference’s top competition.

A business student with a mature, composed presence on the court, Orr’s breakout season gives the Cougars a foundational piece to build around in the years ahead. His production and poise have already placed him firmly on the radar as one of Canada West’s rising stars.

LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Tate Calles, Trinity Western Spartans

Libero | Third Year | Hometown: Anacortes, WA

Tate Calles was an instrumental piece in the Spartans' success this year, locking down TWU’s back court all season. Calles led Canada West with 2.27 digs per set, becoming the first Spartan since Tyler Koslowsky (2015-16) to lead the conference. The ultra-athletic Calles, who will pursue a pro career following this season, finished the year with 179 digs while helping the Spartans hit .304 as a team.

Calles’ defensive prowess played a critical role in helping spark a lively TWU attack that saw three offensive stars finish among the top two in CW in three different statistical categories (Kaden Schmidt – 1^st in kills per set, Cory Schoenherr – 2^nd in hitting percentage, Anselm Rein – 2^nd in assists per set).

“Tate impacted our game by providing so much stability for us all year long. This is one of the best passing Spartan teams I’ve ever been a part of and a big reason for that is Tate and his ability to handle so much court. He was extremely efficient and his steadiness in reception was a big reason for our success. When Tate joined our team, we changed the way we run our secondary setter offence because of how athletic he is and how skilled he is as a setter. We now have a full offence when Tate is setting, through the middle, through the pipe and through the outside, which is very rare. His athleticism and skill allows us to be very creative and to be in system much longer. There’s no doubt Tate played a critical role in so many areas for us this season and he is most certainly deserving of this honour." - Trinity Western Spartans Head Coach Adam Schriemer

COACH OF THE YEAR: Michael Hawkins, UBC Thunderbirds

Leading the Thunderbirds to a 19-1 record and the top seed in the Canada West, Michael Hawkins has earned his first Canada West Coach of the Year award in one of the most dominant regular seasons in team history. Now in his eighth year guiding the Thunderbirds, Hawkins has helped re-establish UBC as one of this country’s pre-eminent men’s volleyball programs.

The T-Birds head into the Canada West playoffs on a 13-match win streak while their home court dominance is even more impressive, notching 26 straight victories dating back to February of 2024. The Lethbridge, Alta. native oversaw a 2025-26 regular season in which the Thunderbirds led the conference in sets won (59), kills-per-set (13.01), hitting percentage (.346) and assists-per-set (12.34).

“This is such a well-deserved honour for Mike and a testament to all he has poured into the UBC men’s volleyball program. Seeing him mold this particular veteran group of players from raw rookie talents and working with them to become the formidable group they are is proof of Mike’s skills as a coach and mentor. Mike’s collaborative approach with our sports science team and innovative use of analytical data continues to push his program forward in new ways. His dedication and care for his athletes well beyond the court is to be admired, as is the level of excellence he has established for UBC men’s volleyball. We’re very proud of Mike and excited for what the future brings. Go T-Birds!” - UBC Athletic Director Kavie Toor

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Max Turgeon, Mount Royal Cougars

Middle | Third Year | Hometown: Calgary, Alta.

Max Turgeon has exemplified the complete student-athlete experience, pairing leadership on the court with excellence in the classroom and a commitment to meaningful community engagement. A mentor within the Cougars program, his influence on team culture extends well beyond the high standards he sets in training and on the court, reflecting a commitment to service and community impact.

Turgeon has played a key leadership role within MRU Athletics as Vice-President of Diversity and Inclusion on the Cougars Athlete Board, helping guide initiatives that promote representation, inclusion and athlete engagement across varsity programs. A two-year board member, he has supported volunteer coordination, strengthened athlete involvement in campus initiatives, and championed Pride programming and inclusive representation within athletics. He also leads and manages the team’s social media strategy, enhancing program visibility while utilizing the skills gained as a Public Relations major at Mount Royal University. ​

His community involvement is both broad and sustained. Turgeon has volunteered for more than three years with Aventa Addiction Treatment Centre for Women, supported food security efforts through The Paper Bag Project, contributed to charitable initiatives with the Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Society, and assisted with outreach and communications strategy for the Manitou Stone Centre. He also volunteers annually at the Best of the West Volleyball Tournament, ensuring strong athlete representation and seamless event operations.

Academically, Turgeon holds a 3.9 GPA and is a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian. His achievements have been recognized through numerous scholarships and awards, including the Judy Wish Hamilton Memorial Scholarship in Communications and the Mount Royal Faculty Association Business and Communications Scholarship, among others.