Women's Volleyball Top Class

The PACWEST is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 women’s volleyball Major Award Winners following some incredible individual performances of the past season.

Top Libero – Jordy Exner – VIU Mariners

She was outstanding defensively for the Mariners all season long seemingly in the right place at the right time on every ball over the net.  In her third PACWEST season the Buena Vista, Saskatchewan native has allowed her game to speak for itself as the Top Libero in the Conference making 231 digs.

Top Setter – Hannah Zurakowski – COTR Avalanche

It will be hard to fill her sneakers after a great career quarterbacking the Avalanche offence.  Zurakowski tallied 441 setters assists this past season, added 50 kills, 35 service aces, 20 blocks and 178 digs and was named a PACWEST Second Team All-Star, graduating as one of the best in school history.  She will be missed sorely as a graduating fifth year.

Top Middle Blocker – Natalie Rourke – Capilano Blues

In her fourth season Rouke was a blocking machine for the top ranked Blues and was named a PACWEST Second Team All-Star.  She led the Conference with 61 solo blocks in 73 total sets played and made the opposing offences uncomfortable in running their traditional plays due to her presence at the net.

Top Outside Hitter – Abby Betker – Capilano Blues

What a season for Betker in her fourth PACWEST campaign.  She was one half of the Blues dynamic duo with Nnya Mbaoma giving fits to the opposition.  Betker led her team with 282 kills from the outside and scored 334 total points.  Regardless of where she was on the floor, she was always a lethal threat recording one of her best career seasons.

Rookie of the Year – Maya Armstrong – Douglas Royals

In just her first season out of Riverside Secondary in Port Coquitlam, Armstrong played an important role in the setter position for the playoff bound Royals.  She took on the pressures of stepping in as a rookie to the fast pace collegiate level and showed an aggressive style of play at the net recording 32 kills and eight blocks while offering 34 aces from the service line and stepping back defensively with 112 digs rounding out her amazing rookie campaign.

Coach of the Year – Sue Soolsma – Capilano Blues

The former Blues student athlete In her first full season as head coach, Soolsma guided her veteran laced club to 19 wins on the campaign and a first-place finish in the regular season standings.  It was a historic run for her Blues setting a new school record of consecutive wins to open a single season, before becoming the first Blues team to finish as the #1 seed in the Conference since the 1985-86 season.

Player of the Year – Abby Betker – Capilano Blues

She simply clicked all season as a major piece to the Blues run to the top of the PACWEST standings in the regular season.   Regardless of where she was on the floor she contributed with her talent and leadership.  The Kimberley native collected 282 kills and 334 total offensive points while adding 31 blocks, 21 service aces and 156 digs developing into a very solid passer.  Her experience in the PACWEST has paid dividends this season, helping her Blues to 19 wins and the #1 seed heading into this weekend’s playoffs.