VANCOUVER – Canada's most successful women's volleyball university program is adding a wealth of talent ahead of the 2025-26 U SPORTS season with the addition of four blue chip calibre freshmen athletes.
Middle blockers Abby Wasutyk and Delfina Henson along with outside hitters Sol Henson and Chloe Bradley are all set to don the blue and gold this autumn as the Thunderbirds prepare to take a run at a third national championship in the last four years.
"I'm very happy with this recruit class both in terms of quality and depth," said UBC head coach,
Doug Reimer, who will enter his 29
th season at the helm. "They're going to be able to train well and compete, they're going to raise the level in our practice gym from day one. None of them would be out of place playing immediately in the Canada West next year."
Abby Wasutyk will head west to Point Grey from her native Prince Albert, Saskatchewan to begin her collegiate career. The 6-foot-2 middle already has plenty of experience on the big stage having competed internationally including with the Canadian U19 squad.
"We only started recruiting Abby last spring and were actually very happy she was still available," said Reimer. "I've seen her really develop in all aspects over the past year and she's had good experiences now. Combined with a strong club program with the Husky Volleyball Club, she's going to be playing on team Canada this summer and at the Canada Games for Saskatchewan so, building a lot of experience at a high level."
Set to study Arts at UBC, Wasutyk brings a well-rounded resume to the T-Birds as an honour roll student while also being named Prince Albert's Female Athlete of the Year in 2024.
"I'm a dynamic and relentless middle blocker with exceptional athleticism, a powerful jump and a fierce competitive spirit," said the soon-to-be graduate of St. Mary High School. "My ability to read the game, support my teammates and rise to the toughest challenges makes me a force on the court."
Chloe Bradley has far less distance to travel for her new athletic and academic home as the 6-foot-1 outside hitter is a Vancouver native and set to graduate this June from Kitsilano Secondary.
"We're really happy to get Chloe," said UBC assistant coach,
Jodi Zbyszewski. "She's a local kid and has been in our Thunder Club for a number of years now and it's always nice when you can get one of your home grown athletes. She also brings a lot of experience having played international matches last year for the U19 team. She's a great student and is just a great overall fit for our program."
A multi-year honour roll student, Bradley also boasts a wealth of international experience having played on the same U19 Team Canada squad as UBC's three other freshmen recruits.
"I'm a tenacious defender who can cover a lot of ground," said Bradley who has also been named MVP at the last two Best of the West tournaments. "I pride myself on my anticipation and athleticism to win battles."
While Reimer inches towards his 30
th year with the T-Birds having won 11 national championship titles in his career, there's little the veteran coach hasn't experienced. But the recruitment of Sol and Delfina Henson does mark the first time Reimer will coach a set of twins.
Sol is a 6-foot-2 outside hitter with yet another outstanding resume to her credit. In addition to her NORCECA U19 silver medal, the Toronto, Ontario native has competed at two Canada Games, is a U17 indoor national championship MVP, a U17 indoor provincial champion and a U17 beach provincial champion.
"We're super excited to have Sol," said Zbyszewski. "Bot her and her sister, they've won some big U.S. tournaments and she's going to bring some of that pedigree to our team. She's physically very gifted, she hits the ball hard and she sees the game well."
Enrolled in UBC's Sauder School of Business, Sol eagerly awaits the start of her collegiate career both on the court and in the classroom.
"I chose UBC because it offers the two things I value most in a university, world-class academics and elite athletics," she said. "I'm an aggressive and versatile athlete who leverages my hitting strength and shot diversity while maintaining a solid defensive presence."
Sol's sister, Delfina, brings the same extensive list of accolades on the court along with a history of academic success.
"We're also very excited to have Delfina join us," Zbyszewski continued. "She's also been involved in the national program. She's a very smart middle, when you watch her play, she does the job well, she moves side-to-side well, she slows down a lot of balls. And we've been very impressed with her growth over the last few years."
"I chose UBC because of the idea environment for both my personal and career growth," Delfina said. "UBC's renowned athletics program will provide me with the opportunity to train with top athletes and coaches, pushing me to develop and excel."
These four outstanding recruits will undoubtedly go a long way to preserving UBC's status as a perennial contender both in the near and long term.
It won't be long before they officially join their new teammates as the 2025-26 Canada West season officially kicks off on October 17.
