The University of Alberta Golden Bears have won the 2024 USport Men’s Volleyball Championship. On Sunday from Queen’s University Athletics & Recreation Centre in Kingston, Ontario, the Golden Bears defeated the Sherbrooke Vert et Or 25-16, 24-26, 22-25, 25-19. 15-13 in the championship game.
Three Golden Bears reached double figures in points in Sunday’s final. Outside Isaac Heslinga of Orangeville, Ontario had 32.5 points. Meanwhile, outside Liam Espedido of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia had 21.5 points and Billy Johnstone had 10.5 points. Heslinga led the Golden Bears with 28 kills and 10 digs. Johnston led the Golden Bears with three solo blocks, and Heslinga and Espedido were the Golden Bears’s co-leaders in service aces with two. Meanwhile, setter Sam Drybrough of Calgary, Alberta led the Golden Bears with 56 assists.
Like the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on the women’s side, the Golden Bears entered the national championship as the number two seed. They were only behind the Vert et Or, who were the defending champions. In the quarterfinals, the Golden Bears beat the University of Laval Rouge et Or 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-19, and then in the semifinals, the Golden Bears beat the Thunderbirds 25-23, 25-19, 25-23.
This is the 10th national title in university men’s volleyball for the Golden Bears. They are tied for the most ever. The University of Winnipeg Wesmen and University of Manitoba Bisons also have 10 titles.
