Athlete Angle gives a voice to UFV student athletes wanting to share their perspectives on the sport they play. Braden White is a graduating senior of the UFV Men’s volleyball team.
During the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the UFV Cascades volleyball program made the leap from PacWest to U Sports.
The transition to Canada West (CW) posed significant challenges, as UFV had to prove it could compete against teams with decades of history, deep recruiting channels, and established winning cultures. Despite these hurdles, the UFV men’s volleyball program has not just survived this transition, but has made meaningful strides, as its on-court success and community contributions have redefined what it means to be a Cascade.
The most recent teams to enter Canada West are: UBC Okanagan (UBCO) in 2011-12, Mount Royal University (MRU) in 2012-13, and MacEwan University in 2014-15, all of whom struggled through their transition. UBCO made the play-offs once upon entry and then endured an eight-year drought, while MRU qualified once in its first four years. MacEwan has yet to make the play-offs in its entire 10 years since making the jump to CW.
However, UFV has been able to quickly find its footing. The team qualified for the play-offs in both its first and fourth seasons, defying the odds to find early success.
Typically, collegiate teams entering CW have had success in their prior divisions. MRU (2008) and MacEwan (2009) were both national champions prior to their promotions — and UBCO (2011) won their conferences the year prior to promotion.
The Cascades did not have the same success pre-transition. In the three seasons before entering U Sports, UFV finished among the lowest-ranked teams in their conference, never making the play-offs through this stretch and winning a combined six games. This made retaining players a challenge upon transitioning leagues, and UFV returned only four members from its original roster, while bringing in 16 new players including the additions of Jonas Van Huizen and Nimo Benne.
These major alterations made it difficult to establish team identity, as each member came from different backgrounds and coaching philosophies. However, the coaching staff emphasized a long-term vision: “we are here to leave a legacy.”
Despite the growing pains, the team bought into this philosophy, playing not for themselves, but for the jersey and the program. This forged a powerful team culture which has aided in cementing themselves as a true competitor in CW. While the program strives for on-court success, it equally seeks to build a lasting impact on the sport in the Fraser Valley.
Upon joining CW, the program launched the Junior Cascades Boys Volleyball Club, aimed at developing young talent in the Lower Mainland. The varsity roster is heavily involved in this system, volunteering their time to aid in the development of current youth athletes.
The Jr. Cascades have found immediate success, winning both 16U and 18U provincial gold this past season. The Jr. Cascades have become a direct pipeline of talent for UFV, producing players like 18U Provincial Club MVP Hudson Brandsma. Additionally, current 18U stars Jaxon Boender, Kolton Corbett, and Igor Velikovsky have all committed to the Cascades for the 2025-26 season.
Despite the expected initial struggles, UFV has prevailed to achieve success on and off the court. The program has laid the foundation for a bright and prosperous future through their dedication to create a unified team identity, while contributing to the community for long-term growth. UFV has not only established itself in Canada West, but has begun building a legacy that will define the program for years to come.
