Fifth-year middle Thys Weststrate began the 2026-27 regular season with an impressive all-around performance. Over two games against the Brandon Bobcats, Weststrate hit a combined .649, notching 16 kills on 22 attempts with no errors on the first night before earning 10 kills on 15 swings with just two errors in the following match. The Kelowna, B.C. native's presence in the front row was also evident through his combined 7.5 blocks, highlighted by three consecutive block assists that helped the Heat secure a 25-16 fourth-set win in the 3-1 victory (25-13, 25-12, 23-25, 25-16) over the Bobcats on Saturday. His impact in the victory extended to the service line, as he tied the school single-match record with seven aces. With eight total aces over the weekend, he sits first in the country and conference in that category while also leading both rankings in hitting percentage.
