KELOWNA, B.C. -  After producing one of the best seasons in team history, UBC Okanagan Heat middle Thys Weststrate was named a Canada West first-team all-star as the conference announced its 2024-25 all-stars and all-rookies on Wednesday.
 
Weststrate, a native of Kelowna and graduate Kelowna Secondary, finished second in Canada West in both hitting percentage at .451 and blocks per set at 1.16 as he established himself as one of the top middles in the conference.
 
Those marks also set new team records for both statistical categories, with Weststrate topping the Heat's previous hitting percentage mark of 0.401 set by Joshua Harvey in 2014-15 and the previous blocks per set mark of 1.11 set by Teo Ardanaz in 2021-22.
 
"Thys put together an outstanding season and it is a tremendous honor for our program to have him recognized as a Canada West All-Star," commented Heat head coach Scott Koskie. "Thys is a great person who has worked extremely hard to elevate his game and become a top player in this league. We are proud of his efforts this season and congratulate him on this award." 
 
The 6-6 middle was one of the Heat's top offensive and defensive threats throughout the course of the season in helping UBCO earn their third-ever Canada West playoff berth.
 
Weststrate recorded 132 kills and 194 points, good for a team-best 3.1 points per set. On the defensive side of the ball, he led the team in blocks with 73, third-best in the conference, while adding 63 digs. He would also record 18 service aces, setting a new career-best mark and the tenth-most in a single season in program history.
 
In the Heat's two playoff games, Weststrate would add 14 kills, seven blocks, seven digs and one ace for 19 total points while hitting 0.444 percent.
 
Thanks to his outstanding play, Weststrate becomes the first member of the Heat to be named a Canada West first-team all-star and is just the third member of the program to be recognized as a conference all-star.
 
ALL-TIME M VOLLEYBALL CANADA WEST ALL-STARS
2024-25 – Thys Weststrate (1^st Team)
2017-18 – Lars Bornemann (2^nd Team)
2011-12 – Nate Speijer (2^nd Team)