KELOWNA, B.C. – UBCO Heat men's volleyball fifth-year middle Thys Weststrate and head coach Scott Koskie are among 55 athlete-and-coach pairings selected to be part of the Petro-Canada's Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence Program (FACE) Class of 2026.
The program helps Canadian Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls and is intended for athletes who are showing potential as a future member of Team Canada but don't yet qualify for government funding.
Each year National Sport Organizations nominate athlete-and-coach pairings, with 55 selected to receive a $10,000 FACE grant which is split evenly between the athlete and coach.
"Receiving this grant means a lot to me and helps confirm that all the hours put in are worth it," Weststrate said. "It will continue to help my growth as a student-athlete by allowing me to spend more time and energy studying and playing volleyball while reducing the financial burden."
Last season, Weststrate was named a
Canada West Second Team All-Star as he finished first in the conference in total blocks with 92, while placing second in blocks per set with 1.19. Showcasing his versatility on the court, Weststrate ranked first among Canada West middles in digs with 117 while also excelling as a back-row attacker from the right side.
Koskie spoke highly of the work Weststrate has put in to be one of the top players in Canada West and the country.
"In his time at UBCO, he has been a leader for our program on and off the court and has taken it to new heights," he said. "I am extremely proud of him and grateful to Volleyball Canada for the nomination and to Petro-Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee for this recognition."
The Heat reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011-12 after securing fourth in the conference during the regular season with a 15-5 record.
"Achieving excellence is a long-term commitment and requires support in many areas," Koskie added. "The financial support extended to Thys and me through the Petro-Canada FACE program will contribute greatly to our growth and continued pursuit of athletic and coaching excellence."
The men's volleyball team returns to the UBCO Gymnasium for its home opener on Friday, Oct. 23 against the Brandon Bobcats, with first serve scheduled for 7 p.m.
With files from Olympic.ca
