KELOWNA, B.C. – Former UBCO Lakers volleyball standout Marisa Field has earned another honour in her accomplished volleyball career, having been selected as part of the 2026 Volleyball BC Hall of Fame class.
In an announcement made Tuesday by Volleyball BC, Field is one of four individuals recognized this year, alongside coach Dave Olynyk and builders Brenda Chinn and John Kendal.
"My journey through volleyball in this province shaped everything I am," Field said. "I owe so much to the incredible coaches who saw potential in a tall kid from Kelowna. I think of Steve Manuel at UBCO, who was instrumental in building my foundation both before and during my Lakers/Heat days, and Doug Reimer at UBC in Vancouver, both of whom have continued to support me to this day."
The Kelowna Secondary School graduate starred for the then UBCO Lakers for two seasons from 2004-2006 at the middle position, where she was named a two-time British Columbia Colleges' Athletic Association (BCCAA), now Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST), Second Team All-Star.
"Marisa has been an impact player at every level in our sport," said former and longtime UBCO head coach Steve Manuel. "We knew from an early age that she had the potential to do great things, and she certainly made her mark. When she made the commitment to our program, it was the start of a long run of extremely successful seasons for us, eventually leading to CCAA titles, a Canada West Silver Medal, and a U SPORTS Bronze Medal."
In her first season, Field helped lead UBCO to a first-place finish in the BCCAA regular season with an 18-2 record before claiming a silver medal at the conference championship, where she was named a tournament all-star. The Lakers went on to finish sixth at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship that season.
Field followed that up with a bronze-medal finish in her second and final season with the Lakers before continuing her collegiate career with the UBC Thunderbirds.
She went on to win back-to-back national titles with UBC in 2008 and 2009 and received the 2009 May Brown Trophy for the school's most outstanding female graduating athlete. Field also represented the Canadian senior national team for 11 years, competing at two International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Championships and three FIVB World Grand Prix cycles.
"The collaboration between those two coaches to transition me to the Thunderbirds was a turning point in my life," Field said. "It really all started with my very first summer camp at Okanagan University College way back then."
In a program milestone, Field will become the first former UBCO athlete to be inducted into the Volleyball BC Hall of Fame.
"I couldn't be more proud of Marisa and all that she's accomplished during her career, and I am extremely happy to have played some small role in her development," Manuel added.
The formal recognition for Field and the rest of the inductees will take place Nov. 21 at the Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport in Richmond, B.C.
With files from Volleyball BC
