Momentum Exclusive: Canucks in the South – NCAA Top 150

Canadian women are having an impact on NCAA volleyball teams across America. Here’s your chance to get to know these athletes better. At about the halfway point of the NCAA Division 1 season, this is a look at the top 150 schools and their Canadian student-athletes. Expect to see several of these teams in the hunt for a bid into the 2021 NCAA National Tournament, which we’ll keep you updated on as we head into the postseason. 

RPI Rankings as of October 31, 2021

#4: Wisconsin – Anna Smrek (6’9 FR Middle Blocker – Welland, Ontario – Defensa Volleyball)

After the season ending injury of middle blocker Danielle Hart, Anna Smrek has found her spot in the starting lineup for the Badgers, posting a career high 12 kills against Nebraska on October 27, 2021. So far, the Badgers are 18-2 on the season and have received the #3 spot in the NCAA Committee’s predicted top 10 ranking for the NCAA National Tournament. Expect to see Wisconsin making a deep run for a national title later this year. 

#18: Washington – Emoni Bush (6’3 FR Outside – Campbell River, British Columbia – Academy Volleyball)

In her first full season as a Huskie, Bush has seen action for the Purple and Gold, posting 2.15 kills per set over 46 sets so far and a career high of 12 kills against Southern California on October 3, 2021. Right now, Washington is 16-4 on the season and #2 in the Pac-12. Expect to see them in the NCAA Tournament in the coming weeks. 

#19: Utah – Viktoria Wahlgren (Class of 2022 Committed Setter – Burlington, Ontario – Defensa Volleyball)

#23: North Carolina – Parker Austin (6’2 JR Outside – Edmonton, Alberta – Pandas Volleyball)

In her third season for the Tar Heels, Parker is seeing time on the right pin for the Carolina Blue. This season, she has posted a career high 7 kills against Wofford in non-conference play on September 4, 2021. North Carolina is 18-5 on their season and currently tied for 6th in a very competitive ACC. Depending on how many at large bids the committee will give the conference this year, we may see Parker and the Tar Heels in the first round of the national tournament. 

#43: San Diego – Laura Madill (5’11 SR Setter – Oakville, Ontario – Halton Region Volleyball)

In her 4th season for the Toreros, Madill has seen time on the court while sharing the primary setting role. In her October 2nd match against Santa Clara, she posted a season high 45 assists and 11 digs while defeating fellow Canadian Kat Georgiadis in 4 sets. Over her career, Laura has been honored twice on the WCC First Team All-Academic list while studying Industrial and Systems Engineering and made the WCC All-Freshman team in 2018. The University of San Diego is currently 2nd in the West Coast Conference at 10-1, just behind the undefeated BYU Cougars. Depending on how many at large bids the committee is willing to give the conference, we may see USD in the tournament for the third time in Laura’s career. 

#46: Iowa State – Julia Capone (5’6 SO Defensive Specialist – Mississauga, Ontario – Pakmen)

The Iowa State Cyclones are challenging a competitive Big 12 this season, currently tied for 3rd with Kansas State. Traditionally, the Big 12 receives multiple bids into the national tournament, so we may see Capone and her teammates making a push in the postseason. 

#49: Bowling Green – Hanna Laube (5’10 SR Setter – Burlington, Ontario – Guelph Jr Gryphons and Halton Region Volleyball)

Laube has had a great career so far for the Bowling Green Falcons out of Ohio. During the 2020-2021 “COVID” Season, she received MAC Conference Co-Setter of the Year as a Junior while helping her team win the conference tournament, securing a bid to the 2020-2021 NCAA National tournament. So far, the Falcons are dominating the MAC at 12-1 in conference play, requiring no more than 4 sets to take down their opponents. Expect to see Bowling Green taking the MAC title again the season, which would send them off to the NCAA Tournament for a second time in Laube’s career. 

#50: Arizona State – Jinna Zeng (5’5 SO Libero/DS – Surrey, British Columbia)

Making her first debut for the Sun Devils this season, Zeng has seen time on the court as a substitution in 4 matches so far and posted her first service ace against Arizona on September 23, 2021. Currently, Arizona State is tied with Arizona and USC for 7th in the Pac-12 Conference. 

#61: UConn – Caylee Parker (5’11 SR Outside – Windsor, Ontario – Sky Volleyball)

Caylee Parker has seen plenty of time on court during her 4 year career for the UConn Huskies, posting a season high 24 kills against Creighton on October 16, 2021. A regular in the starting lineup, Parker has helped UConn see success in 2 different conferences over her career. Currently, UConn is 3rd in the rankings of the Big East conference just behind annual powerhouses Creighton and Marquette. It will continue to be a tight race for the top spot in hopes of a bid for the 2021 NCAA Tournament. 

#62: DePaul – Phoenix Lee (5’7 SO Setter – Oakville, Ontario – Halton Region Volleyball)

In her 2020-2021 freshman season, Lee shared the primary setting role in a 6-2 and continues to see court time for the Blue Demons in a similar role this season. In a non-conference match against Marshall, Phoenix posted a season high 25 assists as they took down the Herd in 5 sets. The Blue Demons are currently 6-6 in conference play and are currently tied for 5th in the Big East. 

#74: Northern Colorado – Mimi Dunda (6’1 JR Middle Blocker – Grimsby, Ontario – Halton Region Volleyball)

After transferring out of the University of Missouri Kansas City, Dunda has seen action for the Bears in 6 matches so far this season. She posted a season high 7 kills against Southern Utah on September 30, 2021. UNC is currently ranked 3rd in the Big Sky and are expected to maintain a competitive finish through the end of their season to the Big Sky conference tournament. 

#76: Georgia – Kaiya Tyson (Class of 2023 Committed Setter – Burlington, Ontario – Defensa Volleyball)

#77: Hawaii – Tiffany Westerberg (6’3 SO Outside Hitter – Maple Ridge, British Columbia – Academy Volleyball)

As a freshman in 2020-2021, Westerberg saw action in 21 matches for the Rainbow Wahine and posted a career high 8 kills against Army West Point on September 5, 2019. So far this 2021 season, she has contributed to 7 matches and posted a season high 3 kills against UC San Diego on October 3, 2021. Hawaii is currently tied for the #1 spot in the Big West with UC Santa Barbara and will have to take over sole ownership to get a bid into the NCAA Tournament after not competing during the 2020-2021 COVID season. 

#95: Denver – Jada Hamer (6’2 FR Opposite – Lethbridge, Alberta – Panthers Volleyball)

In her first season in the NCAA, Hamer has so far posted a career high of 3 kills against University of St. Thomas (MN) on September 25, 2021. The Pioneers are currently 10-2 in the Summit League conference and are currently tied for 2nd place with South Dakota. Sitting in a competitive position for the end of season, the winner of their conference tournament will win an automatic bid into the NCAA National Tournament. 

#97: Illinois State – Brooke Malek (Class of 2022 Committed Libero/DS – Edmonton, Alberta – Pandas Volleyball)

#98: Boston College – Jenna Pollock (6’2 FR Middle/Opposite – St. Catherines, Ontario – Defensa Volleyball)

Making noise in her freshman season, Pollock has posted a career high 13 kills against Wake Forest on October 3, 2021. A regular in the starting lineup, Pollock has seen action against some of the best teams in the NCAA. Currently, the Eagles are tied for 10th place in the ACC with Wake Forest. I suspect they will miss out on the NCAA Tournament this season, but look to follow Pollock’s career in years to come. 

#103: Villanova – Tara Garvey (Class of 2022 Committed Outside – Ancaster, Ontario – Defensa Volleyball)

#105: Coastal Carolina – Jasmine Rivest (5’11 R-SO Outside – Montreal, Quebec – Mavericks Volleyball)

Originally a student-athlete for the Ryerson Rams, Rivest moved South to compete for the Chanticleers after the cancelled 2020-2021 season. In her first year in the NCAA, she has become a regular addition to the starting lineup and has posted a season high 10 kills against Troy University on October 8, 2021. Coastal Carolina is currently ranked 2nd in the East Division of the Sunbelt Conference and will make a push for the conference title and bid to the NCAA National tournament this year. 

#110: Michigan State – Biamba Kabengele (6’0 JR Outside – Burlington, Ontario – Halton Region Volleyball) & Cecilee Max-Brown (6’1 JR Outside – Surrey, British Columbia – Academy Volleyball)

Originally from Oregon State University, Cecille Max-Brown transferred into the Spartan volleyball program to join fellow Canadian, Biamba Kabengele in Green and White after she spent 2 years in Corvallis, Oregon for the Beavers. The Michigan State team is no stranger to great Canadian athletes and Max-Brown and Kabengele are no different. So far this season, Cecilee has posted a season high 17 kills against Purdue on October 20, 2021 and Biamba has posted 11 kills against Minnesota on September 10, 2021 while solidifying herself as one of the top servers in the Big Ten at 0.43 service aces per set. The Spartans are having an uncharacteristic year, just 2-10 in conference play. 

#114: Mercer University – Emma Jose (5’9 FR Setter – Oakville, Ontario – Defensa Volleyball), Megan Smith (5’6 Grad Libero/DS – Oakville, Ontario – ) & Jaida Howell (5’11 JR Middle – Whitby, Ontario – Leaside Volleyball)

With a Canadian head coach at the helm for the Mercer Bears, it’s no surprise to see multiple Canadian student-athletes on the roster this season. All 3 Northerns have seen time on court for the Bears so far this season. Leading the way, libero Megan Smith, originally a student-athlete for Brock University, has posted a season high 31 digs against Murray State on August 28, 2021. Jaida Howell has been a great presence in the middle, posting 12 kills against The Citadel on October 23, 2021. Freshman setter Emma Jose has also joined in on the action, seeing action in non-conference play, posting a season high 23 assists in a win against Murray State on August 28, 2021. The Bears are 10-2 in SoCon action and are expected to grab the conference championship title in the next few weeks. Expect to see the team in the first round of the NCAA tournament. 

#123: Indiana – Haley Armstrong (5’7 JR Libero/DS – Milton, Ontario – Halton Region Volleyball) & Mady Saris (6’1 FR Outside – Burlington, Ontario – Defensa Volleyball)

Another program with a Canadian at the head of the bench, the Indiana Hoosiers have added a second Northern student-athlete in Mady Saris. As a freshman outside, Saris has seen a massive amount of court time and posted a career high 18 kills in their match against Mississippi State on September 9, 2021. Fellow Canuck Haley Armstrong is adapting to a new role outside of the libero jersey she has held for the last 2 seasons and is helping hold down the back row as a defensive specialist. Armstrong posted a season high 13 digs against Rutgers on October 8, 2021 while picking up 2 service aces against the same Scarlet Knights on October 24, 2021. The Crimson and Cream of Bloomington, Indiana are currently ranked 11th in the Big Ten and will likely miss out on the NCAA tournament this season. 

#130: Fairfield – Nya Jones (6’0 JR Middle – Oakville, Ontario – Halton Region Volleyball)

After seeing action for the Stags in her Freshman season, Jones suffered a season ending injury during her Sophomore season and has not seen court time since. In 2019, she posted 12 blocks and 7 kills in 17 sets she played. So far this season, Nya and the Stags are an impressive 13-1 in MAAC conference play and are expected to win their conference for a trip to the NCAA National tournament. 

#133: Oklahoma – Savannah Davison (5’10 Grad Outside – Toronto, Ontario – Durham Attack Volleyball)

After graduating from New Mexico State University following a very successful 4 years for the Aggies, Davidson is now wearing the Crimson and Cream for the Sooners. As an Aggie, Savannah helped lead her team to back to back NCAA National Tournament trips in 2018 and 2019. So far for Oklahoma, Davidson has recorded a season high 27 kills in a match against Texas Tech on October 13, 2021 and has solidified her spot as a top attacker for the team. OU is currently in a three-way tie for 5th and will have to continue to fight for a higher ranking to get a bid into the NCAA tournament this season. 

#137: Elon – Presly Austin (6’1 FR Setter/Opposite – Edmonton, Alberta – Pandas Volleyball)

Presly Austin has had a solid start to her NCAA career, catching some court time in 10 matches for the Elon Phoenix. According to her stats, it looks like she’s been playing on the pin and picked up 2 kills against Duke on August 31, 2021. The Elon Phoenix are 9-5 in conference play and are currently ranked 3rd in the CAA, securing them a berth into their conference championship tournament. 

#141: Rutgers – Megan Vernon (6’1 Grad Middle – Mississauga, Ontario – Lakeside Volleyball)

Now a graduate student for the Scarlet Knights, Vernon was a force for the Kansas State Wildcats from 2017-2021 while being the first student-athlete to record 100 blocks since 2014 for the Purple and White. So far this season, Megan has recorded a season high 7 kills against Brown on September 11, 2021 and a season high 8 blocks against Indiana on October 24, 2021. Despite challenging some of the best teams, Rutgers is currently ranked last in a very tough Big Ten conference.

#150: Harvard – Jaimie Rao (6’3 JR Opposite – Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Volleyball)

Making appearances for Crimson since her freshman season, Rao has had a great presence on the right pin for her Ivy League team. This season, she has posted a season high 22 kills in a match against Northeastern on September 11, 2021 and has a season hitting percentage of 0.244, an impressive feat for any outside hitter. The Harvard Crimson are 4th in their conference and will have to continue to move up in the rankings for a look from the NCAA Committee for this year’s national tournament.