From Stanford’s campus to San Francisco’s piers and the beaches of L.A., Huskie Men’s Volleyball kicked off 2025 with the team bonding trip of a lifetime – all thanks to an experience decades ago that left a lasting impression on USask/Huskies alumni and Canary Foundation founder Don Listwin.
Listwin, who went on to have a hugely successful career in business after his time at USask, was a 1979 Men’s Volleyball National Champion. Looking back, he credited part of his team’s success to a trip they took to California that same year, where team building and competition against top tier organizations led the Huskies to win the biggest title in national college volleyball, coming back from 14-9, to take the set 16-14.
“To be down 14-9 and come back and win is pretty spectacular.”
Listwin says the level of play they witnessed in the U.S. raised the bar and brought the team closer together.
“The biggest thing it helped us do was prep for hostile environments. The teams were all welcoming, but gyms were five times bigger than we’d ever been in. The ball floated differently,” he said. “In general, the whole experience was classic team building.”
Four decades later, Listwin decided to pay forward his life-changing experience while on a call with Huskie Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Sean McKay and Huskie Senior Advancement Officer Chris Jacobson, generously proposing an idea to donate and sponsor a similar trip for the entire Huskie Men’s Volleyball team.
This gesture led Huskie Men’s Volleyball to one of the most beautiful campuses in North America, where they played exhibition games against Stanford University and took in the rich history and sites of both the school and the beautiful Bay Area.
(Huskie Men’s Volleyball / The Walter Pyramid (Long Beach) / January 2025)
From there the team flew to Los Angeles to complete in the North American Challenge, where they battled it out against Long Beach University, University of California San Diego and Pepperdine, an experience Head Coach Sean McKay says elevated his team.
“Seeing the best programs and athletes in the U.S. has raised the bar for our Huskie athletes. The coaches and athletes came back with a higher standard for themselves and their teammates.”
Huskie Men’s Volleyball player Ethan Smith echoed that sentiment.
“The opportunity to play against some of the top teams in North America was surreal. Not only did it help prepare us for the second half of our season, but it exposed us to a high level of skill and execution which only motivates us to get better.”
To cap it all off the team hit the beaches of L.A. and SoFi Stadium for a major trip highlight – an NFL game between the L.A. Rams and Seattle Seahawks, all courtesy of Don’s incredible generosity.
(Huskie Men’s Volleyball / SoFi Stadium / January 2025)
Smith expressed the team’s gratitude to Listwin, for not only an incredible sporting experience, but a transformational life experience.
“Having Don support us to go on a trip like this is a huge privilege and we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity. As players, it’s extremely motivating. Not only has it made us better volleyball players, it provided us with a once in a lifetime experiences and team memories. It makes us want to play for something bigger than ourselves. It motivates us to strive to be our best, to make our alumni and the Huskies Men’s Volleyball program proud.”
McKay says it was a bonding experience his team will never forget.
Plus, as a former college athlete himself, Listwin knows the qualities athletes bring to everything they do – on and off the court.
“I’ve hired thousands of people in my life. And one of the things I look for – as a nice to have, as a want to have – is team sports. Sports… but team sports. Two things: you’re trying to win and you’re doing it as team. I think that translates into a lot of things in life.”
From a 1979 National Championship to the 2024-25 Huskie Men’s Volleyball team, the power of the pack endures.