The University of Alberta Golden Bears have won the 2024 USport Men’s Volleyball Championship. On Sunday at the Queen’s University Athletics & Recreation Center in Kingston, Ontario, the Golden Bears defeated the Sherbrooke Vert et Or 25-16, 24-26, 22-25, 25-19. 15-13 in the championship game.
Three Golden Bears reached double-digit points in Sunday’s finale. Other than Isaac Heslinga of Orangeville, Ont., he had 32.5 points. Meanwhile, Liam Espedido of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, had 21.5 points and Billy Johnstone had 10.5 points. Heslinga led the Golden Bears with 28 kills and 10 digs. Johnston led the Golden Bears with three solo blocks, and Heslinga and Espedido were the Golden Bears’ co-leaders in service aces with two. Meanwhile, setter Sam Drybrough of Calgary, Alberta, led the Golden Bears with 56 assists.
Like the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds for women, the Golden Bears entered the national championship as number two. They were only behind Vert et Or, who were defending champions. In the quarterfinals, the Golden Bears defeated the University of Laval Rouge et Or 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-19, and in the semifinals, the Golden Bears defeated the Thunderbirds 25-23, 25-19, 25- 23.
This is the Golden Bears’ 10th national title in men’s collegiate volleyball. They have been undecided for the longest time. The University of Winnipeg Wesmen and the University of Manitoba Bisons also have 10 titles.
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