The Portage Hurricanes are wrapping up their first full volleyball season on a high note, and the players and coaches say they’re seeing the sport take off again in the area.
Coach and executive director Cam McLean explains the program was created to bring volleyball back to young athletes and help them build toward future opportunities.
“We started this year in a full season,” McLean says. “Our program is designed to try and get young kids back into the sport of volleyball and hopefully position them to go after scholarships down the road.”
While it began with a focus on volleyball, the club also offers opportunities in soccer.
Volleyball has quickly grown into one of the club’s cornerstone programs. Initially targeting players between 13 to 17 years old, the program is now expanding to include athletes as young as 11.
Strong season and standout players
McLean notes the team competed well against clubs that regularly attend nationals.
“We were performing at a level that was way above what I actually expected,” he says. “It ended up being a very good year.”
He adds that two players in particular stood out this season.
“Austyn for the boys team, the U17, he was our go-to for leadership,” McLean continues. “He actually ended up winning our overall award for the group called the Hurricane Award.”
He also highlights 13-year-old Presley Thorsteinson.
“Presley won our MVP for one of the U15 teams,” McLean remarks. “She was our heart of the team for most of the season.”
Celebrating with a year-end gala
To wrap up the season, the Hurricanes hosted a year-end gala that brought out over 200 people.
“It was to celebrate the kids, celebrate the families, have a good wrap-up to the year,” McLean explains. “It gives them a chance to kind of let go of some steam and have a good time.”
The club pulls players from across the region and is now expanding to include more age groups. McLean says they’ll be offering camps throughout July and August, as well as a Sunday camp from September through November.
He notes that while the regular season only runs for three to four months, it’s a busy stretch filled with travel, competition, and intense development.
Players reflect on growth and fun
Sixteen-year-old Austyn Campbell from Portage la Prairie says he’s hoping to keep playing beyond high school.
“It was run well. I liked the tournaments that we hosted,” Campbell notes. “I like meeting new people, playing volleyball.”
Presley Thorsteinson from Westbourne also has her sights set on sticking with the sport.
“I thought the team was good, and the coaches, they were really good with us,” Thorsteinson says. “I would definitely recommend it.”
Portage's Rylee Caskey, 14, agrees the experience has helped improve her game.
“The practices and the games I think helped out all of us,” Caskey adds. “Most definitely I’ll keep playing.”
Sixteen-year-old Hailey Mazurat, also from Portage, says the season helped sharpen her skills between school teams.
“It also helped me grow a lot more,” Mazurat remarks. “It helped me build teamwork and leadership a lot.”
Coaching team looks ahead
Assistant coach Gabe Friesen says it’s his second year with the program, and he’s excited to see more kids signing up.
“Taking everything I’ve learned to the boys really helped, and they did great,” Friesen mentions. “Hopefully some newcomers join too.”
McLean says the biggest win of the season has been seeing kids fall back in love with the sport.
“I’m happy to see the sport’s getting reinvigorated in the area,” he continues. “Even at other sporting events, volleyballs are showing up.”
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