The Mikasa Achievement Awards are presented to athletes, coaches, referees and leaders who have made an outstanding contribution to volleyball in Alberta for the indoor club season and beach season. Explore the Award criteria and Submission Guide, below – and be sure to submit your nominations!
Nominations open April 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM MT.
The 2026 edition of the Awards Banquet is scheduled to be held in Edmonton on Saturday, June 27, 2026
Questions? Please email: info@volleyballalberta.ca
Award Criteria
Indoor Athlete
An athlete in the 15U/16U and 17U/18U category who has shown a combination of performance, positive attitude, and leadership for his/her team both on and off the court. A total of 4 Indoor Athlete Awards will be presented:
• 1 athlete in the 15U/16U girl’s division
• 1 athlete in the 17U/18U girl’s division
• 1 athlete in the 15U/16U boy’s division
• 1 athlete in the 17U/18U boy’s division
* The 18U Mikasa Achievement Award winners will be awarded $500.
Coach (Performance)
A coach in the 16U, 17U or 18U category who has led their team to a consistently high level of performance during the season while modelling the principles of fair play and sportsmanship. A total of 2 Coach Awards will be presented:
• 1 Coach in the 16U, 17U or 18U girl’s division
• 1 Coach in the 16U, 17U or 18U boy’s division
Coach (Development)
A coach in the 12U-18U category who demonstrates they are a great role model and leader who teaches character and life lessons in addition to volleyball skills and tactics. They go beyond expectations to ensure every athlete, and the team, reaches their full potential. A total of 2 Coach Awards will be presented:
• 2 coaches will be considered from all divisions
Referee
Two referees as selected by the Volleyball Alberta Referees Association criteria.
• 1 Referee (Development) Award will be presented
• 1 Referee (Performance) Award will be presented
Service Excellence
An individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to Volleyball Alberta and/or their club throughout the season. This award recognizes those (referee, club administrator, indoor/beach coach, manager, or other contributing leader) who have gone above and beyond their expected role, making a meaningful and lasting impact on the volleyball community. Nominees should exemplify leadership, commitment, and exceptional service during the previous VA beach season (2025) or current indoor season (2026).
• One Service Excellence Award will be presented
Beach Athlete
Two beach athletes as selected by the Volleyball Alberta Beach Program based on performance and their commitment to beach throughout the summer. A total of 2 Beach Athlete Awards will be presented:
• 1 youth beach athlete from the girl’s division
• 1 youth beach athlete from the boy’s division
Beach award recipients from the previous beach season will be invited to the annual awards ceremony that is typically held in the middle of the current beach season.
Submit a Nomination
Get ready to submit a nomination!
Use this guide to gather the key details and ensure your submission meets the selection criteria.
Time frame for the 2026 VA Mikasa Achievement Awards:
- April 11: Nomination form will open at 9:00 AM MT
- For the Athlete & Coach Performance Categories, we would like to receive their nominations within three (3) days after their Provincials.
- 17UG – please submit by April 29
- 15UB, 16UG, 17UB, 18UB – please submit by May 6
- 15UG, 16UB, 17UG, 18UG – please submit by May 13*
- All other categories may be submitted between April 11 – May 13.
- *May 13: final deadline – Nomination form will close at 11:59 PM MT
- May 1 – 31 Volleyball Canada Nationals, for the Athlete and Coach Performance categories, additional information can be added to their nomination package (such as results, awards & recognitions from Nationals) by emailing info@volleyballalberta.ca up to two (2) days after the nominee’s Nationals.
- June 3: VA Announces award recipients.
- June 5: Banquet RSVP deadline
- June 27: Awards Ceremony & Banquet – Edmonton, AB
Past Award Recipients
2025 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Beach Athlete of the Year (2024) Sarah Thompson & Aimee Layzell
Beach Athlete of the Year (2024) Mason Doering
16U Athlete of the Year Sadie DeSchipper
16U Athlete of the Year Charlie Bernardin
18U Athlete of the Year Brooke Fermaniuk
18U Athlete of the Year Silas Schalk
Development Coach of the Year Alyssa Rab
Development Coach of the Year Sherwaine Arthurs
Performance Coach of the Year Lori Kube
Performance Coach of the Year Kyle Hazlehurst
Service Excellence Award of the Year Corey Cowper
Referee of the Year (Development) Marianna Kornylo
Referee of the Year (Performance) Greg Hawthorn
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2024 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Beach Athlete of the Year (2023) Alexa Landmark
Beach Athlete of the Year (2023) Brandon Burnside
16U Athlete of the Year Mila Kosoric
16U Athlete of the Year Tyson DeZutter
18U Athlete of the Year Sophia Hansen
18U Athlete of the Year Cole Czepuryk
Development Coach of the Year Ariel Galvani
Development Coach of the Year Megan Loxam
Performance Coach of the Year Shannon Rossall
Performance Coach of the Year Kyle Erickson
Volunteer of the Year Koren McDougald
Referee of the Year (Development) Jeremy Gray
Referee of the Year (Performance) Mitch Forest
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2023 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Beach Athlete of the Year (2022) Grace Baker
Beach Athlete of the Year (2022) Brandon Burnside/Mitchell Aalbers
16U Athlete of the Year Brooke Fermaniuk
16U Athlete of the Year Tyson DeZutter
18U Athlete of the Year Abby Guezen
18U Athlete of the Year Kale Orr
Development Coach of the Year Audrey DeBona
Development Coach of the Year Wayne Halliday
Performance Coach of the Year Christy Hansen
Performance Coach of the Year Shane Orr
Volunteer of the Year Steve Larsen
Referee of the Year (Development) Shauna Gregus
Referee of the Year (Performance) Katyryna Gaudet
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2022 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Beach Athlete (2019) Trinity Solecki
Beach Athlete (2019) Jacob van Geel
16U Athlete of the Year Sophia Hansen
16U Athlete of the Year Cole Czepuryk
18U Athlete of the Year Evvia Belireau
18U Athlete of the Year Jacob Sargent
Development Coach of the Year Reid Brodie
Development Coach of the Year Geoff Trentham
Performance Coach of the Year Cheri Wright
Performance Coach of the Year Vinny Saporito
Volunteer of the Year Trent Rix
Referee of the Year (Development) Nivi Uppal
Referee of the Year (Performance) Steven Cabral
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2021 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Awards Banquet – Cancelled
2020 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Awards Banquet – Cancelled
2019 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Beach Athlete (2018) Avery Kelly
Beach Athlete (2018) Sam Elgert
16U Athlete of the Year Mary Thiessen
16U Athlete of the Year Aaron Elser
18U Athlete of the Year Parker Austin
18U Athlete of the Year Chris Byam
Development Coach of the Year Jennifer Telfer
Development Coach of the Year Stefan Filip
Performance Coach of the Year Janelle Rozema
Performance Coach of the Year Jason Evans
Volunteer of the Year Wendy Trifunov
Referee of the Year (Development) Evan Labonne
Referee of the Year (Performance) Jared Mathes
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2018 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Beach Athlete (2017) Kenzie Vaandering
Beach Athlete (2017) Carson Brennan
16U Athlete of the Year Scarlett Gingera
16U Athlete of the Year Bryce Neuls
18U Athlete of the Year Dholi Thokbuom
18U Athlete of the Year Sam Elgert
Development Coach of the Year Rick Boyes
Development Coach of the Year Rachel McKellar
Performance Coach of the Year Ron Thomson
Performance Coach of the Year Scott Miller
Volunteer of the Year Sue Mohler
Referee of the Year (Development) Seth Goodswimmer-Ferguson
Referee of the Year (Performance) Travis Rott
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2017 Mikasa Award Recipients:
Beach Athlete (2016) Journey Flewell
Beach Athlete (2016) Jesse Elser
16U Athlete of the Year Parker Austin
16U Athlete of the Year Carter Hills
18U Athlete of the Year Madison Marshall
18U Athlete of the Year Mitchell Newman
Development Coach of the Year Andre Turgeon
Development Coach of the Year Tayler Marra
Performance Coach of the Year Jon Goldie
Performance Coach of the Year Nathan Kern
Volunteer of the Year Nicole Mathews
Referee of the Year Jenna Nichol
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2016 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16U Athlete of the Year Kara Crittall
16U Athlete of the Year Hunter Stewart
18U Athlete of the Year Sara McCreary
18U Athlete of the Year Max Elgert
Development Coach of the Year Grachella Garcia
Development Coach of the Year Michele Hunt
Performance Coach of the Year Greg Elgert
Performance Coach of the Year Tracy Keats
Volunteer of the Year Trish Holterhus
Referee of the Year Pat Chizek
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2015 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16U Athlete of the Year Lexi Peart
16U Athlete of the Year Jaxson Thys
18U Athlete of the Year Natasha Gordey
18U Athlete of the Year Jacob Kern
16U Coach of the Year Suzi Cooke
16U Coach of the Year Nathan Kern
18U Coach of the Year Rhonda Schmuland
18U Coach of the Year Ian Halliday
Volunteer of the Year Denis Delemont
Referee of the Year Shawn Shepherd
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2014 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16U Athlete of the Year Hilary Howe
16U Athlete of the Year Shane Verkland
18U Athlete of the Year Ciara Hanly
18U Athlete of the Year Tanner Greves
16U Coach of the Year Rod Hebert
16U Coach of the Year Greg Elgert
18U Coach of the Year Sandra Lamb
18U Coach of the Year Kerry MacDonald
Volunteer of the Year Mary Beth Meeuwisse
Referee of the Year Everette Dionne
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2013 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Carter McIntyre
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Tessa Hill
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Levi Wolthuis
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Mariah Walsh
15U/16U Coach of the Year Allan Coulter
15U/16U Coach of the Year Raynell Lavertu-Prince
17U/18U Coach of the Year Jace Barros
17U/18U Coach of the Year Lindsay Jones
Referee of the Year Karl Hiebert
Volunteer of the Year Janet Kawchuk
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2012 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Derek Meeuwisse
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Beth Vinnell
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Brett Walsh
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Alexa Gray
15U/16U Coach of the Year Jace Barros
15U/16U Coach of the Year Reid Brodie
17U/18U Coach of the Year Mark Maris
Referee of the Year Pam Rintoul
Volunteer of the Year Laura Vaillant
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2011 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Ryan Nickifor
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Courtney Yoo
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Blake Hinchey
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Alissa Coulter
15U/16U Coach of the Year Candace Greves
15U/16U Coach of the Year Dusty Freimark
17U/18U Coach of the Year Howard Gelderman
17U/18U Coach of the Year Rob Ellis
Referee of the Year Mike Malowany
Volunteer of the Year Brenda Jones
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2010 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Brett Walsh
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Kacey Otto
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Zach Brown
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Carly Hamilton
16 & Under Coach of the Year Mark Maris
16 & Under Coach of the Year Linda Richter
18 & Under Coach of the Year Tyler Myroniuk
18 & Under Coach of the Year Tracy Keats
Referee of the Year Ashley Fox
Volunteer of the Year Sai Wong
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2009 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Jackson Maris
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Kyjsa Brkich
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Jarron Mueller
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Camille Saxton
16 & Under Coach of the Year David Jones
16 & Under Coach of the Year LeAnn Kinvig
18 & Under Coach of the Year Jeremy Deeks
18 & Under Coach of the Year Reid Brodie
Referee of the Year Arch Beck
Volunteer of the Year Heather Wishlow
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2008 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Branden Schmidt
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Jordhynn Guy
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Jeremy Potter
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Kaylene Ehret
16 & Under Coach of the Year Steve Weinbeer
16 & Under Coach of the Year Tracy Keats
18 & Under Coach of the Year Brad Poplawski
18 & Under Coach of the Year Don Saxton
Referee of the Year JP Desaulniers
Volunteer of the Year Candice Sylvester
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2007 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Jarron Mueller
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Dione Lang
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Ciaran McGovern
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Jamie Thibeault
16 & Under Coach of the Year Howard Gelderman
16 & Under Coach of the Year Pat Pyne
18 & Under Coach of the Year Ian Bennett
18 & Under Coach of the Year Gisele Kreuger
Referee of the Year Neal Konowalyk
Volunteer of the Year Don Hutton
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2006 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Jarrod Offereins
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Camille Saxton
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Tanner Nault
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Tiffany Proudfoot
16 & Under Coach of the Year Dale Gullekson
16 & Under Coach of the Year Alex Melnyk
18 & Under Coach of the Year Gord Bocock
18 & Under Coach of the Year Chris Wandler
Referee of the Year Tammy McNally
Volunteer of the Year Terry Noble
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2005 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Ahlete of the Year Paul Lindemulder
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Jaryn Ruether
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Thomas Jarmoc
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Raynell Lavertu
16 & Under Coach of the Year Darryl Tetz
16 & Under Coach of the Year Bob Gabruck
18 & Under Coach of the Year Ryan Marsden
18 & Under Coach of the Year Rob Lindberg
Referee of the Year Sherri Weed
Volunteer of the Year Matt Stayner
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2004 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Ben Saxton
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Jackie Gagnon
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Lauren Perry
16 & Under Coach of the Year Art O’Dwyer
16 & Under Coach of the Year Grace Scott
18 & Under Coach of the Year Tyson Waters
18 & Under Coach of the Year Linda Merrick
Referee of the Year Glenn Johnston
Volunteer of the Year John Findlay
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2003 Mikasa Award Recipients:
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Colin Bell
16 & Under Athlete of the Year Kristy Anderson
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Mark Thibeault
18 & Under Athlete of the Year Carolyn Macdonald
16 & Under Coach of the Year Ian Kulmatycki
16 & Under Coach of the Year Heather McIntosh
18 & Under Coach of the Year Mike Lauzon
18 & Under Coach of the Year Craig Gattinger
Referee of the Year Scott McLean
Volunteer of the Year Kathy Van Humbeck
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