The Bisons women’s volleyball left side Raya Surinx has been named the U-Sports Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Surinx’s honour marks the first time in over three decades that a student-athlete has won the U-Sports Player of the Year award in two successive seasons. She is also only the second Bisons women’s volleyball player to receive this distinction, following Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, the current assistant coach of the Bisons women’s volleyball team, who won the award in 1991 and 1992.
Surinx missed the first two games of the season against the Calgary Dinos on Friday, Oct. 18, and Saturday, Oct. 19, but went on to have a remarkable season, recording 310 kills and averaging 4.84 kills per set.
Surinx expressed joy over the award, noting that it is a result of the team’s collective effort.
“It means so much to me and it is such an insane honour to win this award. It not only validates my hard work but the work we have put in as a team and our coaches,” Surinx said to the Winnipeg Sun. “This is not truly an individual award. I wouldn’t be where I am without my teammates as we lift each other up and guide each other.”
The Bisons women’s volleyball coach Ken Bentley shared the events leading up to the start of the season, expressing how proud he is of Surinx.
“I’m so proud of Raya for taking time early in the season for herself after a long summer of training with the NextGen National Team. Once Raya came back to our team, she found a higher gear in 2024-25,” he said.
Bentley reflected on how Surinx started the season and the significant impact she had on the team.
“Despite missing the first two matches of the regular season, she climbed her way up the leader board to lead Canada West once more in kills per set, total kills, while finishing second in service aces per set. Raya is playing with a calm assurance that has been impressive to watch this season,” he said.
The two-time Team Canada NextGen selection was also ranked sixth in the country with 40 service aces, while her 449 total points and 5.6 points per set were the highest in U-Sports.
Surinx has recorded 1,248 career kills on the Bisons team, the second-most in the rally scoring era and 11th overall in program history. Additionally, her 127 regular-season aces are the second-most in the rally scoring era at the university.
Surinx’s 4.168 career kills per set is ranked third in Canada West history.
