After a reset year in 2024-25, the Cougars' young core is set to take another step, with hopes to return to the playoffs after missing the postseason for the first time in seven years.

Tickets
Watch the Cougars live on Kenyon Court by purchasing your tickets here. MRU students and employees receive free tickets to all home games.

Cougars Men's Volleyball on Canada West TV
Every men's volleyball game will be available live and on demand this season exclusively on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of the conference. To purchase your pass, click here. 

2025-26 CW Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll: 
Team / Points (First-place votes)

1. UBC Thunderbirds - 139 (9)
2. Trinity Western Spartans - 123 (2)
3. Saskatchewan Huskies - 115 (1)
4. Manitoba Bisons -111
5. Alberta Golden Bears - 104 (1)
6. Brandon Bobcats - 88
7. Winnipeg Wesmen - 86
8. UBCO Heat - 61
9. Calgary Dinos - 58
10. Mount Royal Cougars - 56
11. Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 36
12. Fraser Valley Cascades - 22
13. MacEwan Griffins - 15

2024-25 CW Regular Season Record:
5-15

2024-25 CW Regular Season Division Placement:
12th overall

2024-25 Post-Season Performance: 
Missed playoffs 

2025-26 Season Opener
Friday, October 17, 2025 vs. Thompson Rivers University WolfPack

2025-26 Home Opener
Friday, October 17, 2025 vs. Thompson Rivers University WolfPack

Head Coach / # season / Career CW reg. season record:
Shawn Sky / 22nd Season / 129-123

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: 
12th in Sets (72)
12th in Kills (733)
12th in Kills per Set (10.18)
9th in Errors (327)
11th in Total Attacks (1915)
12th in Hitting Percentage (.212)
12th in Assists (654)
12th in Assists per Set (9.08)
12th in Service Aces (81)
2nd in Service Errors (409)
12th in Service Aces per Set (1.13)
5th in Receptions (1333)
10th in Reception Errors (98)
12th in Digs (571)
9th in Digs per Set (7.93)
9th in Block Solo (36)
10th in Block Assist (206)
11th in Block Total (139)
9th in Blocks per Set (1.93)
12th in Points (944.0)
12th in Points per Set (13.1)

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Sets played (Returning)
72 – Grant Hill/Ryan John

2024-25 regular season leaders: Matches played (Returning)
20 – Grant Hill/Ryan John/Cody Hudson

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Kills (per set) (Returning)
179 (2.49) – Ryan John

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Total attacks (kill percentage) (Returning)
492 (.163) – Ryan John

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Assists (per set) (Returning)
582 (8.08) – Grant Hill 

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Serve aces (per set) (Returning)
11 (0.15) – Ryan John

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Serve receptions (Returning)
470 – Ryan John

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Digs (per set) (Returning)
112 (1.56)  – Grant Hill 

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Solo blocks (Returning)
10 – Cody Hudson

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Block assists (Returning)
44 – Grant Hill

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Total blocks (per set) (Returning)
52 (0.76) – Cody Hudson

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Points (per set) (Returning)
204.0 (2.8) – Ryan John

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team)
Kale Orr / Outside / First Year / Magrath, AB / Alberta Jumplete 18
Kai Toney / Outside / First Year / Winnipeg, MB / DMCI Maroons
Luke Wright / Outside / First Year / Edmonton, AB / National Excellence Program
Michael McAlpine / Outside / Fourth Year / Belleville, ON / Humber College
Liam Brandsma / Libero / First Year / Edmonton, AB / Team Alberta U17

Key Departures (name / position / hometown / years with program)
Jovan Stepanovic / Outside / Pozarevac, Serbia / 3
Paul Dionne / Outside / Weyburn, SK / 5

Key Performer: Grant Hill
Grant Hill came into his own last season as one of the premier setters in the Canada West. After a season that saw him put up 582 assists, Hill was named to Canada's U21 national volleyball team for the second straight summer. The Calgary kid earned a silver medal with his home country in the 2025 Pan American Cup. 

Entering his third season with the Cougars, Hill has accrued a wealth of volleyball experience in just two seasons, splitting his time between MRU and national team duties. He will be called upon as a leader for Mount Royal both through his character and play on the court. Hill will be instrumental for the Cougars, coming out of a tough year last season.

Season Preview:
The 2024-25 season was a rebuilding year for the MRU men's volleyball program. The Cougars only won five games, the lowest season total since they joined the Canada West in 2012. Rebuilding years are something that every program experiences and is a part of university athletics. The 2025-26 season will be the first step out of the rebuild.

The third-year core of Grant Hill, Cody Hudson and Ryan John will all be expected to take another step heading into the new campaign after making a big jump last season. Combining with star recruits like Kale Orr and Kai Toney, the Cougars have the potential to be an entertaining team with threats on the outside and down the middle.

After missing the postseason last year, longtime head coach Shawn Sky expects to take a step out of the tough year.

"We are a young, physical team poised for a bounce back year. Our size and athleticism will make us one of the most physical teams in the league. Some key additions to the team should have an immediate impact on our team's performance," said Sky.