Hansen-Young commits to defending champion Bisons

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This article was published 25/09/2024 (607 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What was once the biggest stage Jersey Hansen-Young stepped onto will soon become her training facility.

The Vincent Massey Vikings star outside hitter has signed with the University of Manitoba Bisons for the 2025-25 Canada West women’s volleyball season. She was talking to all three university teams in the province but said that stopped when she received the offer from head coach Ken Bentley.

“It’s hard to pass up that kind of opportunity,” Hansen-Young said.

“It’s close to home, obviously, but it’s also such an amazing program, being one of the top programs in the country … having such good coaches and players playing there sealed the deal.”

The feeling is mutual for Bentley, who locked down six of his top recruits from coast to coast — one from Vernon, B.C., one from Fredericton, N.B., and three of his Junior Bisons club athletes — in time to shift his focus back to the 2024-25 season. His team is looking to follow a Canada West title and U Sports bronze medal with a national championship at their home Investors Group Athletic Centre in March.

It’s the site where Hansen-Young’s last two high school seasons have ended — one the majority of varsity athletes dream of but few even reach. Her Vikings made the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association AAAA final four the last two years, including when she started as a sophomore in 2022.

“It was a big jump,” Hansen-Young said. “I had a good group of girls in Grade 12 that year that helped motivate me to stay on the court and not get discouraged. It was a big jump but it was an important step and I thought it was a really great opportunity I got to be part of.”

Hansen-Young was already a go-to hitter in the offence and, on many nights has been an unstoppable force for Massey. She piled up 24 kills and 20 digs in a provincial quarterfinal win over Fort Richmond last year, before falling in straight sets to the No. 1-seed Selkirk Royals.

Standing six-foot and continually getting stronger and faster, Bentley sees Hansen-Young’s potential to keep thriving against university defences at IGAC.

He watched Hansen-Young play during the club season, then ventured to one of her Club West practices when coach Steve Densmore suggested her as a recruit.

“At that point, I was like, ‘This kid’s the real deal,’” Bentley said. “She can be a really, really good U Sports player in Canada West … that’s a big ask because this is where all the top teams are.

“Her physicality first and foremost, that stands out. The other thing that stands out, she’s a big competitor and both of those things are pretty critical for our level.

“She hits the ball heavy, hits it high, she plays big at the net and she competes.”

Beyond her years at Westman Volleyball Club and her 17U season at Club West — where she’s one of 11 early-signed players for the 2025 18U campaign — Hansen-Young has big-match experience from her past two summers with Team Manitoba.

She’s pushing for a spot on the 2025 Canada Games roster to head to St. John’s, N.L., likely along with some of her future teammates.

She plans to study sciences at the U of M and hopefully go to veterinary school after her U Sports career.

Hansen-Young knows she’s entering a star-studded program, featuring national player of the year Raya Surinx and other talented outside hitters. She also knows how hard she’s willing to work to earn court time.

“I am very motivated to [stay] on the court and always excited to go to practice, work and put my best foot forward,” Hansen-Young said.

“Even those late practices when I’m driving all day to get to practice and driving home late, always show up and try your best. I want to be there.”

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