DeRoo steps up for Robinson’s mat leave
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Kelly DeRoo is in for an extra busy fall.
The Vincent Massey Vikings girls’ volleyball coach has stepped up to lead the Brandon University women’s program until October, covering for head coach Kailan Robinson’s maternity leave.
DeRoo has assisted Robinson since she was named interim head coach in 2023, so she’s a natural fit to keep the team trending in the right direction.
Kelly DeRoo is serving as interim head coach for the Brandon University women's volleyball team during Kailan Robinson’s maternity leave, which will end in October before the 2026-27 Canada West regular season. (Aidan Froese/BU Athletics)
“I’m pretty familiar with all the athletes on the team and I’m really looking forward to helping with their development from now until October,” DeRoo said.
“It’s not super important as far as choosing a starting lineup for the fall, just getting everybody into matches in the pre-season to see how we’re looking.”
Robinson opted for a shorter maternity leave than she’s afforded because she didn’t want to miss even one regular-season match with her team — especially this year.
It’ll be one of the largest groups of graduating players in recent history, and she wants it to be the best year of their Bobcat careers.
BU only loses one player for the 2026-27 Canada West season, graduating setter Carly Thomson, so DeRoo’s job is more about setting the program up for life after the upcoming campaign.
She’s off to the Best of the West and Best of the Rest club volleyball tournaments in Calgary this weekend, and will return to Cowtown on the May long weekend for 17-and-under club nationals in hopes of steering a few strong recruits towards the Bobcats.
DeRoo helped lay the foundation for the BU program as its captain for its inaugural Canada West campaign in 2005-06, and has already helped grow the team’s future as Vikings star setter Kaitlyn Couckuyt and outside hitter Zoe Redekop have signed with the Bobcats for 2026-27.
They’re coming off back-to-back AAAA provincial championships, and while DeRoo is staying with them through their first U Sports pre-season, she’s not leaving her Massey program behind.
“I care a lot about running my high school team and the athletes on that team,” DeRoo said. “I want to make sure I can do both, and am finding a few people who can help me with the high school season.”
The Vikings will look a whole lot different, though. Most of their starters are gone, including Grade 11 outside hitter Hannah McGregor. The No. 1-ranked player in Manitoba and AAAA provincial MVP moved to Saskatoon for the current club season and has committed to Thompson Rivers University for 2027-28.
But while the Vikings may not be favourites to complete a three-peat, they proved they could play without the No. 1-ranked player in Jersey Hansen-Young last season, so who’s to say they can’t do it again?
DeRoo will certainly give it her best shot.
“It’ll be a busy fall for me,” DeRoo said. “But I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com