Provincial champ Couckuyt joins hometown Bobcats
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Kaitlyn Couckuyt proved she can run an elite high school offence to a provincial championship, and she has no intentions of stopping there.
The Vincent Massey Vikings setter is staying home and joining teammate Zoe Redekop in the Brandon University Bobcats rookie class for the 2026-27 Canada West women’s volleyball season.
“Finishing the last two years at Vincent Massey winning has been really good and really exciting, and I’m just excited to keep going with my volleyball career,” Couckuyt said.
Kaitlyn Couckuyt sets the ball during the AAAA varsity girls volleyball provincial final against the Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in December. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
“I was looking into other places, but I knew if I had the opportunity to stay at home, that would be my first choice, definitely.
“It was definitely a hard choice to pick between racquetball and volleyball, but I knew the coaches, as I’ve had both of them before, and I knew if I had the opportunity to stay home with the Bobcats, I would really like it.”
Couckuyt is also a multi-time national racquetball champion for her age class.
One year, tournament organizers agreed to adjust the schedule so she could finish a day early and head straight to Volleyball Canada nationals to meet up with her Brandon Volleyball Club teammates.
Her versatility from sport to sport translates into her abilities on the volleyball court.
The five-foot-nine setter feels she has all the tools to be successful at the next level.
“There’s a lot of short setters in women’s volleyball, and I’m kind of in the middle. So a big piece for me is being able to be a full six-rotation setter and being aggressive in the front row, getting blocks and being part of the offence,” Couckuyt said.
She’s joining the team after four-year starter Carly Thomson moves on. The Grande Prairie, Alta., native has led Canada West setters in kills each of the last two years, so it’s clearly something Robinson wants to see in her offence.
The two returning setters, six-foot-one Alex Roberge and five-foot-nine Grace Gallacher, have predominantly played as front-row and back-row specialists, respectively.
Roberge is coming off a torn ACL suffered in training just over a year ago, while Couckuyt’s block touch clears Gallacher’s already.
Couckuyt’s big priority heading into her last club season is ball placement, especially on out-of-system passes.
Robinson sees a bright future for the hometown kid.
“Kaitlyn has shown us she can lead successful teams, obviously, with being on Massey the last few years. Something that stood out for me particularly is she’s more of a six-rotation setter,” said Bobcats head coach Kailan Robinson.
“Having coached her in club too, I know she’s a great kid, she’s usually a leader or captain on her teams, someone who wouldn’t cause problems.”
The Bobcats (2-12) have three weekends left and just one at home. They host the Regina Cougars (4-10) this Friday and Saturday — Thomson’s senior night — then visit the MacEwan Griffins in Edmonton.
They’re off the following weekend, and close the regular season against the host Winnipeg Wesmen on Feb. 13-14.
They need to win at least four of six for a shot at the 10-team playoff picture.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com