Bobcat women add Italian college transfer

The Brandon University women’s volleyball team has been slowly building towards a breakout season.

As one of their biggest senior corps in recent history enters their final year, 2026-27 is a massive one for them to finish on a high note.

So head coach Kailan Robinson is adding a proven veteran to her recruit class. Keyano College outside hitter Amanda Onyeukwu, an Italian import, is transferring to BU for her fourth year of eligibility, joining rookies Zoe Redekop, Kaitlyn Couckuyt, and Hannah Flaman.

“She’s a great addition for us,” Robinson said.

“She hits a heavy ball, has a spin serve and can play any position in the front row, but ultimately will be a left side for us … She stands out with athleticism and a competitive drive. She brings it all, honestly.

“Next season, we’re looking more promising with more depth in our roster, so it’ll make it tougher to decide who our top left sides are, but that competition in our practice gym with that depth is what we really need to get better.”

The position was Brandon’s biggest need a year ago, and Robinson has certainly addressed it. As Avery Burgar and Kallie Ball graduated, Georgia Johnson was the only player left on the roster with experience as an outside hitter.

BU returned Steph Miller, who first joined the program in 2018, and added Brynn Wildeboer of Ste. Rose.

Former UBC Okanagan Heat middle blocker Maddy Hettinga fell into the program’s lap during the 2025-26 season, as she had quit volleyball but enrolled in BU’s education program and regained her love for the game.

And the Bobcats also added Vincent Massey Vikings star Redekop following her second straight AAAA provincial championship.

While Brandon finally had options last year, consistency was still an issue. Robinson’s hoping a seasoned veteran, who averaged three kills per set, recording 204 on the season with a .309 hitting percentage, can change that.

The six-foot attacker was also one of the top 10 servers in the ACAC, posting 33 aces.

Onyeukwu completed her business diploma at Keyano and let her coach, Tommy Sloane, know she was looking to transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. Sloane, who assistant coached at BU a decade ago, connected her with Robinson.

She visited BU on Easter weekend and trained with the team. She had already visited Mount Royal University, but made up her mind quickly.

“When I came to Brandon … it just felt better. The girls helped a lot with that,” Onyeukwu said. “I felt welcome, home. I’m far from home wherever I go, so it’s big for me to have my home away from home.”

Onyeukwu grew up in Piadena, Italy, a city about 490 kilometres northwest of Rome. As one of the biggest professional volleyball countries in the world, players have a significantly different experience compared to Canadians growing up. Onyeukwu said she played for a club until age 15, then spent a few years in the semi-professional ranks before attempting toland with an NCAA program and ending up at Keyano.

She began as a middle blocker in her rookie year, then shifted to opposite in 2024-25. Onyeukwu moved again partway through last season when the Huskies dealt with a few injuries, but Robinson feels she has caught on quickly.

Serve receive will be the biggest issue, much like it was for Hettinga, and the starting jobs will still be up for grabs as the Bobcats look to finally break out of the Canada West basement following zero-, one-, two- and three-win seasons.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com