Kindle, Miner named BU athletes of month

Liam Kindle heard Grant Wilson’s message loud and clear.

If he wanted to earn big minutes for the Brandon University Bobcats, he needed to improve his blocking and defence.

Better late than never, the fifth-year opposite took that to heart and put in the work. Four matches into the Canada West men’s volleyball season, Kindle sits third in the conference with 33 digs and 2.2 digs per set, and tied for fifth with 14 blocks.

On Thursday, he was announced as BU’s male athlete of the month, along with female winner Brooke Miner of the women’s rugby team.

“If you were to ask me at certain points in my career if I thought I’d receive this at any point, I’d honestly say no,” Kindle said.

“That’s not due to lack of effort or determination, but there were certainly points in my career I felt maybe I wasn’t cut out for such a large role or to have so much success in the league.”

The former Vincent Massey Viking joined the Bobcats in 2019 and redshirted his first year, then had the COVID-19 season to wait through. He ended up sitting out a third year, and finally debuted in 2022-23.

He started seeing more court time off the bench in 2024-25 as the Bobcats captured their first national championship.

Kindle cracked the starting lineup as a fourth-year, and was arguably BU’s best attacker down the stretch last year.

In the season opener last weekend, he left no doubt, racking up 17 kills to lead the Bobcats to a reverse sweep of the nationally ranked UBC Okanagan Heat.

“I said to the team after the game, that’s some of the most fun I’ve had playing volleyball in my life,” Kindle said. “Reflecting on that a couple of weeks down the line, that still holds true. It’s maybe individually a career highlight, but in terms of team play, that was absolutely incredible to be out there.

“It’s certainly really encouraging to start the year so well after so much hard work and a lot of time and energy fixating on the game.”

The Bobcats lost the next match, but bounced back and took care of business in a pair of 3-0 sweeps of the MacEwan Griffins at home last weekend.

Kindle posted 10 and eight kills, respectively, in the two matches, and is in the top 10 in Canada West with 41 kills, with a .268 hitting percentage.

While he’s on track for a career year, Kindle wants more.

“It’s good to get off to a good start, but it’s four games. I’m really encouraged and it gives me confidence but it’s only giving me more motivation,” Kindle said.

“I still feel that room for improvement. To feel there’s so much room for improvement and seeing things on the Canada West website, that’s definitely nice. The work’s paying off a little bit.”

• • •

Miner delivered a massive performance in the biggest game in BU women’s rugby history.

The Dauphin native scored two tries as the Bobcats defeated the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Trojans 15-12 in Calgary on Oct. 25.

BU trounced the University of Saskatchewan 40-12 in the semifinals two days earlier.

“Brooke not only is a threat on the field, but she is a wonderful person off the field,” BU captain Beth Couling said after the championship.

“She’s a well-rounded human being and no one would not want her on their team. She’s a wonderful person.”

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com