Sweet Home Manitoba

NANAIMO - VIU setter Owen Dyck, from Winnipeg, and outside hitter Rylan Van Kooten, from St. Andrews, made the Mariners and their home province of Manitoba proud with outstanding seasons and were rewarded with PACWEST all-star awards.

PACWEST Media Releases: All-Stars and Major Award Winners

Photos: Mary Kessenich

Owen Dyck: First Team All-Star

As VIU's engine and a hyper-intelligent setter, Owen has been outstanding as a Mariner and his fifth season has been no exception. He propelled VIU into the national rankings and kept a team dealing with multiple injuries to key players in the playoff picture during the fall and finished strong with an 8-2 record in the spring. Owen finished sixth in conference digs--tops for non-liberos--and top-30 in blocks. An Academic All-Canadian and academic excellence award winner, Owen's accomplishments in the classroom match his accomplishments on the court where he has helped his teammates achieve new heights.

Rylan Van Kooten: Second Team All-Star

An athletic player who wows home crowds with his airtime, RVK leads the Mariners in kills and total offense (8th PACWEST in both). After battling injuries early in the season, his skill and consistency have been on full display in the spring as he consistently earned double-digits in kills. A vital piece for VIU's run to qualify for the postseason, Rylan is an incredibly popular teammate, respectful captain, an Academic All-Canadian, and the 2025-26 Ryan Thibault Award winner—all of which puts an exclamation point on an excellent fifth varsity season.