One step closer to winning: STU Tommies set to host the 2026 ACAA Volleyball Championships

Tommies centre Raph Fiset has had 26 kills so far this season. (Submitted: Raph Fiset)

Both St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies volleyball teams have a strong chance at winning the Atlantic championship on their home ground. 

From Feb. 27 to March 1, STU will be hosting the 2026 Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Volleyball Championship at the Lady Beaverbrook Gym for the first time since 2019.

Raph Fiset, fourth-year men’s centre, believes that playing in their home court will be an advantage for his team. 

“We're used to the atmosphere,” he said. “We're used to how big the gym is, how high the ceiling is— these are all little things that do make a difference, so we're hoping that can kind of affect and can be to our benefit.”

The men’s team has been on a tear this season and are sitting in first place after winning 17 of their 18 games so far. 

Fiset credits the group's success to their bench depth, along with the strong connection between teammates. He believes that players will come into situations knowing how to perform in the moment. 

Last season, the men’s team was defeated in the finals against Université Sainte-Anne (USA) three sets to one. In their season opener last October, they beat the reigning USA champions in three sets.

“I think that was kind of a moment, I think for everybody that it clicked that, listen, this is very possible for us to win the championship,” said Fiset. “We're kind of expecting it now and are kind of very confident going in.”

Head Coach Henri Mallet said the team has a strong chance to win the title this year. Under his leadership, the men’s Tommies have won four ACAA championships since he started coaching the squad nine years ago. 

He thinks that the league has been at its strongest since he joined STU, with USA, Holland College and the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) as tough competitors.

“We just need people to step up and not try to overdo it, trust the work that you've put into [it,] trust your teammates, that if we win, it will be a team effort,” he said. “We don't have one guy that will win the championship for us … just do your job well and if each guy can do the job well, I like our chances.”

Mallet hopes to see a raucous home crowd filling the gym for the tournament. 

He remembers the audience being close to a thousand people the last time STU hosted the championship.

“It was probably the most intense atmosphere I've ever seen for volleyball matches,” he said. “So hopefully we can recreate that this time around, because that will definitely help with the energy and the focus for the guys.”

The Tommies women's volleyball team have won 14 games so far this season. (Credit: STU Athletics)

Like the men’s team, the women’s has also had a strong showing this season. The group is in first place with two games left before the playoffs.

Head Coach Kim Colpitts is proud of how the mostly-young unit has performed so far this year. 

“Our goal at the beginning of the year was to work hard to get to the level we need to be to make it to the playoffs,” she said. “Everybody's bought in and on the same page with us— I couldn't be happier with how our season's going.”

When asked about last year’s playoffs, Colpitts said that the semi-final loss to UNBSJ didn’t faze her or the team. She believes that her squad gave their all and was happy with her athletes’ performances.

“I think playoffs are going to be really fun, really exciting,” she said. “We have amazing support in the stands at home … we’re very fortunate to be hosting and excited to have the opportunity to compete for the championship here in our home gym.”