The University of Alberta celebrated a historic double victory on Wednesday night at the McDougall Centre in Calgary, as two of its standout athletes claimed the prestigious Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards for U SPORTS athletes of the year. Volleyball player Abby Guezen and track-and-field star Ryder Rattee were honored for their exceptional performances, sportsmanship, and leadership during the 2025-2026 season.
This marks only the second time in the 33-year history of the award that both winners have emerged from the same institution. The previous occurrence was in 2012, when McGill University achieved the same double honor.
Abby Guezen: A Volleyball Powerhouse
Guezen, a native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, delivered one of the most dominant seasons in University of Alberta women's volleyball history. She was named both the Canada West and U SPORTS player of the year after leading the Pandas to an impressive 18-2 regular-season record. The team went on to capture the national championship in Langley, British Columbia, securing Alberta's first women's volleyball title since 2007.
"It's very exciting," said Guezen with a smile. "It's one last hurrah at the U of A, one more special thing I can do for our program. It definitely was an incredible year and it'll be hard to top, but we have an incredible team. They're going to do great things."
The other female nominees for the award included Emilia Mikanovich, a volleyball star from Saint Mary's University, Jessymaude Drapeau, a hockey forward from Concordia University, and Olivia Rizakos, a soccer forward from the University of Guelph.
Guezen has also represented Canada at the world championships. This summer, she will once again don the red and white at the 2026 Women's Volleyball Nations League before embarking on her professional career in Italy's Serie A1, widely regarded as one of the top volleyball leagues in the world. She will play for Chieri, a small town near Turin.
"I'm very excited to take this step in my career," said Guezen, who leaves the University of Alberta after three years. "First step, I want to qualify for the Olympics with my team. That's my ultimate goal. While I'm with my pro team, I want to have great success there and make a name for myself. It would just mean the world to continue to spread the Guezen name globally."
Ryder Rattee: A Meteoric Rise in Track and Field
Rattee, a sophomore sprinter from Edmonton, had one of the most dominant seasons in recent Canada West track-and-field history. He captured three gold medals at the 2026 U SPORTS championships in Winnipeg, winning titles in the men's 300 metres, 600 metres, and the 4x400-metre relay. His winning time of 32.75 seconds in the 300 metres broke the national championship record.
Remarkably, Rattee only took up track and field in his first year of university, making his rapid ascent to the top of the sport all the more impressive.
"I chose the right parents," he joked. "My dad was a professional soccer player, my mom did track. It was hugely important ... also the way they raised me. So many stressors taken down because of them."
The other male nominees were Mika Cyr, a hockey player from the Universite de Moncton, Philippe Morneau-Cartier, a cross-country runner from Laval University, and Aaron Rhooms, a basketball guard from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Both Guezen and Rattee were joined on stage by Lois Mitchell, co-namesake of the award, who congratulated the athletes on their outstanding achievements. The evening celebrated not only their individual successes but also the strength of the University of Alberta's athletic programs.
