Vallis bringing her A-game
Third-year middle a powerful presence for U of W women
It’s still early but University of Winnipeg volleyball fans are probably witnessing the emergence of the school’s breakout star of the 2025-26 season.
Grace Vallis, the club’s third-year middle blocker, opened the Canada West season with an 18-kill, five-block performance in a five-set road loss to the Regina Cougars on Oct. 17.
Grace Vallis hammered a career-high 18 kills on Oct. 17. / David Larkins, Wesmen Athletics
Her career-high 18 kills were the most by a middle blocker in conference play since Mount Royal’s Nyadholi Thokbuom’s 19 in March 2022.
A day later, the 21-year-old Miles Mac grad added nine kills, five digs, three aces and two blocks in Winnipeg’s three-set sweep of Regina. She was subsequently honoured as the Canada West player of the week.
“It’s a testament to my teammates,” said Vallis as the Wesmen prepared to host a crucial series on Friday and Saturday against the No. 4-ranked Trinity Western Spartans.
“I have a setter (Naomi Unger) who trusts me and gives me the ball 27-plus times in a weekend and I have teammates who can pass the ball and get it to her… We’ve had a couple of building years and now we’re ready to go. We’re excited to show people what we can do.”
The offensive numbers, particularly for a middle, are a bit of a surprise but Vallis’ development into a big presence requiring special attention from opponents was something head coach Phil Hudson always hoped would happen.
“She could be dominant — we’ll see,” said Hudson. “It’s only one weekend so far. She had some weekends like this last year where she was very dominant and now teams are ready for her.”
Hudson said Vallis’ commitment to off-season fitness work has paid big dividends.
“She’s at the advanced stage of our workouts right now,” said Hudson. “She was very dedicated to doing it all the time. And patient. Kids aren’t patient nowadays.”
Fifth-year libero Taylor Cangemi believed her teammate was destined for a big season.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised,” said Cangemi. “Since her first year, she’s really buckled down on her fitness and her health and her skills. And I think that is now just starting to show.”
Vallis needed time to mature into her towering 6-foot-3 frame.
Libero Taylor Cangemi is the U of W’s nominee for a Rhodes Scholarship / David Larkins, Wesmen Athletics
A basketball and volleyball star in high school, Vallis has an stellar athletic lineage.
Her dad, Lindsay Vallis, was a star right-winger with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds who went on to be chosen in the first round, 13th overall, of the 1989 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.
Curiously, Grace never played hockey although she spent 11 seasons in ringette before moving on to volleyball and basketball. Her dad, who went on to a nine-year professional career, imparted some old school values on his daughter.
“He’s actually a fairly humble guy,” said Vallis. “Every once in a while he’ll share a story or two (about his hockey career) but I feel like a lot of his wisdom developed while being an athlete at the same age kinda transferred over.”
The most important lesson?
“When coaches have feedback for you, don’t take that as a personal thing,” she said. “Take that as they see your ceiling and they want you to get better. Growing up, he always instilled that in me.”
Vallis, who suffered a severely sprained right ankle in her first tournament as a freshman and subsequently took a redshirt season, has made major strides in the weight room and on the court.
Since her rookie year, she has added seven inches to her spike touch. She currently reaches 10 feet.
Her confidence on the court has grown, too.
“The game has kinda slowed down a little bit for me,” said Vallis. “I play against Emily Lavallee, our other middle, in practice a lot and I think I’m able to see seams (in the defence). I think I’ll be able to make some plays no matter what kind of block is put in front of me.”
Vallis is a close friend of the 23-year-old Cangemi, the squad’s oldest player,
“We kinda clicked as soon as she came in,” said Cangemi, who is completing her honours thesis in biology and was recently tabbed as the U of W’s nominee for a Rhodes Scholarship.
“She’s one of those players that is more mature than her age I would say, and those are the people I tend to latch onto. That’s the dynamic we established from Day 1. We’re both hard workers and have high expectations for ourselves, so I feel like we understand each other in that way. And she’s just a hoot. I feel like we’re laughing all the time.”
Hudson, now in his sixth season at the helm, has put a priority on recruiting more size and that is now showing up in his starting rotation.
Lavallee, Unger, star left side Brooke Duncalfe are all 6-foot-1 and outside hitter Ella Werbiski is 6-foot-2.
Winnipeg, rated 18th in the first U Sports poll of the season, will be pushed hard by Trinity.
“It’ll be a good test,” said Hudson. “We’ve gotta learn how to play against big people. We’re getting bigger to be able to handle Canada West size and now we’ve gotta learn to play at the net.
“Our defence is just as good as theirs and our serving hopefully, at home, will be just as good although they’re always one of the top serving teams in Canada.”
-30-