The VNB Male & Female Athletes of the Year are ideally graduating athletes who participates in our High Performance, Canada Cup, Summer Elite and Canada Games programs. These athletes display something special that seperates them from the others; whether that be athletic ability, passing, defending, scoring, blocking, serving, leadership, being a team player in a positive manner, or sportsmanship.

The Male and Female Coach of the Year are two coaches whose club and/or provincial teams have had significant improvement or success in the past year.

The goal of this award is to recognize athletes in our club system for on-court and off-court contributions to their team, such as, teamwork, team building, works hard, great attitude, inspiring acts of “sportspersonship”. The goal is to raise coach engagement in the nomination process and provides an opportunity for representation from our members who may not aspire to play at a high-performance level.  We all have come across kids in our journeys who we affectionately say, “that kid is the greatest teammate” or “what an amazing kid.” Ideally, this award could be awarded to an athlete from our 15U, 14U or triple ball programs.

Carter has had an outstanding 2025–26 season, establishing himself as one of New Brunswick’s most complete and impactful volleyball athletes. As an outside hitter, Carter has excelled at the school, club, provincial, and national levels, combining strong attacking, passing, defence, and composure under pressure. He helped lead the FHS Black Kats to a Provincial Championship and competed at the 18U Canada Cup level.

When a severe ankle sprain during the Team Canada selection camp threatened his season, Carter’s true resilience showed. Through relentless rehab, he earned his spot on the national roster to represent Canada at the NORCECA U17 Pan-Am Cup—and followed it up with a 16U National Bronze on the beach with his partner Jackson Gallagher.

Beyond his accomplishments, Carter is recognized for his quiet leadership, relentless work ethic, and outstanding sportsmanship. He consistently represents New Brunswick with pride and elevates those around him

As setter and co-captain, Mila is the heartbeat of her team. She leads by example, inspiring those around her and delivering her best performances in the highest-stakes moments. This season, she guided her team to a Provincial Championship Gold Medal while earning Provincial All-Star honors, followed up by a Bronze at the prestigious Best of the West tournament and a Tier 2 National Championship Gold.

Her relentless pursuit of excellence earned her a spot on the national stage with Team Canada, where Mila helped drive her Canada White squad all the way to a Tier 1 Silver Medal at the Canada Cup. Yet, as remarkable as her resume is, it is Mila’s humility, respect, and unwavering sportsmanship that truly define her.

year. They won gold at every single tournament they entered, proving without a doubt that they were the team to beat in Atlantic Canada.

When they took a trip to the Montreal Cup, they went 18–0, swept the board, and beat the Quebec provincial champions on their home turf. But honestly, what made watching this group so special was their energy and how hard they pushed each other every single day.

Max and Josh delivered a standout season, claiming victory at the VNB tournament in Fredericton before officially being crowned the 16U/18U Provincial Champions. They proved they could hold their ground against seasoned competition with a strong 4th-place finish at the Senior Men’s Provincials, and capped off their summer on the national stage by bringing home Tier 2 National Gold from the Volleyball Canada Beach Nationals in Toronto.

What makes their success even more remarkable is their extraordinary commitment—with Josh competing up an age level after just turning 16, and Max balancing his beach campaign while playing at the highest level of competitive soccer in the province.

Beyond their medals, Max and Josh represent the very best of New Brunswick sportsmanship through their dedication, adaptability, and teamwork.

As a 16U team, Lia and Elliana consistently chose to play up against older, more experienced athletes, taking every opportunity to push their limits. That decision paid off in a massive way. Throughout the season, they captured two 18U tournament titles, won a Senior NB event, placed second at a Nova Scotia Senior tournament, and were crowned the 18U New Brunswick Provincial Champions.

Their outstanding performance earned them the distinct honor of being the only team from New Brunswick selected to compete at the Youth Olympic Trial Games in Toronto, where they battled the country’s top 17U teams on the national stage.

Beyond their medals, Lia and Elliana are defined by their determination, resilience, and drive to compete at the highest level. They consistently represent New Brunswick with pride and inspire everyone around them.

With over 25 years of experience as a player, coach, and volunteer, Mike Walsh has made an incredible impact on the volleyball community in New Brunswick. This past season, Mike helped lead his team to an exceptional 11 tournament medals — 7 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze — before finishing 5th out of 36 teams at Nationals. But Mike’s impact goes far beyond the results. He has a unique ability to build confidence, challenge athletes to reach their potential, and create a strong sense of belonging. He makes sure his athletes feel heard, supported, and valued while holding them to high standards. Mike also goes above and beyond for volleyball in the Fredericton community, supporting athletes, clubs, coaches, and teams even when they aren’t his own. His passion for the sport and dedication to developing young athletes is felt throughout the volleyball community. For his lifelong commitment, leadership, athlete development, and the positive culture he creates both on and off the court, Mike is truly deserving of this recognition. 

As a founder and director of Riverside Elite Volleyball Club, Sandey is the true driving force behind REV. From managing finances, grant writing, and fundraising to running social media and coordinating uniforms, her work touches every single athlete, coach, and family in the organization. This past season, when securing gym space became a massive hurdle across the province, Sandey’s creativity and determination ensured every single team had a place to train and grow.

What makes her contribution truly extraordinary is that she balances this massive volunteer workload alongside a demanding career—all while facing profound personal challenges this year, including serious family health concerns and injuries. Through it all, her commitment to the club never wavered for a single moment.

Sandey’s resilience, selflessness, and unwavering work ethic have built a foundation that will serve young athletes for years to come.

As a men’s coach for both the Sunbury Bulldogs and OHS, and the founder of Trico Beach Volleyball, Courtney Murphy is a true force of nature. Over the past three years, she single-handedly built a summer sanctuary where 5 beach courts run non-stop four nights a week—bringing together everyone from 8-year-old beginners to retirees. From scheduling and coaching to court maintenance and running weekend tournaments, Courtney handles every detail while balancing her life as a nurse and mother to two Team NB athletes.

Her dedication hasn’t just grown the game; it has created a vibrant summer home for hundreds of players to build friendships, fall in love with the sport, and push their limits.

With more than two decades of dedicated service to volleyball across New Brunswick and beyond, Eric Moffatt has made an extraordinary impact as an announcer, coach, referee, administrator, and volunteer. Throughout his distinguished involvement, Eric has held key leadership positions including Executive Director and Program Coordinator for Volleyball New Brunswick, as well as Chairperson of the Volleyball Canada Beach Competitions Committee. His iconic voice has brought energy to countless provincial, national, and international stages—announcing at the Canada Games, Pan Am Games, NORCECA competitions, FIVB World Tour events, and national championships. Eric has also been instrumental in building and strengthening the sport through his work with STU Athletics, the ACAA, Volleyball Canada, and regional club and school programs, while continually guiding and developing athletes at every stage of their journey. For over 20 years, his unwavering passion, leadership, and service have shaped our volleyball community.