Q&A: U SPORTS Athlete of the Year Abby Guezen’s unforgettable season

Photo credit: Richard Coffey

Fresh off one of the most decorated seasons in recent U SPORTS history, University of Alberta volleyball star Abby Guezen has reached the pinnacle of Canadian university sport.

From Sherwood Park, Alta., Guezen capped a remarkable 2025-26 campaign as the women’s recipient of the 2026 Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athlete of the Year Award, recognizing the top female student-athlete across all U SPORTS sports. Guezen and fellow University of Alberta track and field standout Ryder Rattee completed a rare sweep for the Golden Bears and Pandas, marking just the second time in the 33-year history of the awards that athletes from the same institution have claimed both national honours.

The award adds another accolade to a season that saw Guezen lead Alberta to Canada West and U SPORTS championships while earning conference and national Player of the Year honours. It also follows a summer on the international stage with Team Canada, where she competed at both the Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship before returning to Edmonton with a challenge from Canadian national team head coach Giovanni Guidetti: win everything. She did exactly that.

With a national championship, national women’s volleyball player of the year award and now national athlete of the year recognition to her name, Guezen sat down with U SPORTS to reflect on her journey, and what's next as she prepares to begin her professional career in Italy.

U SPORTS: How did you first get involved in volleyball?

Abby Guezen: I started playing volleyball in grade seven, and it was just a fluke. My friends invited me to the tryout randomly, the day of, and I showed up and made the team.

U SPORTS: What made you fall in love with the sport?

Guezen: My whole family grew to love the sport more and more over the years. Some of my brothers played through school, and my parents played in rec leagues. As I went further in the sport, we realized it was such a family passion of ours, and that helped keep me loving it too.

U SPORTS: Why did you choose the University of Alberta?

Guezen: The culture, definitely. When I went on my visit to the U of A, I already felt so welcome before even accepting a spot on the team. The girls have been nothing short of amazing in my three years, so I couldn't have been happier with my choice.

U SPORTS: How would you describe the culture within the Pandas program?

Guezen: For our team, it's always clear that everyone wants the same thing. We want to win and do well at our sport, but at the same time, we're supportive of each other in that. If one of us is doing well, we're always backing that person up and being each other's biggest cheerleaders, on the court and off the court.

U SPORTS: What have you learned from your teammates?

Guezen: I've definitely learned what it feels like to have a family away from home. Even though I've lived at home, you're away so many hours of the day and I spend that time with the girls. You create your own family at school, and my team's taught me that.

U SPORTS: This past season was incredibly successful for both you and your team. What made it so special?

Guezen: For me, it was especially special because this is my last year at U of A. I'm going overseas next year, so just to have everyone fighting for the same thing and trying to achieve something before I leave was incredible. At the end, it all came together, and we were all so happy and proud. It was a really good way to go out.

U SPORTS: Do you remember the moment you realized you had won a national championship?

Guezen: Definitely. I had a glimpse of it when we won Canada West. I was crying on the court because I realized it was my last time playing in front of my home crowd. The fans you build up over the years, especially in Edmonton, they love you, and they want the best for you. To win that on our home court and then go to Langley and win nationals, it was so much more incredible there. We could feel their love through the livestream cameras and everything. We knew they were supporting us even if they couldn't be there physically.

U SPORTS: You were also named 2026 U SPORTS Women's Volleyball Player of the Year and then won the Lois and Doug Mitchell Award. What does that recognition mean to you?

Guezen: I feel very honoured. Huge props to my team for helping get me there. It's an incredible feeling when you think about all of the amazing athletes across the country, and to think that I was one of the people nominated. You see the records people set throughout the year and everything they accomplished, and then you're the one nominated. Everything everyone else does makes the award that much more special.

U SPORTS: There are always people behind every athlete's success. Who would you like to thank?

Guezen: A huge thanks to my family. They've been my rock throughout all the hard times in volleyball. Thanks to my teammates for being there throughout my three years and becoming my family. Thanks to my coaches for being unwavering, making me better and wanting to see me do big things. It wasn't easy for them to let me leave after this year, but they made me a better person and are releasing me into good hands for next year. And thanks to all the medical staff and everyone who's contributed to keeping us healthy.

U SPORTS: What's next for you?

Guezen: Hopefully, a lot more volleyball. I'm going to Italy next year to play professionally, so hopefully that goes well, and then I'll continue to play for the national team.

U SPORTS: Speaking of the national team, how did that journey begin?

Guezen: It started in Grade 11 when I was selected for the youth team. I've moved upward throughout the program with encouragement from my coaches to try out for more and more teams. I moved into the NextGen program after my first year, and then after my second year, I was selected to the senior national team. I had a crazy summer of experiences, and now I'm back training with the senior national team again.

U SPORTS: What does it mean to represent Canada?

Guezen: It's definitely an incredible honour. Not every athlete gets to do that, and I'm honoured to be someone representing volleyball in Canada and trying to make it more known on the world stage. I think Canadian volleyball is a little underrepresented. A lot of people think about the NCAA in the United States, but I'm a huge supporter of U SPORTS volleyball and Canadian volleyball in general. To be one of the athletes who gets to showcase that to the world is a great feeling.

U SPORTS: What advice would you give to the next generation of athletes who hope to follow a similar path?

Guezen: Chase your dreams and never let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Trust your coaches and trust the people around you who are supporting your journey. They want what's best for you. Even if it doesn't seem like the right decision at the time, they're supporting you, and they're going to help get you where you want to be. Just keep going after it.