Manitoba volleyball family trying to go out on top

Winning a national volleyball championship has been a lifetime in the making for one Manitoba family. Michelle Gerwing has their story.

A family of Manitoba volleyballers has the chance to end their run together on the highest note possible.

This March, the University of Manitoba is hosting the 2025 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship. This means Bisons Head Coach Ken Bentley, his daughter Katreena Bentley and his stepdaughter Julia Arnold can make a final attempt at national glory as a trio on home court.

“It’s really just the perfect end,” said Katreena. “I couldn’t really ask for any more.”

It’s the last season the three will be all on the same team because Katreena and Arnold are graduating.

Ken has been coaching his daughter and stepdaughter, who are the same age and have birthdays two weeks apart, since they were 11 years old. He said the two grew up on the volleyball court and he never had to drag them or coerce them to come to the gym with him.

“This was the one thing they really committed to, kind of a level of excellence,” he said.

“Both of them got to play on national team programs and are incredibly accomplished academically. I’m so proud of them,” he said, fighting back tears.

Being a parent coaching their own children can be a recipe for disaster he said, but he described their experience together as 98 per cent amazing.

“There’s the two per cent out there where we’ve (butted) heads a little bit,” he said. “But when I think about this whole journey we’ve had, it doesn’t even register, and so I’m super grateful for that too. I think all of us are.”

Arnold and Katreena said over the years they’ve done a good job of separating the coach-athlete relationship from the parent-child one, so much so they don’t notice it anymore.

“In the end, it’s just meant that I’ve gotten to spend a ton of time with him, like growing up and everything. So, it’s been really cool,” said Katreena.

Arnold said she’s enjoyed every minute playing alongside Katreena and Ken.

“It’s just been, honestly, the privilege of my life,” Arnold said.

While the whole family knows the trophy is there for the taking, they also know how to handle the pressure. Ken, who’s been the program’s head coach for 39 years, has hoisted the championship six times before, and last year the Bisons placed third.

Ken said the second-ranked team has a good chance to win, and the mantra is to treat every match the same.

“Let’s not be influenced by the moment. Let’s just play the match,” he said. “I think that offers us the best opportunity for success if we can just do that.”

Although Katreena and Arnold are graduating, Ken is not going anywhere. He told CTV News he still loves volleyball and has more work to do with the Bisons women’s program.

“It’s going to be different, you know. But next year is next year,” said Ken. “I’ve got a long time before I show up in September and they’re not part of the team.”

The 2025 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship runs March 14-16 at the University of Manitoba’s Investors Group Athletic Centre. The Bisons’ first game is Friday, March 14, at 6 p.m.