University interest in Jubilee Steppan is not a recent development. 
 
A couple of years' worth of deliberations, though, will lead her to the Winnipeg Wesmen. 
 
Steppan, a 5-foot-11 left side from Steinbach, is the first official commitment to the Wesmen women's volleyball Class of 2026, pledging to Phil Hudson's squad after a successful high school, club and provincial career.
 
Steppan, who will lead her team into the MHSAA AAAA provincial tournament that starts in Brandon this weekend, has made a name for herself as one of the top players in the province, and said she started thinking about playing after high school in her Grade 10 year when universities began to take notice. 
 
"We'd go and watch (university volleyball), and it was like, 'I think I would like to do that one day,' and then once I got to 16, it sort of got more like, 'oh my gosh, I could actually do this when I'm older,'" she said. "Coaches started talking to me more, I started getting stronger as a player and developing more."
 
Steppan started as a middle blocker early in her playing days but transitioned out to the pins and has been out there since 15U. 

In 2024, she played for Team Manitoba Gold, coached by Wesmen assistant Megan Bradshaw and former Wesmen Madison Fyvie. That same year she was named a club tournament all-star for the 16U Jr Bisons. 
 
At the 2024 high school provincials, Steppan had a team-high 18 kills and was named player of the match in a five-set loss to eventual champion Vincent Massey (Brandon). Now in her senior year, Steppan said she has made it a priority to soak in the final year of high school volleyball. 
 
"I think I'm just making sure that it's super-positive, and no matter how the season goes, I'm just enjoying every second of it, because it is the last season of high school," she said. 
 
Steppan said the Wesmen will get a player who is "energetic" and "very assertive at times." Hudson, meanwhile, extols the dynamic skill set she brings to the floor.
 
"Jubillee is an excellent left side attacker who possesses a fast and heavy arm swing," Hudson said. "She will have an immediate impact as an attacker at the U Sports level. She is a solid passer and relentless defender with a great work ethic and a very high volleyball IQ."
 
Steppan said it was her desire to stay closer to home, but the team environment was also a high priority. 
 
"And after talking to a few places and getting to know some of the teams," she said, "U of W was really, really good with that. Everybody was super welcoming and the coaches were just amazing with it. It's like we just bonded really quick."
 
Steppan will have some familiarity with some of the current Wesmen when she arrives next September: her former Steinbach teammate, Callie Andres, and former Team Manitoba teammates Taylor Labossiere and Anna Filippin-Buller are current freshmen. 
 
"It is really nice knowing other people going into the season next year," she said. "I'm super excited. I'm very, very happy."