A globe-trotting volleyball all-star is making UWinnipeg his new home in 2025.
 
Sebastian Verdaguer, the MCAC player of the year for men's volleyball this past season, has committed to Chris Voth's Wesmen program in the recruiting class of 2025.
 
Verdaguer had a breakout season with the Providence College Pilots in 2024-25 and the 6-foot-5 left side was looking to take the next step in his volleyball career. That new chapter will be in the Canada West with the Winnipeg Wesmen.
 
Verdaguer, who played mostly middle at Providence will move to the outside at U of W, a position he's been hoping to get a swing at. 
 
"It's the next step that I've been wanting to take for the last three years," he said. "It's finally managed to happen, and it's even crazier that I get to play the position I wanted to play. 
 
"I'm just excited to go and play. The team this year did amazing. It's gonna be some big shoes to fill for me and the guys next year. So I'm just happy to get in the gym with the guys and start playing."
 
Verdaguer's journey to Manitoba was a winding one: Born in Belfast, Ireland, raised in Indonesia and finding the game in Australia, Verdaguer found his way to Canada in 2022 just a couple of years after the COVID pandemic, quite serendipitously, led him to volleyball. 
 
His dad was an elite runner in England with aspirations of the Olympics, and it was his guidance that helped Verdaguer develop skills and keen training habits. Running, swimming, soccer and basketball kept him going. 
 
"So, my whole life I'd been running, I'd been swimming, so he kind of built me to where I could kind of step into any sport that I kind of fell in love with and for the most part that was (soccer)," Verdaguer said. "So, then it was more just what was available because basketball was too close contact, football was too close contact, so volleyball was kinda one of the only sports around during COVID."
 
Verdaguer found his way into the Greater Melbourne Volleyball Academy, fronted by former Aussie national Luke Campbell and, after two years in the game spent at GMVA, Verdaguer was getting the offer to come to Canada. 
 
In his second season in the MCAC, Verdaguer led the league with a .393 attack percentage and notched 2.59 kills per set in leading the Pilots to a 17-1 MCAC record, a conference championship and a berth into CCAA nationals. 
 
Verdaguer led the league in attack percentage in two of his three seasons at Prov and hit .395 in 11 matches as a sophomore in 2023-24.
 
"Seb joins us after three successful seasons at Providence College, where he played multiple positions for his team," Voth said. "With an impressive vertical jump, Seb is a constant offensive threat, and an efficient and reliable blocker. His refined skills and ability to contribute in numerous ways make him a standout player. Beyond his talent, Seb's work ethic and team-first mentality make him an invaluable asset to our program. We're excited to have him bring his experience and energy to our team as we aim for new heights."
 
Verdaguer isn't shying away from the next, new, challenge.
 
"My goal is always to play as high as I can play," he said. "End goal, Olympics, professional, but that's still a while away.
 
"I've always wanted to push myself to play at the highest level that I can possibly play. Since I was a kid, I was always running with guys older than me, pushing myself to compete with those guys. So, I've always strived to play against better people even if they absolutely destroy me, because that's the only way you're gonna learn."